The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-21

you have no right to question the
Americanism of any man unless there Is
an overt act on his part which puts him
outside the pale OF Americanism' the
Mayor said.
Flew German Flag.
A rattle of applause from the legion
men was provoked by Mr.. Marshs re-
ply that II the opera people were truly
American they would mot be Haunting
German opera and language in the faces
of American citizens at this time" He
insisted that the real question was
whether or no the production was
American in spirit ud that the direc-
torship of Goritz proved that such was
not the case. If the opera was given
by patriots, why was It not given in the
American language, which Is gooo
enough for us and ought to be FOR
them" he added. He said that Goritz,
before we entered the war, flew the Ger
man flag without the american flag at
his place In the Adirondacks.
but that is not true" spoke up one
of the opera company men,
at is true. SIR" said McMarsh. land
people now in this room saw IT." The
speaker also referred TO a newspaper
article In which Goritz was charged with
having sung a pro-German song at la
party given by Nine. Gadski after the
Lusitania was sunk, in which song, said
McMarsh, the singer mimicked the
shrieks Of the dying on the Lusitania.
He protested that GoritZ was not a MT
man from the American standpoint and
that those who would support him were
not true Americans. He quoted Bruce
Bielaski, former head Of the investiga-
ton bureau OF the Department of JUS
tice as having said that the resumption
of German opera was first step in the
resumption OF German propaganda in
this country.
81 want to find out" the Mayor re-
marked, whether this is fight be-
tween the Metropolitan Opera Company
and the Star Opera Company and
whether Mr.. Schwab and the others are
acting only in the interests of patriotism
or whether they are acting as the Met
ropolitan Opera Company wants them
to act"
The man referred to. Harold NJ.
| Schwab. president of the Manhattan
Naval Post of the American Legion, had
| told the Mayor last week that he had
been accused. In his fight on German
| opera, Of being in the pay of the Metro
| politan. which he hotly denied.
| Henry S. Miller of the Washington
| Heights Post deplored the 'impudence
of the German opera producers. He said
that Goritz was the brains OF the pro-
\ duction and had been discharged by the
Metropolitan Opera Company in 1917 be-
cause OF known ro-German sentiments
He charged Goritz with not only praisihe
at Nine. Gadshs party the U-boat that
sank the Lusitania but OF expressing the
hope that there might be many more
Americans on the next ship sunk.
| He Is consistent In expressing avowed
contempt for the American people but
(, is ready to take the good old American
| dollars" said Miller. Sounds of shocked
| protest arose on the opera side of the
house. Miller. turning. said: Look al
the contrast here. l see kulturish look
ing gentlemen on the one hand (derisivt
laughter from the opera group anC
clean cut American youths on the Other
Applause from the American youths).
From a front seat arose a boyish look
ing veteran whose stiff right hand was
gloved. He was William ]. CHAMPION.
I'm a wounded man myself" he said
That (polnting to the HANDY was giveT
me by a German. Our post is opposed
unanimously to anything German at thi,
time. It's like hinging red flag in oul
faces I have been wounded a doZer
countenance anything German at THU
time"
The boy turned with flashing eyes t.
the opera representative and then bacl
| to the Mayor saying:
1--WE feel that there is no reason why
people who look just like the people
met in Relleau Wood, where 1 wa
wounded. ehould come along now anC
fling the German language in our faces,
The next spokesman for the legion wa!
w. G. Brewer Of the Manhattan Nava
Post.
"Your were overseas2" inquired th'
Mayor.
IT have four gold caevrons, sir.
Brewer said. This signifies two years
service abroad.
There is only one representative o.
German kultur that I'd care to sec anC
that is the kind saw in France shout
ing 'Kamerad.'" Brewer said. "If thu
Star Opera Company would present kul
tur as we knew It, starting with th'
bombing of hospitals and winding vi
with double octette OF American sea
men standing naked on the deck OF {
submerging submarine in the North Sci
oh, 1 can't say It (the speaker