New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-28
.HAMMERSTE|N DEF|ES
METROPOLITAN BOARD
Damned Be He Who First
Cries Hold, Enough!" Is I'm.
preSariO'S Battle Shout.
CHAMPION OF COMMUNITY
Issues Statement, in Which He
Says Agreement Not to Enter
Opera Field Was Made
by His Son.

The board Of directors Of the Metro
politan Opera Company issued a state
ment last night in regard to Oscar Ham
merstein's new grand opera plan. The
statement sets off the clause IN the
contract with the Metropolitan in which
Mr.. Hammerstein bound himself not To
give grand opera I'm New York for a
period Of ten years. and closes with the
announcement that the board refuses TO
believe that the Hammerstens purpose 10
violate the obligations To which they are
bound both in honor and law.
The directors do not say what steps
they purpose TO take should Mr.. Ham
merstein attempt To give grand opera in
New York
After seeing the Metropolitan statement
Mr.. Hammerstein gave out the following
reply:
II have the rather somnambulistiC pro-
nunciamento OF the directors Of the Met
ropolitan Opera Company. and having as
sured myself OF my own wakefulness |
take the liberty OF operating thereon
without the use of cocaine.
Il have not received one million two
hundred thousand dollars. but eight hun
dred thousand dollars. For this sum |
transferred TO them my Philadelphia
Opera House. which by the bills OF cost
submitted by my illustrious friend. Mr..
+. T. Stotesbury. OF Philadelphia, reached
the sum OF one million. two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
II also transferred TO them the cos
tunes. scenery and properties OF twenty
two operas. OF which the cost value was
S360,000. The time table Of the transfers
also contained my sole rights Of produc-
ton OF the French operas. which were
figured worth 100000. IN diving deeper
into the interesting details OF the trans
action it also will be discovered that the
opera library musical instruments. etc.
valued at $4,000. played prominent
part.
"As mere detail worth more or less
than 100000. my contracts with most OF
my prominent artists. Mary Garden, Tet-
razzini. Dalmores SammarCo. Renaud.
etc. were partly embraced in the transfer.
These little deficits. which uninterested
persons have ascribcd 10 have been caused
by my superiority in the dictatorship Of
grand opera. evidently became monoton-
Gus to the then directors Of the Metropon-
tan Opera Company. and Otto H. Kahn
repeatedly invited me TO his home 10 dis
cuss ways and means by which his con
freres might be saved from the home OF
INDECENT and crippled directors Of opera.
My physicians ordered an immediate
cessation of work. Then and then only
listened TO the overtures OF the Metro
politan people. ! left the matter In the
hands of my son and sailed FOR Europe.
Never during my presence was anything
like my retirement from the operate field
for ten years mentioned. Nevertheless. as
I left the power OF attorney with my son
the clause crept into the contract
II don't propose 10 be directly or indi-
roctly interested In opera financially.
Mentally and bodily In the interests OF
the community ! intend 90 be. I'll fight
for IT, I'll fight with YOU and damned
be he who first cries. Hold Enough -
Don't be generous. gentlemen You
have more dollars than | have shayes OF
pennies but I have a fine set OF teeth"