New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
OPERA CHORUS BACK.
Union Not Recognised Individuals
Get More Pau.

Mr. Conried's striking chorus returned to work
yesterday. afternoon. unrecognized as a union
but successful In their demands for more wages.
The strike has gone into history.
Samuel Gompers is chiefly responsible for the
outcome, Immediately after his conference with
Mr. Conred in Washington Thursday he
teegraphed to Herman Robinson, the local rep
resentative of the Federation of Labor saying
that the strike of the chorus was ill timed and
inadvsable and forbddirg the Federation to
give 1t sanction. The Federation is opposed to
any strike that violates a contract Without any
hope of assistance from sympathetic strikes, and
with the spectacle of an excellent performance
of Tristan und Isolde" Friday night without
their aid confronting them, the chorus decided
to go back to work.
This decision was not reached however
without pretty definite understanding that
many of their demands would be granted Evi-
IDENTIFY here. too the hand of Mr.. Gompers can
be detected The strikers were taken back in
divduaIIy not as union. but all of them, even
the ringleaders. were taken back. and they
get their raise in pay compromise basis.
They demanded $50 a week when they struck;
they will get $50, which is an increase Of 33 l-3
per cent at that They will also receive extra
pay for Sunday work. and for rehearsals on
days when there is matinee performance and
their requests for sleeping cars will be granted
Wn6H IJipS are TAKEN out VI IONh ny ll'ShC
Thus it will be seen that the strike was very
far from a failure. from the chors,s's point of
view
How far from failure it was may be seen
from the fact that last night, which was reg
ular pay night for the chorus, they all received
their envelopes as usual, though they did not
sing Wednesday nor Friday, nor rehearse for
three days. The two and six women who
remained true to Mr.. Conried received only their
4
they viii be rewarded by higher wages next
year. III 1885 the faithful members of Dr..
Damrosch's chorus had benefit performance
after the strike over. Perhaps the faithful
eight will now strike for their benefit II IS
said their life made miserable yesterday by
the rest of the chorus. and one of the women
was driven to hysterical tears
The chorus came back to work at 2 O'Clock,
but Mr. Conried not feeling sure Of their return,
had his 'scab' chorus all ready to sing He at
cnce ordered them out of the costumes and the
regular chorus into them. This took much
time that the first scene had to be sung again
without the choral voices outside Fausts vim
dow. After the scene Mr.. Conried came before
the curtain and made little speech.
The chorus have come back he said. They
have yielded to my demands, and l have re-
ceived them as individuals. not union But
they will have pay, which pleases them,
and trust Will please you.
These remarks We're greeted With gree: ap-
plause by the tremendous audience and in
few moments Faust" was proceeding with the
Italian language breaking from the lips of the
familiar chorus fgures-in Sood, ole tamlllar
style. The strike over
MI Conried last night expressed himself as
much pleased with the outcome, pointing Out
that he had always stood ready to treat with
his chorus as individuals and grant any reason
able demands. but that he would not recognize
them as a union This he had done but
Vet the trouble was all adjusted. He did not
seem to worry al all over the letter he received
Yesterday morning. This letter said that unless
he settled with his choristers, not the black
hand = but many white hands, would slay him
ing epistle.