Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-09
Standby
Musicians
Merit Pay
Amateurs Often Deprive
Them Of just Wage
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

BY wESTBROOK PEGLER
IF THE court please, I would
L like TO say a few words on
behalf of the local professional
musicians around and about our
country who often find them
selves in competition with anna
tuer talent under circumstances
which make them seem unpatri-
otto, arrogant and selfish II they
Lut seek days work or, any
way. the wages thereof.
Music is only sweet wind and
vibrations and is luxury and
so our people, especially in our
smaller communities, are the
more impatient when the high
school band, the fife and drum
corps of the Boy Scouts or the
great band of the nearby mill
tary naval post accepts a date
10 play at some public festival
10 which admission is paid by
the public and the local union
then steps in TO demand stand
by wages for a certain number
of its members, who are, them
selves, local wage earners and
taxpayers and are. in the matter
of character. about the same AS
the general run Of their neigh
bors.
The situation is based on the
so-called standby principle which
was upheld by our Supreme
Court in the recent transfers
case.
IN A typical. hypothetical case.
L an army band will be engaged
to play at a big charity ball
game for the USO or some
thoroughly legitimate fund for
the relief Of the distress among
the families OF soldiers and
sailors.
II special seats or lights arc
neeGed for the occasion nobody
in town would think of employ
ing amateur carpenters or cleo
tricians and the pay of the
workers, who will be local men
and respected fellow citizens of
the rest, is charged 10 the
normal cost oil production and
deducted from the receipts.
Nobody objects to that nor
are the carpenters or electricians
| held up to scorn.
But the musicians of the COM
munity' find themselves out OF
their particular job which is
legitimate work in their line
and accused OF preying on char
ity If their business agent puts
in for standby pay foi them.
Not only in war but in times
OF peace they find themselves
competing with amateurs and
usually under conditions which
make them seem not only 10
lack public spirit, but 10 be
anti-Boy Scout or anti-Shriner
or anti-American Legion or
whatever.
THERE are relatively few OPP
Il portunities for professional
musicians 10 make a few dollars
playing behind turnstiles.
III is a crowded field and, what
with the radio in the home and
| piped-radio and the juke-boxeS
in the dumps or cafes. the pub.
lie patronizes live music only on
/ occasion.
During the Worlds Fair in
New York children's band
from high school in a south
ern city raised money by popu-
lar subscription for trip 10
New York TO play a few selec-
lions at the special festivities
IN honor Of their state.
Their fellow townsmen were
furious because the musicians
union in New York demanded
standby pay which. in undenia-
bic practical effect, was de-
mand for tribute if the children
were permitted TO make an ap-
pearance for which they had
practiced faithfully and on which
they had set their hearts.
But the professional musicians
in their home town had been
done out of the job and the
travel by the little amateurs.
0NE reason why our martial
" spirit does not express it,
self in music. although il is very
expressive in other WAYS. Is that
our music has been horribly dis
torted and is unsuitable and even
repughant 10 the martial spirit.
IL is not brave or inspiring
sound, but hideous noise and NOT
music at all.
But that is not the fault of
the poor musicians.
They play the music that Is
set before them and these defile-
ments are the fault of arrangers.
some of whom cannot create
music themselves and. in their
sullen envy of those who can.
produce evil caricatures as mon
strous as Hitler's most hateful
distortions of truth.
They even mock Anchors
Aweigh" and The Caissons Go
Rolling Along" beyond recogni-
ton and probably that is an ad-
ditional reason why the people
prefer 10 hear service bands
when they can for the services
are literal-minded.