St. Paul daily globe., 1889-11-21
Rumpus Between the Boston
Manager and Manager
Conklin.
Two Varying Views of an
Agreement in the Matter
Of $1,000.
Why an Entertainment Was
Suspended for Half
an Hour.
Mr.. Foster Talks of Bringing
a Suit for $4,000
Damages.

Guests at the West hotel, Minneapo-
lis, who happened to De sitting about
the exchange yesterday afternoon about
4 O'Clock, were treated to an exciting
spectacle. There were sounds Of a gruff
base voice and hnrried footsteps. Pres
emily Manager j. Frank CUnklin. of the
Grand opera house, came hurrving
down the stairway leading from the la
dies ordinary. He was closely followed
by w. II. Foster. proprietor and mana
ger of the Boston Ideal Opera company,
who was minus his coat and vest, but
seemed TO be warm enough, nOtwith-
standing this rather airy costume. FOs-
ter'S face worked conVulSively. ana he
was
SWEARING LIKE A TROOPER.
His fists were doubled up, and he
walked 10y Conklin's side as if to head
him off. c. a. Parker, Manager COnk-
Inns able assistant, followed in the rear,
the wings of his Chumley overcoat flap
ping wildly in the breeze oc-
casioned by the torrent of
expletlves that Foster poured
out. Those who imagined that the
trio were rehearsing the wolf-glen
scene from der Freischutz'' for the
hight, and that Foster was furnishing
the fireworks, were quickly undeceived,
for it was plainly apparent that he was
in earnest, and very much in earnest.
He fairly
ROARED WITH RAGE,
and Manager COnklin'S PRESBYTERIAN
ears had probably never before heard
such splendidly weird OutburstS of pro-
fame byrotechnicS. Mr.. Conklin went
to the clerks desk for moment and
then made straight for the Henne-
pin avenue entrance, Foster following
all the way to the door. 1t was evident
that biz row of some sort was on.
Foster was too excited to be approached,
! and COnklin waved the GLOBE reporter
away with Cant talk now,
young man." 1t took the re-
porter, who already had an
inkling of the nature of dispute that
has been under way since Monday
night between Foster and the manage
ment, about an hour to learn the proba-
bic cause of the OuthurSt on the part of
the BOstonese manager. Those who
were present at the Grand Monday
night noticed that there was a
WAIT OF TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES
| between the second and third acts of
| Lucia di LammermOOr." The Occa-
| sion of this has since been ascertaIned
| to be about as follows: When Manager
| Conklin went East couple of weeks
ago ne stopped in Chicago and
arranged for the appearance of
the Ideals at Minneapolis, St. Paul, Du-
| luth and one or two other points. Man.
| ager Foster required, for reasons that
may be conjectured. that $1,000 should
he advanced to pay railroad fares. This
money, according to the GLOBES
infOrmants, was to be taken
out of Fosters share of Mon
day and Tuesday nights receipts.
Pauline L'Allemand, and perhaps
others of the company, have contracts
that they shall get their weeks salary
in advance. At the close of the second
act. Monday night. Foster was notified.
1t is said, that his
SHARE OF THE RECEIPTS
was to be withheld to meet the payment
| in part of the 1000 advanced. He Oh
| jected in his gentle. characteristic BOS-
toneSe way, as he had to pay advance
salaries. Charlie Parker, who was in
! charge in Manager COnklin'S absence,
was equally determined to have his
way. For while it looked as
| If the performance would be
stopped, but Mr.. Parker finally
gave in and agreed that Foster should
have his share of the receipts for MOn-
day and Tuesday nights, but that be-
| ginning Wednesday night the $1,000
along all right until Yesterday,
announced that he intended to
have his full share of the receipts up to
Saturday night Manager Conklin ar
rived yesterday from New York, and
sought Foster In his room. The latter
had just returned from drive, and was
making his toilet when the row Oc.
cured. Conklin took the same position
that Parker had assumed and Foster
LOST HIS HEAD
and went wild with rage, asserting that
| he would cancel his engagement if he
did not receive his share of the receipts,
| as he demande Manager COnklin
| apparently took him at his word. At
any rate he went over to the
Grand and posted a notice. mo
performance here tonight" Shortly
the scene and demanded his share of
the receipts of the advance sale, which
was refused him. Both sides then
sought legal advice. and the result was
apparently some sort of a compromise.
At any rate, the card came
down from the front of the
theater. Manager Foster appeared
at O'Clock in his dress suit and adorned
the lobby as usual with his august pres
ence. The largest audience of the week
was present, and witnessed an admir-
able presentation of der FreischutZ." !"
The above narrative of the details of
tine warfare are chiefly from
the Grand opera house point
of view, and while they may not be ab-
sOlutely correct, at least give an idea of
the casus belli.
| THE FOSTER SID
of the story is that the $1,000 advance
money was not to be collected until
Saturday night, and was put in the
form of draft payable on that day for
collections; that, therefore, Foster
had a right to demand and receive his
share of the receipts. Manager Foster
was asked last night il he had anything
to say about the matter. II don't care
to talk about my business affairs,
and don't consider that the
public has any particular right
to inquIre into them. I'll talk all you
may want concerning the merits of the
ideals, but not my business affairs.
You can say this: That my attorneys
are preparing the papers and at as early
an opportunity as is possible shall COM
mence suit against the syndicate own
ing the Minneapolis Grand opera house
for $4,000 damages. No, don't sup
pose this rumpus will hurt our business
here or at st. Paul. The house tonight
is the best we have had, and the sale