New-York tribune., 1918-03-14
Mrs. William Jay Plays 'Trumps'
In Fiqht to Bar DR.. Muck Here
Boston Symphony Orchestra Leader Must Answe
Questions Concerning His Patriotism or She Will
Take Other Measures She Declares

The first "trump card" in the fight
organized against DR.. Karl Muck's ap-
pearance tonight in Carnegie Hall
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
is an open letter to him signed by Mrs.
William Jay. leader of the subscribers
to the concerts who object to having
their music directed by an enemy
alicn.' Mrs Jay asks DR.. Muck some
questions in the letter and demands
that he declare himself on the point of
his citizenship before he enters Carne-
gle Hall tonight. In case Dr. Muck
refuses to answer her questions, Mrs.
Jay and her friends will then play
their other trump card,' presumably
an ace.
The letter to Dr. Muck reads:
CAS- conductor of the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra, you are to appear in
New York City on Thursday night in
spite OF protest, signed by group of
responsible American citizens, which has
been denied by Major Henry l.. Higgin-
son, the supreme head of the orchestra.
There has been brought to my atten-
ton an excerpt from a letter from
Major Henry l.. Higginson to the editor
of The Chronicle dated October 23,
1917. There was this reference to you:
Bear in mind that Doctor Muck is
Swiss citizen, born and brought up in
Germany and of German parentage. He
has lived in Germany all his years and
has many friends there
'"The New York public has every
right to receive from you enlighten-
ment as to your nationality.
care Won q SWicc citi2an
"If so, when wer you naturalized?
Have you passport issued by the
Swiss government?
"Have you ever served in the Ger
man army?
"Have you ever referred to the Amer
icen flag with contempt?
"lf you have paers attesting to your
Swiss citizenship, will you show them
to representative of our group before
you appear in Carnegie Hall?
viii you agree to answer these
York City which represents the citi-
zens of New York, or else will you re-
tire permanently from public musical
life %
Says DR.. Muck Will Not Conduct
Zone thing is certain. Dr.. Muck will
not conduct tonight" declared Mrs
Jay yesterday.
Major Henry l.. IIigginson, presi-
dent Of the Boston Syrlphony Orches-
ira, who has stood firmly behind Dr.
Muck since the outbreak of the war,
issued the following statement ycster-
day in regard to the activities of Mrs
Jay and the subscribers she represents:
GAS Mrs. Jay and other ladies are
vigorously opposing the two concerts
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
which are due this week and are mis-
taken in various statements which they
make, let me give the facts.
Following an attack of The Provi-
dcnce Journal in November, based on
a false statement that DR.. Muck had
refused to play The Star-Spang.ed
Banner various people have conceived
that Dr. Muck is dangerous to the
United States.
DIR. Muck was born at Darmstadt,
Germany; was made Swiss citizen in
his CHILDHOOD and bears Swiss citizen
ship papers and passport to-day. He
has exercised his profession in various
places, and last in Berlin. He came
here some years ago, stayed two years
went back to complete his engagement
in Berlin. which he did in 1912, and
then returned here.
He has not been loaned by any
body and is under no engagement to
anybody. He has never refused to play