St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-21
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miniStratiOns have taken a greater in
terest III the dramatic profession than
the one previous. He and the several
members of his several excellent COM
pameS are shown every courtesy, and
Especially in regard to securing in
formation regarding data for use i'll
future stage productions. Mr.. FrOhman
states further that the representatives
III Washington now consider any in
formation given in that way relating to
American productions as any advance
Eent OF Art. and certainly the dramatic
profession can now be considered all
art.
This idea for theatrical federation
was first suggested some Two years ago.
The purpose was to make the theatrical
profession 4 political power, able to die
ia1e certain legislation, to its own and
the general benefit. AS the actor, by
reason Of It's artistic vagerbOndage, had
nc vote. it was proposed that the disad-
vantage lie overcome, by affecting
union OF interests between actors and
several labor organizations throughout
the country. This could lie done,
Il was thought, if the 300 or
200 theatrical companies touring the
country would engage to give per-
formances at regular intervals. the net
receipts of which should go to the labor
fund. THUS. by providing the ''sinews
OF war; 10 enable organizations TO main
tain strikes. and so carry their point,
these organizations would become a
willing alley to the theatrical fedora
ton. AS the labor vote. in the opinion Of
promoters of the scheme, elects the
presidents, senators, congressman, ami
thereby, 10 quote their own words, ''the
stage would practically control every
political movement in America" The
audGcity Of the proposition was de-
lichtfu!, but the scheme itself but Wis
ionary.
IL the FIRST place. labor organizations
do hot control the entire vote of this
country. The professional students,
the army clerks. the pretty 'sEOpkeep-
ers, newspaper reporters, etc, belong
in fact, though not i'll theory. to the
working classes, and are a factor of or
gaDized labor. Moreover. the trades
ulihEs of the country are not Il unit in
politics, and probably never will be.
Besides this, any one who assumes that
the public is always in sympathy with
strikes is mistaken. TO be sure, many
of the strikes are failures from the fact
that strikers are not properly supplied
with funds for the carrying out OF their
designs. OF course, this is true, but the
paucity OF financial support given these
strikes does not only prove the poverty
Of the Knights of Labor, but also dem
onStrateS how little the public are in
sympathy with the attitude of the strik
ers in certain particular controversies,
and how widely labor organizations are
divided to the equity of occasional
Stands taken by these organizations.
Under certain conditions tile scheme
would be good one. If the labor party
represented the sum of human wisdom,
and "if'' strikes were always equitable
and in defense of divine prin-
cipie, ''if'' members of trades unions
were invariably loyal to country,
devoted to the common interests of So
ciety, and intelligent in the exercise of
rights and privileges; 'if'' theatrical
people were corresponding just and
judiciOuS, and ''if' it were possible to
unite all theatrical people in a common
cause, the organization of theSpian
political club to extend over the entire
country might be possible. Yes. l
thought to my friend at the next table
in the dining room of "Hotel Virginia"
if the theatrical profession were Organ-
lied into political union it
would be deal of power. Its
force would be felt in every quarter,
''hut'' nothing could be more fatal to
the stage than theatrlal federation, the
objects of which to be to prepare the
sinews of war for the announcement
and support of strikes. Aside from this,
what proportion of the 500 companies
travelling during the regular season
cOuid afford to give even one night of
their receipts for such support and ''it''
being able, would feel disposed 10 do so?
A theatrical federation in this country
could greatly benefit its Interests and
improve its coalition, were 1t one of
sound rules and general government.
Such an organization would be infinitely
better in its influence than a national
theater, and with such an organization
the stage would secure, by moral pres
sure and intelligent union the object
which its champions would expect.
But there is far more important
question to be considered in this rela-
ton of the stage with politics, and that
is the possible injury to the stage from
its utilization. When the existence of
the stage depends upon perfectly har-
mOnious adjuster of ITSELF to the needs
and pleasures OF any political party, it
would seem time to quit; and the QueS-
ton is vital one to the representatives
and guardians of the acted drama III
this republic. The stage i'll this country
today presents dramatic art in as
perfect form as even the best in
eXigent Paris, and ofteu refined
with that poetic spirituality to which
even the stage of France is a stranger,
but grant it to the power of politics and
it would soon become what that great
orator. Rufus Choate, declared the BOS-
ton commons would become if ever the
occupation of it should be granted to
the acqulsive desire of the Boston &
Providence Railroad company. AT
present it is a peaceful pleasure
ground,' he said. wherein your citi-
zens can walk abroad and recreate them
selves. Grant it TO this corporation,
and what follows? Etma- Vesuvius-
Strom boil OtOpaXi-heli."
CHARLES Aston PARKER.