New-York tribune., 1901-02-22
THE MERRY WHITE RATS.
THEY AGAIN TAKE SUDDEN LEAVE OF
VAUDEVILLE THEATRES

The white Rats are strok'ng their wh!skers with
the greatest cornplacency. They feel that the case
between themselves and the vaudeville managers is
fl their own hands. They are even vauutinS them
selves over the actors Of the regular stage and are
saying that il only twenty Of the regular actors
the right ones-had done three or four seasons
ago what they are doing there would never
havo been enough oc theatrical syndicate 10 dts
turb anybody
Tho White Rats the association Of variety actors
concerning which much has been written lately
again won't Il strike yesterday They refused
10 act in theatres where they were engaged from
Richmond to Montreal and from Boston to Detroit
In the most OF the houses their places were sup
piled without uuch loss Of time Whether the sub
stitutri acts good the original ones
was n matter Of taste. The strike extended over
the Keith and the Proctor circuits and many
less prominent house.
4 few days ago there was a similar but less OK
tended strike OF the White Rats on account OF the
commissions deducted from their salaries by the
Vaudeville Managers Association OF America. y
partial understanding was then arrived ar, and
the Rats went on entertaining the pOpulace The
relief promised immediate however and
they seem To have become impatient one report
Yesterday the effect that the White Rats
had heard that the managers were raising a large
fund for the purpose Of lighting them Roster &
Rials and the New-York Theatre were not affected
by the strike
Three brooklyn variety theatres were affected
i'm the Eastern District. Performances were given
however. last night. The managers were rather
taken by surprise in the afternoon. when the mem,
bers Of the White Rats refused 10 90 on the
stage. BY much hustling, however. and some ma
nipulation. the performances were continued The
managers AT once began hunting In the hiehways
and byways for vaudeville talent. and by evening.
had prepared fun bills. Before the first number
the managers explained the situation 20 the audi
ences. read the programmes that had been pre-
pared. and gave all the privilege Of retiring and
getting their money back. This privilege was taken
advantage OF in only n few instances
B. r. Keith last night authorized the following
statement
TLirty-three acts went out on my circuit to-day
which includes Mr.. Albee's Providence house. ana
would say that there was not the slightest delay
IN the performances, their places being hled by
as TO aggregate greater number of first class acts
than previously the bills. We are at q
loss 10 understand the reason for such hasty and
McouSlder4te action. We have idea OF what 10
was for. inasmuch the majority OF the mem hers
of the Eastern Board had been earnestly az work
endeavoring TO secure the abolishnG Os commits
by the White Rats. At our last meeting IL was
voted by majority OF the Eastern members 10
abolish commissions. This 20 be ratified by the
thtfe association on March D. The committee OF
the White Rats understood this thoroughly. and
also understood that IL not possible for 20
pun this In operation prior 10 that date the
were not present at the last meeting, and their
Views must be considered this subject The
White Rats were assured however, that every
member or the Eastern Association would use his
influence at the meeting March to have the
commissions abolished that day After practi-
e2!ly accepting this and holding jollihcaton over
suddenly struck them that they might as we'll have
this thing closed up little quicker.