The sun., 1904-07-12
NO MUSIC ON CONRIED'S TERMS
UNION THINKS 1T CONTROLS OP-
cratic SITUATION.

METROPOLITAN Orchestra Members Tell Er.
nest Goerlitz That They VIII Stand Out
for More Pay-Centract Labor Law.
They Say, Blocks European Players.
Ernest Goerlitz, treasurer OF the Conried
Opera Company and representative OF
Mr.. Conried in this country, departed yes
terday for his vacation. Before starting
he had interviewed every member OF the
orchestra who played last season at the
Metropolitan and who has been there long
enough to be a part OF the organization
that has come to be known as the Metro
politan Opera House Orchestra.
Mr.. Goerlitz's task was to discover IL
these players would come next year to the
opera house on the new terms proposed
by the association of managers. which is
a reduction from the terms that union
men have always received.
Every single member OF the orchestra
refused explicitly and positively to consider
any reduction OF fees. The minimum has
been 81 night. and that is the lowest figure
that any of the men will consent to play
for. OF course, many OF the players get
much more, some of the salaries reaching
500 a week But the seasons are short.
The union intends, moreover, to raise the
prices which must be paid next year under
certain conditions. as. for instance when
an opera exceeds a certain length OF time
in representation.
.The answer OF the men to Mr.. Con-
ried's proposition, said a member Of the
union yesterday, Shows the stand the
organization is going to take upon the
effort to reduce the mems pay. There is
some chance that the theatre manaP nfs
may win out, but we know that the situa-
tion at the Metropolitan is in the control OF
the union. The talk about importing an
orchestra is ridiculous. The contract
labor law will interfere with that for one
thing, and there is no orchestra in Europe
capable Of coming to the Metropolitan and
appearing in the repertoire that is sung
there. It would take long preparation.
-Mr. Conried speaks Of bringing over an
orchestra without realizing all the trouble
1t would cost him. The same musicians
will be playing at the Metropolitan next
winter and the union will be strong enough
creased salaries
This is the first setback for Mr. Conried
in his efforts to rid himself Of the tyranny
OF the union. Those who know his plans
say It amounts to nothing and that he will
ultimately win his way out Of the unions
power.
This is the first time that an impre-
sario or his representative has had any
dealings directly with the members Of the
orchestra. The rule is that an orchestra
must be engaged by a member OF the union,
and in the past this duty was intrusted
to Nahan Franko. Mr. Frankie was in
vited by Mr.. Conried to become a violin in
structor in the opera school, but declined
the offer. 1t Is not yet certain what he
will do next season. but it Is said to be practi-
1lv aaftlad that he will not be the rop.
cert master OF the operate orchestra
next winter.
Through the Civic Federation, confer
ences have been started bet tween represen-
tatives Of the Theatrical Managers Asso-
citation in general and the Musical Mutual
Protective Union. The final talk will tax e
place on Friday. President Anton Weber
Of the American Federation OF Musicians
who is at the Hotel Marlborough, this
city, will remain to await results. He
said yesterday that he could not say what
the union would do until the result OF Fri
days conference was known.