The Washington times., 1894-11-05
DRAMA OF ANOTHER SORT
Production Of MADAME Sans Gene"
May Be Interfered With.
MR.. PITOU PLAYS PEACEMAKER
Called Upon to Settle an Old Controversy
Between Union Men and Manager Allen
The Former Threaten a Boycott on Al
baugh's Theater-Union Men May Go Out

Whether the scenery of "Madame Sans
Gene shall be shifted by union or non-union
men is question which has been bothering
Mr.. Augustus Pitou and Manager Allen. Of
Albaugh's Opera House, somewhat for the
past day or two.
This question was raised by the executive
board of local union No. 80, of the National
Alliance of Stage Employees 1t has been
settled for the present adversely to the local
union.
At the last meeting of the Federation OF
Labor, which was held October %, a boycott
was placed upon Albaughs Opera House.
The boycott was not put in force Immediately
1t was held in abeYance until final efforts for
a settlement OF matters in controversy be-
tween the union and Manager Allen could be
made.
No settlement has been effected. Manager
Allen has not come to terms with the union
and the boycott will be declared in force at
once.
There is long story back of the action of
the Federation OF Labor. Last June a local
branch of the National Alliance of Stage En-
ployes was formed here. Since that time 1Ir.
Allen has steadily declined to comply with the
demands Of the local Stage Employees Union.
He has been approached frequently with the
same invariable result.
When the production at Albaugh's Theater
OF Madame Sans Gene" by one OF Mr.. Pltou
companies was announced, the executive
board of the local union thought they saw an
excellent opportunity to bring some influence
to bear on Mr. Allen that might effectively
ofl ATr iG a fripp1
gauized labor. He employs none but union
stage hands in his productions. 1t occurred
to the local union men TO ask Mr.. Pltou TO ar
que their case with Mr.. Allen.
To this end Mr.. J. b. Fenton, president OF
No. y; ?. a. Ryan. chairman Of the eXecu-
tive board, and Adam Johnson, another
member OF the board, sought and obtained
! an interview with Mr.. Pitou at the Randall.
| Mr. Pitou received these gentlemen with his
usual courtesy. They presented to him the
/ d STABILITY OF avoiding II boycott by having
his production handled by union stage hands,
and suggested that his influence with Alr.
! Allen be used with the view OF having Inc
threatened boycott lifJed.
Mr. Pitou replied that under his contract
! with Mr.. Allen he was compelled to produce
! his piece the only condition being that COM
/ pelent stage hands should be furnished 10y
/ Mr. Allen. II Mr. Aliens present force should
/ prove Incompetent, Mr.. Piou explained, II
was Willll lis power 10 llSlSt LldL tIic lAtOil-
! petents be replaced by men able to do the
/ work required.
/ The local union is not quite through with
! Messrs. Pitou and Allen. Mr.. Pitou carries
! with him four stage hands who are union
men. During the past week Mr.. Pitou has
received an intimation from Secretary Glen
ney. Of the National Alliance of Stage En-
! ployes. whose headquarters are at Chicago
/ that unless matters are satisfactorily arranged
/ here his four union stage hands may be called
! out The local union is in constant COM
/ munication with headquarters, and has as
! surance that any action recommended at this
end OF the line will be approved and backed
! by the national organization. 1t is therefore
/ within the bounds OF possibility that labor
drama viii be enacted al Albaugh's tonight
/ instead of a Napoieonic intrigue.
! Manager Allen, however, laughs at this
! suggestion.
There ISN'T the slightest trouble between
me and the union, he said. Il simply Will
not treat with them
! AS a matter Of TACT, the scenery of the first
/ production OF Madame Sans Gene will have
/ one Of the most expensive and elabOralestage
mountiBgs ever seen in Washington. Mr..
/ Pitou has been working hard on the prepara-
tion5 and it is believed that he will 20 10 any
extreme rather than allow any delays in the
/ scene shifting tonight.