New-York tribune., 1907-01-28
TO WITHDRAW "SALOME"
WILL NOT FIGHT
Drama WI Be H1ithdrO7cn Unless
House O1CnerS Reicnt.

Real Estate company, winch owns the Metro
politsn Opera House. refuse to withdraw their
protest against a repetition Of 'Salome" no fur
ther performances of the Strauss Wilde drama
viii be given at the Metropolitan Opera House
This decision reached at a meeting of the
executive committee Of the Conried METROPOLITAN
opera Company yesterday afternoon. George G.
Haven, president OF the owning company gives
no intimation that he and his fellow directors
viii change their opinion that the performance
of 'Saome' is objectionable and detrimental
70 The best interests Of the Metropolitan Opera
House" He seems 10 consider the incident
closed, and. indeed. the directors of the Conried
company have little hope that the objections will
he Withdrawn.
The opinion seemed he last night that the
opera would he withdrawn. and that the opera
company would be obliged 10 forfeit large
amount Of money to Mr.. Strauss for failure TO
keep the contract. which called for ten perform
anoes here This forfeit, il is said. will amount
10 al least $4,000. The directors of the opera
company do not admit the right Of the real estate
company 10 dictate the withdrawal of ''Salome."
but believe they should not oppose the feeling Of
an Influential part Of the music loving public
Heinrich Conried. the president of the Conried
Metropolitan Opera Company and the managing
director did not agree TO the conclusion Of the
executive committee yesterday until he was in
duced n believe that it was the only solution
lie is proud Of the production Of 'Salome' feel
ing that j. is a great artistic triumph and hav-
ing no sympathy with those who hold that il is
Objectionable, according TO of his friends.
He believes the music OF the opera is the main
thing. and that from that point of view nothing
but praise can come from any source.
The dispute about "Salome" has troubled Mr.
Conried greatly, and has aggravated his nervous
condition. His physicians feared yesterday that
81 the controversy were kept up it might have
e. l.
MI COnried Of the directors of his
company yesterday, but they consulted with him
over the telephone He saw a few friends, but
sent word that he was unable TO see newspaper
men. on account OF the exaggerated state
ments regarding Mr.. Conried's sickness his
physicians made the following statement last
night:
With reference 70 certain statements in the
daily press as TO the condition Of Director Helm
rich Conried Of the Metropolitan Opera House.
the attending physicians desire TO state-believ-
ing that those reports may alarm Mr.. Conrieds
f1ends-that those statements pure inyen-
ton and without the slightest foundation. Mr..
Conried has suffered from neither an apoplectic
stroke nor from locomotor ataxia- He has had
an attack of sciatic neuri1s. as stated to the
press before, and, although still suffering from
It, he is slowly but surely mending. He has not
for hour ceased tranSacting business from
his home, and confidently hope to see him
at his desk at the Metropolitan Opera
House.
The meeting Of the executive committee Of the
opera company was held at the home Of Rawlins
Cottenet. one OF its members. at No. 10 East
18th street. The other members present were II.
Rogers winthrop. Eliot Gregory and Otto H.
Kahn. Edmund Ia Baylies. director. but not
member OF the executive committee. was also
present. One OF the men had had informal
talk with George G. Haven and gave little hope
that the directors of the real estate company
would recede from their position. The whole
question was thoroughly discussed. 1t de-
cided to ask the real estate company for meet
ing with its executive committee. that the views
OF the opera company might have due consid-
GRAFTON; but 81 the real estate company insists
on sticking to its position the opera company
viii give no further performances.
person closely in touch with the directors
Of the opera company said last night:
The directors felt it their duty to the public
TO produce this great opera. which is being pro-
duced in the great cities Of Europe. but out Of
regard for the feelings of considerable num-
Der Of the music-loving public are willing to
withdraw the opera If IT be shown that
there is strong sentiment against it.
THE directors do not have much hope Of
changing the position OF Mr. Haven and the
other directors Of the real estate company. 1t is
& matter of feeling, and you can't argue with
about his feelings"
Ernest Goerlitz. business representative Of
M Conrleo, was asked whether, II soaloIne
should be withdrawn from the Metropolitan
Opera House, the contract with Mr.. Strauss
could be fulfilled by producing the opera else
where. Il doubt it very much" he replied;
that is very serious question"
IL the drama is withdrawn IL viii be ques-
ton as TO whether the directors OF the real es-
tate company may not be asked at least to assist
in making good the financial loss that will be
sustained by the opera company. II said
that The financial end OF the problem not
taken up yesterday.
Ex-Judge Dittenhoefer, counsel for the opera
company and Mr. Conried said last night that
he had made a thorough study of the lease
by which the opera house is occupied by the
opera company. but he would not discuss it..
Paul d. Cravath would not talk about his con-
nection with the case. but IL was learned that
he represents the real estate company.
There has been change in the situation"
said George G. Haven. We stand by our pro-
test"
Asked il he would call meeting of the dfrec-
tors Of the real estate company, he replied: Il
can't tell. We have received no request TO do so
get"
This was literally true. for the formal request
OF the opera company for such a joint meeting
was not Sent out until last night No definite
time for the meeting was suggested. but the
necessity OF a meeting at the earliest possible
date emphasized.
The directors OF the real estate company. as
well as those Of the opera company, refused
yesterday 20 discuss the incident to give their
personal opinions Of "Salome."
Z vas said yesterday in some quarters that
it was hard 10 reconcile the doubt expressed by
Mr. Goerlitz as 20 the possibility Of fulfilling the
contract with Mr. Strauss By giving perform