The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-15
NEW PLAN ID FIGHT THEATRICAL TRUST Shuberts Have a Strong List
 of Stars NOW CONTROL IA HOUSES MT. Shubert Explains Why They Could Not Get Along With kIaw 6 Er-
 Ianser, Who Represent
 the Trust.
NOW CONTROL IA HOUSES

New York, July 14.--Announcement of new combination of actors in America, against what Is known as the theatrical trust, was made today by Lee Shubert of S. s. Shubert and Lee Shubert. The lead- ing companies in the combination are those headed by David Belasco and Mrs Minnie Maddern Fiske. Lee Shubert will manage the line of theatres which will be placed at the disposal of MT. Beasco Mrs. Fiske and others.
 The new combine will back fifteen com panies on the road. and such actors as Sarah Bernhardt, Ada Rehan, Jefferson peAngelis, Henry Miller. Lillian Rus sell, David Warf1eld, Blanche Bates, Bertha Galland, Robert Hilland, Bertha Kalische and Mrs. Leslie Carter. These actors under the new management expect within another week to have a suf- fcent number of theatres on their own circuit in America and England, to play in the year round.
 Has Fourteen Playhouses.
 MT Shubert announced today that his company now has fourteen play houses under its control, including theatres in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis and London, England, and that he would within week be able to open half a dozen more theatres to his att fractions among them a house in Boston, Besides these places. the new combina- tion Is counting on the support of inde- pendent houses all over the country.
 The administration by the theatrical syndicate managers of contract which Lee Shubert says he made with them, agreeing to pay them 25 per cent of the profits on all of the syndicate's attrac- tons booked at his theatres, was the cause of his breaking from the trust ranks His friendliness towards David Belasco during the last two months, he said was a further cause of trouble.
 1.-TWO years ago. said MT. Shubert in explaining the origin of the dispute, we signed a contract with the theatrical syndicate which Is headed by Messrs. Klaw &Erlanger, agreeing that the syn dieate could book their attractions in our houses for twenty-five per cent of the profits for a period of five years. After we had signed this contract letter was sent to us by the syndicate asking us to amend the contract by agreeing not to add any more theatres to our own cir cult"
 Not Strong Enough to Fight.
 MT. Shubert says that at this point he had only eight theatres in his own cir cuit and did not feel strong enough to make fight against the syndicate.
 'sWhen I asked" Mir. Shubert continued. why this new agreement was required, I was told that our company had violated it's contract with the syndicate by re- fusing to accept some of their attractions which they had booked at our houses.
 .sThey said that this was violation of our contract with them, though that doc ument contained the provision that the syndicate attractions were at all times subiect to our order. After this conver- sation the matter was allowed to rest for a time.
 Meanwhile the Lyric Theatre company was extending it's own circuit, and ac- quiring new attractions.
 .'When our company was building the Garrick theatre in St. Louis. the syndi- cate told us that we would not be allow ed to book our own attractions in our own houses. if we pursued our policy. And vet at their convenience. they always filled their theatres with our attractions.
 "On my return from Europe last June, I was sent for by MT. Erlanger and had chat with him about patching up our differences. He told me that if did not hook Relasco in any of our theatres I could have anything I wanted And be- cause I booked Belasco in one of our houses-the Garrick in St. Louis-he said that the tours of the Royal Chef and of .Fantana' already booked. were off.
 Let me say that in the present move we are not attempting to fight the sym dicate. but merely, in self-protection, try ing to find a place for our own attrac- tions."