The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-25
Paderewski Tells How Career Is
Endangered and of Threats
Against His Life.
UNDER CARE OF PHYSICIANS
Pianist Says He Is Falsely
Charged With Being Leader of
Anti-Semitic Movement.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatoh.l

ward the Jewish race. Ignace Pad
erewski. the world famed pianist, to-
day told how his career had been en-
dangered. and why threats have been
made against his life.
Two days ago Paderewslsi came hero
for treatment and to escape the annoy
ing letters which he has been receiv-
ing during the last twelve months. But
even whilo he talked an anonymous
| lettcr urging people to boycott his
concerts was delivered to him.
Paderewski granted an interview be-
cause ne wishes to correct misrepre-
sentation of his feeling toward the
great jewish race. He stated that pub
LEFTY would probably put an effectual
stop TO threatening and anonymous
letters, and at the same time let all
people know who doubt that he holds
no malice toward them. He believes
that his friends among the Jews
have known his real feeling toward
their race. IT Is to those who have not
known him that the musician wants to
reach with public explanation.
From Paderewski's interview, IL ap-
pears that he has been widely charged
with being n leader of an anti Semitic
movement. and of giving financial sup
port to an onti-Jewish publication In
poland. To these charges Paderewski
replies:
First. that no is not and never will
BIO leader or member OF any such
| movement.
Second. that he has never given
financial support to any anti-Semitic
publication in Poland.
Admlres the Rncc.
In addition to these dcnials the mu-
sician says that he ndmires tho genius
of the race, and that many of his
best friends are Jews.
lie believes, however, that tho 200
threatening and anonymous letters he
has received In the last thirteen months
have been written by persons who have
been misled concerning his opinions
of tho Semitic race. with equal con-
victlon he believes that he will re-
ccive no more threatening and annoy
nous letters when this denial Is as
widely read as the charges against
him have been.
After securing permission from his
physicians. II. T. Day and +. w. Saw
yer, Padercwski came from the mud
bathroom and began to explain the
genisis OF the threatening letters.
He talked without apparent nervous
ness, and went In TO the subject with
exhaustive detail. Hero is his state
ment
1T was In Switzerland, about eigh-
teen months ago, that ] received the
first OF tho threatening or anonymous
letters. ] had been touring tho con-
tnent and upon my arrival at my homo
| found batch of anonymous and
threatening letters. Then for the first
time l learned that n newspaper Diva
Groshe' had been started in Poland.
Its purpose, j learned later. was to
promote commercial solidarity among
my people. The great influx OF immi-
grants had endangered the prosperity
of the natives of Poland and the news
paper hnd been started to inspire cour-
age in the Poles who banded together
in a movement TO improve their con-
ditlons.
"IAlt ! was falsely charged In the
y DEMONSTRATION was also placed upon
the actual conditions In Poland. The
letters were of such threatening ma
ture that ] was greatly annoyed The
charge was untrue and this worried
me greatly. l rested for some time
and tried to put the incident out of
my mind.
Life In Threatened.
IN warsaw. Russia. my life was
threatened. All manner of destruction
was threatened. and in each letter some
portrayed. This has been true OF all
the letters I've received. so am sure
me that refused to see tho Journalists
did this because did not wish 10 in
flame the situation.
The Then l came came to America / had no
threats began TO come through the
friends, and they tried to learn the tn.
identity OF the annoyers. Some OF the
letters carried demand for money
Almost every one carried n threat of
a as nation. l gave out no inter
make matters worse. 1t was not until
o-day that decided to talk for pub
ncation. and to let the public know
At this tuncture in the interview n
circular postmarked San Francisco
Was iGenvered to Padcrewski, lie ner-
..HnSrins 'ore ~ open and exclaimed:
read IT,"
The circular ,!a,i read as follows:
innocent children. delicate women and
helpless old men? Then stay away from
fadercwski concerts"
This Is what Paderewski did with
ihe money earned in the United States:
fadcreWsk! gave 100000 to estab-
,ish me newspaper Diva Orosbe," pub
a i.!si,a,, ior 40 ether purpose than the
STA. "a NUS
'Paderewskrs generous contribution
inaue mat agitation successful, and to-
DAY everywhere IN Russia, desolate
women are weeping for their slaught-
cred babes. husbands and fathers.
n WIN YOU III hein raderewsii again to
contribute 10000 for murder?
San Francisco. great music lover
put better lover of humanity. will not
Heip INC SiauShtcr or innOCents
stay away from the Paderewski
conccrts!"
signed in san Francisco.
The letter was signed by several or
CARNATIONS having headquarters in san
Francisco.
1T is not true, and this letter must
be investigated. | VIII hire a LAWYER"
Paderewski exclaimed. There Is libel
In that. but they misunderstood
ITO go back | left New York on
my tour OF this country In Trenton
: the feeling against me was noted. but
1T was not until l reached St Louis
that | discovered just how widespread
the libel against me had become one
evening in December. just when nv
concert was TO open. a special delivery
letter was sent to me- My wife inter
1 ceptcd II. and with my secretary, she
read IL. They waited until after tho
concert. and could sec that something,
was wrong.
Finally / saw the letter 1t stated
That my car would be blown up by a
! bomb. II was then that ] notified the
police. No one disturbed us on the
night set for the destruction. The 20.
lice guarded my car, and ] felt so Sc
cure that we remained there over