The evening world., 1888-12-15
THE RIALTO FOR AMERICANS.
WITH ONE VOICE 1T SAYS FOREIGN CON-
TRACT ACTORS MUST GO.
Veteran Actors and Managers Back the APP
peal to the Ford Immigration
Competent American Members Of the
Profession Kept Idle by Cheap Foreign
Compnnies.

peal to the Ford Immigration
Competent American Members Of the
Profession Kept Idle by Cheap Foreign
Companies.
The news that Louis Aldrich, Harley Merry
and Frank Sanger Committee Of the Actors
Order of Friendship. had appeared before
Congressman Ford's Investigating Commit
tee at Washington and asked for an amend
ment to the Foreign Contract Labor law,
which would bring foreign actors. except
" stars" under the provisions of the statute,
has stirred up the 600 idle American actors in
this city and all their brethren who are busy.
Actors, managers. agents and everybody
connected with the theatrical business in any
manner, are discussing the matter on the
Rialto, at the dramatic agencies. in the
Actors Fund rooms, and in the hotels and
resorts on 1.-The Square," and there Is but
one sentiment among them-that the foreign
actor who comes over here under cohtract
made i'll Europe must go.
All are praying for the adoption OF the
amendment by Congress. and not a few are
very emphatic in their language against the
importation of foreign companies. They do
not object to stars of exceptional talent and
renown and think the line can be drawn be-
tween the ordinary and the extraordinary
actor.
An EVENING WORLD reporter caught O num-
Der of the profession ut the customary
views, which are s%ubioined rs an evidence OF
the general feeling among the actors OF this
city
formerly of Shook & Collyer, of the Union
Square Theatre nm heartily in favor OF the
amendment. don't see why the law should
not apply to all actors as well as 1t does to
ministers of the gospel.
CT, 49, p,ol lyrnrr dramatic opant
at the Fund Rooms, was foundb busy, endeav:
oring to get engagements for several hundred
idle American actors. He said II am
American in every sense, and am heartily In
accord with the views expressed by Messrs.
Aldrich and Sanger.
Last week l made up a close summary Of
the idle acting people in the United States
snd found 800, 800 of whom are in this city,
including all grades OF actors except variety
and minstrel performers. We have four
first. class leading men in New York unable
to get employment. and two next in rank as
leading men. as we'll as q number of good
leading ladies, good comedians good .oid
There are now in this country four entirely
foreign companies, each containing an aver
age of twenty-five persons. and all the cos
tunes. scenery and properties, &C., are I'M
ported"
Nat Jones, a veteran actor. of Boston, who
was with John Stetson for fourteen seasons
as an eccentric comedian, said: Il am OPP
posed strongly to thisi importation of foreign
companies under contract, and l know oil
American actors will back the Committee
now at Washington in all they have said.".
c.. H. Bradshaw. for five years comedian
with Lotta-lt is a capital move. l can only
r~eiterate the views expressed by the Commit
tee. There is no mistake about foreign i'm.
portations running American actors. If the
thing continues American actors must take 6
back seat.
Frank Kendrick. comedian Of Johnny
Wild's company-The movement is O very
good one. have no objection to the English
actor if he comes on the same equality as the
caiiy to foreign contract labor.
Ben Baker, the old-time veteran actor ant
Assistant Secretary of the Actors Fund
Mr.. Aldrich has expressed my views fully
We want no foreign actors to come herr
under contract and throw our citizens int
idleness.
John L. Saphore, of the Actors Fund, ant
n veteran actor and manager-We must tax,
care of our own people. Ii L had my way no
a foreign company should come here unde
contract.
daughter is the wife of Joseph WheeIock-
American actors should be protected.
rich's MY Partner" company-Mr. Aid
rich has expressed my views fully.
John H. Anderson. actor and manager
the American actor Q fair chance, and I hop
the bill will pass, Many actors have not ha'
an engagement in two or three months ant
are really in great need and have families de
pendent on them.
John Sutherland, actor-I am strongly i
favor of the proposed amendment. We wan
no foreign companies here under contrac
any more than our mechanics want gangs G
foreign workmen who are hired in Europe 9
less than American wages.