The Washington herald., 1908-08-19
VAUDEVILLE TRUST
IN 100000 SUIT
Manager Thomas Declares
War to the Last Ditch.
PAPERS WILL BE FILED TODAY
Local Representatives are Cited on
Charges of Malicious Libel and
Circulating Reports Intended &c
Prevent the Auditorium Company
from Conducting Play Houses.


Confident in the absolute success OF his
fght against the vaudeville trust. and
with all his forces carefully marshaIled
for the hardest kind Of fray. W F.
Thomas. manager OF the Auditorium
Amusement Company. viii to-day file suit
in The District Supreme Court for S500.000
Local representatives Of the trust inter
ests are defendants. and the charge IS
malicious libel. circulating false reports
throughout the city der0gstofy 10 The
/ personal character OF Mr- Thomas and 70
the new proposition. and FOR attempting
20 discredit the outcome Of the plan
Mr. Thomas made the charge in the
Office OF District Attorney Baker last
week that the members Of the trust in
{ New York were having dispatches sent
I here from that city with view 10 in
hUencing public opinion and creating the
rumor that a new theater could not be
I built here He claims 20 have learned
/ that instead OF those reports erninating
directly from the metropolis there is q
I local representative responsible
Fight 10 Last Ditch.
/ Attorneys Andrew Lipsconnb and Joseph
\ Burkhart are representing the interest Of
I Thomas Back OF M Thomas and the
Auditorium Amusement Company are
/ funds in almost unlimited Sy7ount, say
/ the attorneys. and the fight can be car
ried into the highest courts
1 The new company has some 1.5oo stock
/ holders in this city. among whom are
I bankers. business men and others with
! access TO plenty OF money. with which 10
| oppose the octopus. il is said.
/ Property has been acquired by the Audi
torium Company on H street already and
title taken. sufficient for the erection Of
- large house
As 10 the question Of getting good
/ vaudeville attractions. M Thomas says
I tkat the arrangements already completed
/ assures thar end
In order TO clinch the matter in the
minds Of the public. even before the new
/ house is erected the company IS plan
zing tc present vaudeville IN the city
/ while the new building is in process OF
I erection.
! This scheme IS 10 be carried OUT early
. IN the SHOW season. although al this time
the management Is not prepared 10 give
out Just where the shows VIII be given
among other noted performers. which
are already under the booking OF The
I company. is Nine. CaIvs.
/ Contracts have been made with some
OF the big interests for a complete line
/ Of the finest acts On the vaudeville stage
/ Yesterday. in answer 10 a 59s-word teI=-
I gam from Manager Thomas William
/ Morris. Of theatrical prominence in New
1 York. said he Is sending a personal rep
resentative here 70 confer with the man
! asement on the matter and 10 perfect
arrangements for booking
Broadcast Interest
/ \ sreat number Of other theatrical men
are taking an interest SIr. Thomas said
last night that he has received a letter
from q theatrical nan in Maryland. who
promises assistance IN the war. and who
states that he has some so letters from
other theatrical interests throughout the
Z Soath and o-her localities
OUsi6c Of theS- many communications
have been received directly by the man
aEement offering pecuniary and moral aid
n any way possible in the struggle
Following the appeal o. Manager
Thomas 10 the Department OF Justice.
[ Acting Attorney General Russell Is hav-
ing the case Investigated Y. N Road
strom. OF the Attorney Generals of1ce. <
now in New York on a trip foT the pur-
/ pose Of investigating from that end Com
munications have been received at the
i department direct from theatrical inter
ests. complaining Of the effects OF the
trust. which they say are holding up
theaters all over the country for from
70 % per cent Of their profits
I Among the allegations against Mr..
! Thomas personally IS the fact that he
was A man Of no position and power when
with the vaudeville interests in PhilaGel-
phia- Mr.. Thomas said last night
-MaEciOusly they are trying 20 paint
me in a very false light They intimate
that I held no position when with the
I other coupanies Well. 7 was sl1perin-
terdent OF the Keith Theater in Philadel-
phia I have learned the business from
the ground up. and believe that. as il
any other business. training makes the
best man for the head. when the proper
time comes
IN Washington We are bound 10 sue
coed We have the money. the sentiment
and the people. both as stock holders and
otherwise. thoroughly in sympathy with
our fight We are bound 10 win Other
theatrical men are focking 20 our banner
as they are learning Of the case All the
matter needed was some one 10 IRE the
first shot.
Backed by Labor
Locally. We also have the labor or
gaaizations back Of US and in fun accord
with the plans There has been an agent
OF the trusts going about town. 10 hotels.
stores. and other places where he thought
of value 10 their scheme. casting all sorts
o9 aspersions on our company. its project.
and on me personally But that does not
bother US Our position Is too well fOrti-
fed Our cause Is a just one-
Beside the money coming in from the
new stock company and from those about
the country wishing to assist in the pat
tie against the trust. Mr. Thomas also
has personal access To considers ole
amounts through his family His father
is the president OF three banks. and his
mother. who was a Miss Lippincott. is
: one Of the family OF that name who are
the owners OF the Lippincott Magazine.
Even II the Auditorium Company.
: through any possible litigation. could not
! present a line OF vaudeville attractions
( as planned. the theater would not be
given Up. inasmgch as the company has
already had several offers foT th1 leasing
OF the house for a permanent stock cor
{ pany or other use on a 70 per cent basis
RuSkiu's Sentences.
trom the Dundee ADVERTISE.
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