The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14

sheet first mentioned became suspicious
that those of the smaller periodical were
| cleaning their lists OF attractions from
the pages of their rival. Harrison Grey
Fiske inserted in his Dates Ahead" the
name of troupe that does no exist. gave
il towns wholly imaginative and waited
results. The following issue o. the week
| ly aforesaid repeated the item and as
surance became double sure
| Still Mr. Fiske was not satisfied Adopt
| ing much-used plan, he took the words
Fake Route and. by shifting the letters
| Of the adjective and spelling the noun
| phoneucally. altered them to Root Keaf.
1 ms designation appeared too evidently
! false even for n repertoire troupe but 1t
was duly supplied with bookings and ad
ded to the Dates Ahead The confession.
we Steal. was selected for the name of
a manager The Mirror of December
30 told OF the supposed combination thus:
:, Root caf CW. Il. Steele. mgrJ: Cambri,ge.
| vile, Jan. l6.
OF course it is needless to remark that
me burgs picked never were born" aud
! didn't choose Topsy's tactics and ''just
! grow Briefly. there are no such places.
Inc contemporary was not issued for
fortnight, but when next it took posi-
! ton on the stands 1t corresponding col
umn announced:
| Raot-Keaf (w. /. Steele, mgr.): Weisvillc, y
! G., l-6.
The Mirror ends its story Of the af-
! fair with the statement. Comment is not
necessary" This dismissal seems to throw
away an excellent moral. The moral is:
/ The operations of highwaymen
are greatly facilitated by the possession of
little common sense and trifiin;, knowI-
edge of geography
Full of the spirit OF the time. the vau-
deville agents of the country are making
an effort TO form trust. secure the book
ing of all speciality peopis, and. having
thus cornered the market. exact double
their present rates for providing man
ayers with bills. Offices already have been
rented in New York and three or four
prominent firms have pooled their inter-
ests in the association. A big syndicate
seems inevitable.
Only one danger appears TO threaten the
enterprising gentlemen involvod-their
frankness They have openly aYerred their
intention OF combining for the sole purpose
OF Increasing their profits. The approved
method is very different According to
precedent. the founders should quietly have
approached both parties to their negoti-
atoms before making any announcement
they should have told house proprietors
how their operations would so dominate
the field that they would be able to force
performers to work at half existing figures
Then they should have told performers how |
that same dominance would render it |
necessary for the aforesaid proprietors to |
pay well for attractions They should have |
explained to the public the philanthropy |
and artistic tendencies of their move. And. !
finally. having got the aid of all. they |
might have risen in their power and have |
done as they pleased. This Is the regular |
fashion of forming such organizations and |
the vaudeville agents may atone dearly for |
not adhering to it. Under the circum-
stances. no one need be surprised il /
managers and managed simply boycott |
the aspiring unionists and carry out their /
dealings through less dangerous channels. |
In everything except secrecy the plans
OF the embryo syndicate are conventional. /
The results attained are to be the same old
results and the means selected are the |
same old means. There will be monopoly.
Theatres the owners OF which do not &C
cede TO trust terms will be unable TO Sc
cure players. Players who rebel will be
unable to appear. History may be counted
upon to repeat itself There will be pro-
tests and threats and submission. Indi-
viduals will hold ont a bit. and then sur
render Internationally. The whole affair
has become familiar in precedent. Ulti-
mately. the combination will be in absolute
control-this of course IL the present ideas
are successfully used.
a second-slghtlst is not needed to tell
the probable end OF the new jointure. The
founders of the syndicate may be hus-
tiers" they certainly are not original.
or course, is is likely that the jury
in the Julia Morrison murder case. a;
Chattanooga. knows more about the trial
than can any outsider. but the verdict IA
voring the woman is not NEE ing With q
kindly reception in professional circles.
There seems to be a general feeling that
this verdict ives not warranted by the facts 7
presented and that Miss Morrison's acquit-
tai was the result OF mistaken chivalry on
the part Of the people OF the town in the
principal theatre OF which Frank Leiden
was so brutally killed. The universal be-
lief is that the actress shot her stage
manager chiefly in a desire Or notoriety.
and. this being true the indignation is
great.
Without presuming to quarrel with the
chattanooga courts. il may be remarked /
hat Miss Morrisons behavior has not COM
bated the possibly unchsritable opinion
to which allusion has been made From |
the beginning. she appeared to be adopting
the tawdriest and cheapest devices for
gaining sympathy, her attitude being con-
sistcntly that of a poseur. She was treated
In manner more BETTING conquering
hero than a criminal. Various things said
and done by her strengthened her posi-
ion in Tennessee, but prejudiced observ-
'rs. A New York paper recently publish
III picture Ia which the murderess was
ihown with uplfted hands before a cross
IN The wall of her cell. The maudlin SEN
iment of this drawing way plain in much
hat was attempted by Miss Morrison dur
ng the trial-or so say theatrical folk
Most Of these amateur judges express the
dea that the mask was OFF when, the even
ng OF her acquittal. the woman announced !
Ter intention Of lecturing on a subject, In
crest in which might be- supposed to have
,een aroused by her case
Naturally. a large part Of this adverse :
'riiicism arises from personal feeling. and
he remainder from surmise. The chat ,
anooga jury undoubtedly acted on convic- +
ion Parenthetically. however. IL NAV be :
tated that the fact that she sho, her stage :
manager gives Miss Morrison no right TO a | >
'lace on the lyceum platform. and her as i
umption OF that position will be parallel h
With the starring Of pugilists and burglars !
hat slowly is going out Of fashion.
There Is TO be another raise in prices
his week at the National. where Olga =
comes with Clyde ritrh's u
Sappho." Patrons Of the house. who fire. d
uently may have been called upon TO nav g
egular rates for performances much be- q
Ow the standard. will be asked to submit c
o the elevation ON the ground that the @
lmost untried presentation is something Il
bove that standard. This appears TO he d