The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-04
Theatrical Managers Appeal to
Mayor Green.
Ask for Impartial Enforcement
Sunday Labor Law.
STOP STREET CARS.
Ilso Sale of Newspapers and
Fruits.
Talk Of Taking Case to a Higher
Court.

A meeting of Topeka theatrical
managers was held this morning
and formulated the following appeal
to the mayor:
Hon. VIM. Green. Mayor of Topeka:
Acting upon the agreement made at the
time that the arrest was made the thea
ters of the city Will be closed. We are
now appealing to you as the mayor OF this
CITY to rigldiy enforce s TINS iaoor ot, orGl, do
a>ainst the theaters. We take the posi-
tion that the issuance OF newspapers, the
running of street cars, the running of
local trains. the opening of garages and
livery stables. and the sale of fruits, news
papers and periodicals and everything in
the way of merchandise will come un-
der the ordinance and the theatrical man
ayers of the city respectfully petition you
to impartially and rigidly enforce the Or
dinance. to the end that one class OF cit
liens may not be Disseminated against in
L. NJ CRAWFORD,
Mgr. Grand Opera House.
ROY CRAWFORD,
Mgr. Majestic Theater.
s. R WELLS.
Mgr. Novelty The ater.
d. b. LEDERMAN,
Mgr. Elite Theater
ID. d. EASTER,
Mgr. Aurora. Theater.
S. r. Wells, manager of the Novelty
theater said: THE case will un-
doubtediy be carried to the court of
last resort and in the meantime sup
pose that the Topeka managers who
are now running will give their shows
lust as they have in the past. My the
ater is closed for the summer but II 1t
were not certainly should give Sun
day shows.
IL understand that the decision was
made on the labor clause and II this
is the case it seems to me that all
other lines of business which are
operated on Sunday must be closed.
For instance there Is the Sunday news
papers, the street railway. drug stores.
cigar stores and a hundred and one
other lines of business that are oper-
ated on Sunday. Just why the thea
ters should have been singled out and
marked to close is more than l can
understand.
"Our association in Topeka will un-
doubtedly force the matter to an
early and finaI test and 1 do not think
| that we should be called upon to pay
| the attorney bills. 1t is more than
likely that we will swear out COM
plant against the proprietors of sew
eral other lines of business which are
operated on Sunday in violation of the
| labor law.
"If an actor, stage hand or ticket
| taker in the employ of an opera
house manager labors because per-
formance is given on Sunday at the
theater, what of the newspaper re-
porter, the soda fountain clerk, the
type settlers. the news agents and the
| hundreds of other men, women and
children who add to their livelihood
| by working on Sunday? If we are
| forced to close there will be a still
ness about this town that can be felt
| for we do not intend to be discrimin-
ated against.
When told of the decision of the su-
preme court L. NJ. Crawford said
THE principle Is all wrong but I don't
give a rap" or something like that,
though 1t did not sound just that way.
"I am old enough to quit the business
and turn 1t over to younger heads and
that is just what 1 have decided to do.
| do not know what the younger gen.
Grafton will do but suppose that they
will fight It.
| Il am old enough to quit the stren-
| uous life of theatrical manager and
guess that 1 have enough to live on un-
til I die and I propose to take things
| easy from now on. l have a farm so
located that the high waters will not
reach it and bunch of cattle and the
| grass Is fresh and green and those
things are uppermost in my mind at
the present time and 1 refuse to be
disturbed by the action of the supreme
court about the Sunday theater busi-
/