The Great Band Union Battle
A touring bandleader faces a boycott in Walla Walla for failing to secure union cards for his musicians, sparking a public labor dispute.
Channing Ellery, director of the Ellery band, has responded to the local outcry regarding his troupe's scheduled appearance at the fruit fair. Unionized musicians in Walla Walla had declared war on the band, doubting whether the performers were members of the Federation of American Musicians. Ellery explained that while he had intended to unionize his band in Davenport, financial hardships caused by poor business and bad weather prevented him from paying the necessary entrance fees. He claims he has instructed the band to finalize their membership within the next fortnight and argues that his organization provides a 'lasting benefit to the musical taste and knowledge' of the community, urging local musicians to receive them in a 'fraternal spirit.'
“Letters and telegrams are speeding over the country and war has been declared on myself and the band that bears my name.”
This 1903 dispute highlights the power of organized labor in small-town civic life, where even traveling performers were expected to conform to local labor standards. The friction between 'art' and 'the union' remains a recurring theme in gig-economy debates today.
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