New-York tribune., 1918-01-13

resignation. This would seem to be T
lair deduction. at least, from the
efforts which the publicity agent Of |
the Philharmonic Society. and Mr.. Viii
lard himself in his public statement,
made to present the members of the
orchestra (not the society> as 600 per
cent American" An announcement is
sacd by the management two months
ago laid stress upon the fact that forty
two OF tho players we're born in the
United States that only fourteen hailed
from Germany and Austria. that these
were al raturalzed as were all the
others who hailed from italy. Holland,
Belgium, Hungary, Bohemia, France,
Poland and Norway. Emphasis was also
laid upon the fact that members of the
orchestra had bought Liberty bonds to
the amount of Sl2.0 900. The statement
was obviously made to fcnd off an ac
cusation Of pro- Germansm on the part
Of the society. 1t has been noticeable,
100. that though Nh. Stransky, the
conductor. is an enemy alien, he has
exhibited a great measure of partial
ity toward American composers in the
composition OF his programmes and
THAI. like DR.. Muck at later period
he played "Thc Star-Spangled Banner"
oftcner than was necessary to satisfy
the patriotic desires OF his audience.
But Mrs. William Jay, who is on the
board OF directors Of the society, is
to ~tr to
everything German in both opera
; house and concert room. and it is very
likely that she has lifted her voice
and used her influence in the dircc-
! ton of her aversion in the coun
ellis Of the society. We would
5 dcprecate anything which savored
of chauvinisni in either opera
house on concert room. That was
the attitude taken by this newspaper
when the question of German opera
came to the front at the Metropolitan
Opera House. But while we felt that
Y there should be no taboo on Wagner's
~ lyric dramas, Tor instance, we felt that
q bar against enemy-alien singers WAS
!. entirely justifablc, especially since
among the singers Of American, Eng
% lish and italian birth there were
Il number who were thoroughly conver-
J. SAINT and experienced with Wagnerian
:. roles. Under such circumstances there
IT could be no charvinism toward art in
,c the withholding Of financial aid to cit
J. izens of the countries with which we
y arc at war. In fact, the prohibition
:, against German works has been VIC E.
y, ~ lated by the production of Flotow's
martha" (Which only a few cogno-
!" SCENT looked upon as a German opera)
'e and LISTS "St. Elizabeth" But there
1t is one considcrat tion which ought to
As have excluded some Of the compost
It, lions which have figured upon our or
is chestral lists regardless of the politi-
he cal affiliations or sentiments of the
o performers. Richard Strauss, Felix
Weingartncr and Engelbert Humper-
dinci were among the signers of the
document uttered by the German Gin
oi tcllectuals" in justification of the rape
on Of Belgium and other German atroci
r.. tics. Weinga.tner cuts no figure as /;
*. composer in this country, but his com
% panions do; and inasmuch as the,
,.2 both probably receive money for the
= =, r.ght OF performing their music. ethe1
NO directly or indirectly, it is possible tt
49, lock upon such performances as case
Of Grading with the enemy" which
S illegal as we'll as contrary t,
XII good patriotism and sound sense
lcr The case Of Strauss is peculiarl,
led nagrant He is in all respects rep
rcscutative Of the arrogant, unscrupu
!DUs Gcrmansm which was rampan
long before the WAY began and ha
been rurdcrously rampant ever since
i'S He has as thoroughly comm ercialize
=" his art as Germany has commcrcializ
ior her morals and intellectual and phys
nd col rouovs IL a;r,o,aj ,; ,.
owe for obligations, when, after permitt.n
50" firm Of pianofortc manufacturers t
IL" ray the losses on his "Strauss festival
'ho in New York and asking for an eXtr
as' concert as a farewell, he sold his SCI
'ea' vices to a rival dealer in pianofortt
e''l for an advertising concert and permi
-1"i ted it TO be advertised before The otht
OF concert was given. He showed his me
hat canary han. who, No cold to Nv U;,
iam Mason that what he was nfter W;
money. that when he had what he co,
YER scered enough he would not wri
Gil alo,hcr rotc. lie disclosed his sc
MS fish attitude toward music and h