New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-11
An Empty Feud

II AMES S. METCALFE, whose dis
taste for The Tribune can no lon
ger be entirely expressed in his
own publication, Life" has written an
article in "The Atlantic Monthly" en-
titled "Dramatic Criticism in the Ameri-
can Press Two names are mentioned
William Winter and The New York
Tribune. The writer says
When the late William Winter lost his
position as dramatic critic of The New
York Tribune The event marked not alone
the virtual disappearance from the Amer
lcan press Of dramatic criticism as
fathers knew and appreciated it: the cir
cumstances of the severance of his half
ccnturys connection with that publca-
tion also illustrate wildly principal
rccson for the extinction of criticism as
it used to be.
AT the time mentioned The Tribune
had not fallen entirely from its early
estate 1t was still journal for readers
VINO thought. Its strong political PARTISAN
SNIP limited its circulation, which had
been Tor some time declining 1t had
peen hurt by the fierce competition of
its sensational and more enterprisinr
contemporaries. The Tribune could not
afford to lose any of the Advertising
revenue which was essential to its very
existence
MI Winter would not write to orders
lie had certain prcjudces but they were
honest ones. and those who knew his
work were able to discount them in sift-
lng his opinions. For instance, he had a
sturdy hatred for the Ibsen kind of dis
sec''onai drama, and it was practically
impossible for him to do Justice even to
Sood acting IN plays of this school
IN broader way he was the enemy of
uhcieanness on the stage For this rca-
SON ne mad frequently denounced a power
luI "r}n OF managers whom he held to
D" Principally responsible for tho at
"rSV lnsidlous and then rapid growth
OF lndccency IN our theatre. These man,
ayers controlled large amount of the
theatrlcal advertising. The Tribune fro
qucntly printed on one page large adj
Vcftisements of the enterprises these mon
represented and on another page thew
WouIo ina themselves described in Mr.
'htcrs most vigorous English. as
Fanders who were polluting the theatre
ana Its patrons. They knew The Trjbunc,s
weak financial condition and demanded
mat Nr. Winters pen be curbod. tho
alternative being withdrawal Of their
advertising subsidy. What happened then
was a scandal, and is history in thu
newspaper and theatrical world
Mf. inter refused to be muzzled y,
sp''e OIL half ccnturys faithful service
ne was practically dismissed from tho
atah Oh me Tribune. If it had not been
lof notable benefit performance givnn
Tor him by artists who honored him arI
generously patron:zed by his friends and
,he punllc who knew his work. his last
days would have been devoid of comfort
We know that Mr.. Metcalfe intends 70
be unlriendly. We do not know how nm
IAN he means to be. Mr.. Winter was
not dismissed" from The Tribune
'practlcally' or otherwise. On tho con-
trary, he was begged to stay. He was
adored by the members of the editorial
STAN, and The Tribune's feeling for hin,
was ana stlIl is, one of unlimited esteem
anc affection. 1t is delicate subject for
many personal reasons. No restrictions
were ever placed upon the exerc;so Of
VII. winters critical genius; the onlv
RUE was that personal attacks upon
actors and managers should bo avoided
ana that no reflections should be made
upon race or religion. In his later wears
MI. Winter seemed to share Mr. Mot
cal1e's passionate anti-Semitic obsecs;o,,