New-York tribune., 1901-03-07
RATS CLAIM VICTORY.
| IsHED THE COMMISSION BECAUSE
THEY WANTED TO

The White Rats were full Of joy last night be
cause OF alleged victory over the Vaudeville
Managers Association. Everybody knows that the
White Rats variety actors who recently or
ganzed a strike because OF a commission OF per
cent their salaries charged by the managers OF
the vaudeville houses. account 81 the rule OF
the managers association. \ meeting Of the man
ayers held IN the st. James building yester-
day. and IL was decided that the commission should
be abolished The Managers version OF how this
came about is told in statement authorized last
night by d. T. Henucssy, The manager Of the east
ern office of the association This statement was
In part follows:
The question . q abolishing the commission
members on February ana So decJsred EaS'fFe a fbe
public as weH as the performers. but the
association. twenty days notice was necessary be
fore the recommendation OF the board could he
ratified. There has been a divided sentiment
among the managers since the formation OF the
association respecting the wisdom OF chs rging the
The r. ard gnjHstan!s action Of
out on strike, in the hope that they could cripple
demand before the date sci for the meeting, and
the species Of intimidation upon the managers and
the members that the performers bv fheir action
cheerfully accorded them on February 5. but the
the unjust treatment Of the performers they would
clared their intention TO abolish the commission
The questions Of commissions having been settled
The mcnagers felt that the performers who had
ceived by few men who sought to make capital
t0r theIaseves ana that therefore 1t would be 9n,
resolution was adopted providing in effect that
the association should in the future deal with each
Individual on his merits and treat him fairly and
justly
The various members reported to the president
that their business was running along smoothly;
that, having settled the question of commissions,
there no other grievance which had any basis
in fact and the feeling general yexnressed
that. the managers having kept their promise and
abolished the commission. the performers would
the error OF their way and return 10 work The
hation of the performers Would be recosnaed and
adjourned in a spirit enthusiasm and confidence
that the strike thing OF the past.
Among the managers who present at the
meeting were B. F. Keith. F. A Albee. NJ. Shea.
of Buffalo and Toronto; j. K. Burke. Of Washing
ton and Baltimore Jacob Wells, of Richmond and
Norfolk: p. F. Shea. OF Springfield and Worcester;
| F. F. Proctor L. NJ Eirick, Of Cleveland and
Pittsburg; j. J. Murdoch. OF Chicago; NJ. c. Ander-
| son. OF Cincinnati and Indianapolis L. c. Belmon.
| OF Brooklyn; p. G. Williams. of Brooklyn; DIR. l..
| G. Lothrop of Boston: F. b. Chase. Of Washington
| and Baltimore: @. II. Moore. of Detroit and Roch-
| ,ster; Hurtig & Seaman. Of New-York and Tony
| The issuing of statements has been popular
habit with both sides all through this controversy.
and so George Fuller Golden, the president of the
White Rats. who issued his last night. In II he
said:
We have won our fight. Those managers can put
| Thev gave their words of honor that they would
| abolish that percentage nearly month ago They
did not When asked for an explanat4on lon they % said
thew did not intend abolish IL until June q. They
| ala IL because they were Obliged 10. Ihey want
| that rake-ofr now just much as ever, but. know
ing they can get men who are actors or women
| UIRo are work that way any more they
saw they never really did want that per cent-that
s250000 year. . 80. - -
| eenization eh? Well I guess the public viii. The
| White Rats Of America have won, ana won clean
| The first fight ever won by actors against man
ayers The men who were Ill will likely go TO work
| as fast as they get we'll enough. but they will not
| recognize any association of managers. They will
| do business as individuals with individual man
! ayers They will equitable contract now
| aiso-something they never had before The West
| nanagers-every one west or Clncinnnt-hav'
| signed an agreement 10 abolish the commissions
| sign equitable contracts and book through the
| White Rats Vaudeville Agency.