New-York tribune., 1917-11-27
The Question of Money
German Musicians Should Have M
Chance to Send Dollars Home
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Current attacks on the Metropol,.,
Operas course in eliminating German works
from its productions arc surprisingly unapi.
nous in their disregard Of one essential
probability: that of every dollar paid for
seats at German opera a portion presunab,v
would be sent TO Germany. The argument
as TO our duty to cherish pleasant assoeis.
tions with the language of Schreeklichkeit il
another matter; SO is the consideration ths,
every American present at Teutonic per.
formance adds unit of force TO the Ger.
man claim. that our sympathies are divided.
Let those arguments pass. The real srd
practical aspect of the matter concerns Ii.
German artists disposal Of his pay. In u.
absence of public declarations from any a.
them it is pertinent to consider motives and
possibilities.
Less than year ago certain German
musicians were publicly boasting Of their
German allegiance. Have any of these trans
ferred their sympatEies? OF those who more
dscreetly held their tongue, have any given
public expression OF allegiance to this coun.
pro-Germanism. AS TO those who remain
silent on the subject I submit that we have
no right to assume that their attitude has
changed. 1t is for US, not for them, to de.
mand evidence.
So much for motives. Now, these musi
clans collectively are financial factor no.
TO be ignored. If the printed stories Of the
earnings Of some of them be true, or even
half true, the sum of American dollars paid
into their hands for a seasons performances
reaches into the millions. As another item
add royalties on phonograph records which
are said by phonograph publicity people to
reach high figures. The artists receipts
from this source are, broadly speaking pro.
portionate to his popularity in public per.
formances. 1t follows that phonogrspb
royalties are to be considered as part Of h,
artists pay when we attend opera or coneer.
What do the Germans do with this money,
In their ambiguous silence. has any one
right to assume that they do not turn nor.
or less Of it, directly or indirectly, sgsins.
our government and our troops? Before the
American pays any more money whatever to
persons of doubtful allegiance is it not
duty of decent citizenship TO seek some as.
surance as TO the moneys ultimate use,
Expressions of willingness TO play "The Star.
Spangled Banner" signify nothing. A praet.
cal measure of the aliens allegiance Is 10
the manner Of his disposal of his money.
Instead of subjecting our potential enemies
to ordeals Of flag waving, would it not be per-
tinent to ask them how many Liberty bonds
they have bought with their American dol.
lars. Who is not indeed an enemy should
be glad to show his hand. lie should DO it
voluntarily; an eminent and excellent Amer.
lean of German birth has furnished the
example.
The German musician--and butcher. baker
and candestick maker as well--who is not
abusing our tolerance can prove it without
the loss of much time or Of any dignity Il
will do his standing no harm to disavow the
doctrine Of might is right; to stop whining
that the Bryce report on Belgian atroct.
is perjury, circulated by bribed press; u
openly recognize that this is no time 70,
debates on the right of free speech. But,
above all, let him show what he does with
his money. The virtuoso who counts his
gains in tens of thousands might we'll have
his accounts convincingly audited, and the
result published, if he is on the level. Have
any of our temporarily unemployed German
musicians done any OF these things! Or
descending the scale from the virtuoso TO
the mere fiddler has the manager Of any
orchestra openly stated how many Of bis
Germans are good Germans? He can md
out if he wants to; it certainly is our duty
to know. And it is wrong TO 90 on providing
means to the increased influence Of possible
enemies.
For the Metropolitan Opera to have chosen
any other course in regard to the seasons
repertory would have been unthinkable.
Criticism of that course can no longer re.
treat to the neutral domain Of questions oi
taste. The United States is at war with
Germany. To choose TO put into German
hands money that by any possibility may
give aid and comfort to the enemy reveal.
either ar innocent disregard Of the prse'cs
aspect of the matter. or a not = all inno'
cent but very careful consideration OF II
TROY KINNEY