Evening star., 1940-02-04
National Symphony
Campaign Called Off
After Union Demands
Increased Cost Could Not
Be Met, Directors Soy;
Organization to Disbond

Unable to agree to the union de-
mands for a wage increase on the
eve of the projected drive for funds,
the Board Of Directors Of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra Associa-
tion yesterday formally notified
friends and members that the board
has "regretfully decided to call off
the campaign" for funds for the
orchestra.
This means the collapse next
spring, music lovers said. Of an Or
ganization of the highest artistic
standards, one which has won in
creasing acclaim in Washington and
in the many cities where the orches-
ira has given concerts under the
leadership of DR.. Hans Kinder.
owing to the breakdown of nego-
tiations as we'll as the lateness Of
the date" the statement yesterday
said, our board was unwilling to
ask its loyal friends and solicitors to
attempt to secure sum considered
impossible by all Of us.
"All concerts scheduled for the
present season will be presented by
the orchestra, and all obligations OF
the National Symphony Orchestra
will be completely filed"
Text Of Statement.
The statement said:
Negotiations between our board
and the Musicians Protective Union
we're begun November /. 1899. and
ended in a deadlock January %,
1910.
"The musicians requested q sea-
son four weeks longer than the
present one and also $40 more per
week per man. A compromise on
two additional weeks was reached,
but a two weeks longer season at
this increased rate of pay would
have increased our budget by $27,-
600, necessitating the raising OF
$130,000 if we were to meet their
requirements. Based on nine years
experience and particularly last
years campaign when every effort
was made to raise Sill 900 but only
S105 900 was secured, our board
unanimously agreed that an at
tempt to raise the increased amount
this year would of certainty fail.
In reaching this decision, careful
thought was given to the fact that
particularly this year many new
appeals both here and abroad would
make the task more difficult than
ever. The dates, February S to Is,
for the sustaining fund campaign
were determined upon after careful
study so as not to conflict with other
civic appeals which are known to
be coming directly after this period.
With some misgivings, we agreed to
attempt a campaign for S105,000
provided an agreement with the
union could be reached in time to
utilize the dates set, feeling that
this amount was the absolute maxi
mum we could hope to raise. This
increased our season by two weeks,
thus giving each member Of the
orchestra 500 more income. This
offer was refused by the Musicians
Protective Union on January 81,
1910, thus ending all hope of putting
on a campaign on the date set.
"At that time the campaign
literature had not been printed, pub
ncity had been held in abeyance,
and many opportunities to present
our cause before influential Or
ganizations had been missed because
we were unable to state the amount
of the campaign goal.
ITO determine the amount of the
goal it is necessary that the num-
ber of musicians, the number of
services, the rate of pay. and all
other details be definitely agreed
upon with the Musicians Protective
Union prior to the campaign. Failure
to reach this agreement in the past
has made it necessary to reduce SUBJ
stantially the number of orchestra
players, thus lowering the artistic
standards of the orchestra and re-
sulting in servious objections from
many contributors.
To Play Through April.
Of1cials of the association said
the symphony would continue to
play its scheduled concerts through
the middle of April, and then would
have to disband unless some un-
foreseen circumstance turns up In
the meantime.
The orchestra is to play a con-
cert IN Constitution Hall this after
noon. DR.. Kinder is out of the
city and could not be reached for
statement. Carlos Chavez, Mexi-
can conductor and composer, will
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