The sun., 1888-12-21
THE MANIAC ERS DIVIDED.
SOME OPPOSING views ON TEE SUB
JECT OF PROTECTION FOR lCT0Ra

Excfude Cheap Engianh Actors, Whno
Messrr. Frohnan, Tonpkins, and Cct,-
stock believe Americans Can Take Caro-
OF ThemreIves-Tho Admirable Dollar.
The idea OF protection to American actors
is becoming more generally discussed by
theatrical people every day. 1t was at first
supposed that the rank and flle in the profess
sion would support tho petition presented to
the Ford committee In Congress- and that
managers would oppose It. Investigation.
however docs not bear out this view or six
managers approached by q SUN reporter yester-
day, three opposed and three favored the
project. and there is reason to believe that the
other managers In town are similarly divided.
though not, perhaps, 30 evenly. Foremost
among tho advocates OF protection ia A. M.
Palmer Of the Madison Square. He looked up
from lot Of handsome checks which he was
signing, and said:
believe the American actors should get ns
much pay as possible for their work. and am
henrtily in favor OF any measure that tends to
enhance their prosperity. Therefore, I sup
port the petition to the Ford committee. Fur
ther than that do not care to 20. for my rea-
sons are clearly stated In the petition"
Eugene Tompkins and Alexander Comstook
were In the managers Office at the Academy OF
Music. Tho idoa ia ridiculous" said Mr..
Tompkins. American actors have not SUI
fered in the least degree from the competition
OF Englshmen. On the contrary, while foreign
combinations have been doing moro and moro
business here, the pay Of native actors has
steadily increased. Twenty-Five years ago
Rose Etynges leading lady received $40 week.
Lending men OF flrst-rate ability could be OBJ
tanned ut $50. Not long after that, Charles
Coghlan was employed as leading man at $75,
high salary at the time. Now such talent as
that commands from twice to four times rs
much. The pay OF the rank and file also has
increased. ! remember when ordinary stock
actors were secured at $40, k12, $15 and some-
times s1S week. The general dissolution OF
stock companies, leading to travelling COM
binations, has led in itself to somewhat higher
rates. but the increase from that cause alone
would not have raised the figures to tho amount
now paid. There is no indication In this that
Americans have suffered from importation OF
foreign talent
Now. have had q good many dealings with
English actors. and know that when you talk
American ,engagements to 1T them up !. g their
over hero several years ago, had to pay him
at the start Just twice as m much h as he & was get
cure cure "a ieadna man nan for mis- Miss ma MaroWe. sp-
proached two or three Americans, and they de-
Then made an offer to young Engishman
who had played minor roles here with Irving.
ne Sa
American actors do not need proteetion."
.. .Them's my sentiments" ,I a 1uoted, , M Com,
whether it is American acting or English act;
ing they see as long as It Is good show. and
from securing their actors where they can get
them at the best advantage. The English have
such exaggerated notions about American
wealth that we cannot get companies there any
cheaper than here. Even Mr. Irving and Mr..
Barrett have to pay their companies at SUBJ
stantially American rates when they come over
Exactly 7; exclaimed Mr.. -Tompkins "and I
2. er
season to compete with Americans ut cut rates.
Miss Milward was here for time. but even
she has returned to England.
Daniel Frohman Of the Lyceum was talking
with an actor in his home company about this
tHnateiy the actor declined to permit the use
of his name. on the ground that his sentiments
%gh ss 1 the 9Ssss Il
ieIt that there should Be ? regard e the dIE-
Ing @ to stand % on their indiyidsai pI merits and
seek for enEasements wherein they were want
cans. ca gsMF M. Froh@an hs 1s' said: 'o' "''' A"'
~ oppose the movement. y is question
want want SALARY is a Sc secondary matter. f II can can
i mean to do SO. Nevertheless / seldom ind it
advisable to cross the ocean to find talent suit
able to my needs. l have employed as many rs
l5U actors ut u time. their engagements extend
men or women in that number has never been
over five. Those five were people that ss-
pe and there M,b really
mar ket should be open to managers, especially
as they look not for low rates, but for ability.
the eompetition of superior talent.
American actors at $40 week. This seems @ to
me TO be low. The average In my companies is
are walking the streets. The profession has
more mem bers than places. yet the competition
is not fOr places by the actors but Tor talent by
up Il should be remembered too that The
English DO not get 50 much less pay as appears
% oy mere S tSan aae ae cost
call several instances where English actors
have been induced to come over here at about
the rates they received at home and at the end
Of u season they had to 90 back in debt. When
Englishmen settle here. L find that they very
soon raise their own rates to the level paid to
Americans"
Wesley Sisson. manager Of Palmer's. said:
am FREQ trader in politics. and therefore
opposed to all kinds OF protection Yet in this
matter cannot see why actors should not be
included III tho labor contract law as well rs
Gtes consistent. and i have no % doubt that it
would benefit the profession greatly; l base
have at least two, and generally three, English
companies before the public for season of
could not have cost him less than IS 900 a Week.
Alr. Barrett.s $1,000 and the London Gaiety.
noW 1o the amount Raa thess tS
gether and multiply by 80 ana you have
Quarter Of q million dollars that goes into
cure, American companies the profession
would be benelted TO that extent. 1t will be
4 they, could not bring their own companies.
North American dollar TOO highly to stand on
class played with American support. and Irving
would do it also. he would give lust as good
IL performance. too. for he would come over
hero a month IN advance OF his oneniuC and
Train his American actors until they could
DO things exactly according to his ideas.
Ny second reason Is. artistic in its
irqntiers, and that this measure would
restrict the enjoyment OF artistic performances
and the cultivation OF dramatic art in America.
Bosh!, There Is no artistic impulse gained
from the rank and file OF even such company
as Mr.. Irving's; They appear. play superbly.
DRY in the minds. OF those who saw the show.
Whereas, II American actors were engaged TO
support Mr: Irving. from supers up to but not
including Miss Terry. every one OF them would
ady otni,, "A,