The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-28
MOTION PIC j RE
EXHIBITORS To
BUCK TRUST
AND OHIO MEN DECIDE
TO PIN FAITH TO INDEPEND-
eNTs AND REFUSE TO SIGN
OCTOPUS CONTRACTS.

Motion pictures much more thrilling
than many they show were INDUCED
In by the Michigan and Ohio moving
picture exhibitors who met in the
Burns hotel. wednesday afternoon, to
form an association. From noon un
Ill midnight, with recesses and ad
journments. the showmen debated, ar
gued and demonstrated generally.
On thing was clearly shown-thai
the exhibitors are not inclined to fav
or the methods of the new trust. the
Motion Picture Patents Co. They
heard both sides and the sessions were
continuous rounds OF battle
1t was first explained that the Mo
ton Picture Patents Co. is combina
ton OF the Edison, Biograph and other
companies having patents and picture
machine factories. Ii furnishes the
reels OF film to the film exchanges
and proposes TO regulate the business
by taxing the exhibitors and limiting
the number OF theaters as we'll as reg
ulating their location.
AS starter, the exhibitors have
been notified that they must take out
licenses for the machine they own
must pay q present tax of 81 pei
week on each machine and furnish IN
formation upon which a scale of H.
cense fees. graded according to the
earning power OF the house, can be
arranged later. The independents
also claim that the Motion Picture Pat
ents Co. intends 10 raise the price OF
pictures later.
What do We get in return for our
81 per week. was the wall OF the
exhibitors who gathered In the Burns
How do We know what the trust will
do to us after we sign up contracts?'
You will get protection" declar.
cd c. G. Gillingham, OF Grand Rapids
film renter and spokesman at the
meeting for the Motion Picture Pat
ents Co. The men who are in the
business now will be protected from
competition. There are patents In this
company's possession which cover all
machines. Those who do not sign
up will not get any film after Feb.
from the licensed agencies which con-
troll all the good film.
The moving picture business needs
regulation. How long will IL last II II
Is not regulated?"
w. II. Goodfellow, an Independent"
film renter. debated with Gillingham
and asserted that the Moving Picture
Patents Co, In attempting TO elimin-
ate competition. is contravening the an
thrust laws. He declared that new
channels have been opened by which
foreign films can be imported, and as
serted that the exhibitors would be Ut
terly at the mercy of the trust II they
do not support the independents. X
was brought out during the discussion
that there are 10000 moving picture
theaters In the country.
The organization finally decided by
a rising vote to refuse to sign the
agreements and not to take out IL
censes. About 80 exhibitors out OF
several hundred In Michigan and Ohio
were present. Cheers were called
forth by the reading of a message
from Toledo that convention OF ex-
hibitors there had decided to stand by
the Independents.
f. w. Sprague acted as chairman
of the meeting. This convention had
been called by the independents, but
the temper OF the exhibitors was such
that both sides were heard in detail
and as long as trust or independent
representative had anything to say.
Flat contradictions became the rule In
the latter portion of the debate, but
the battle never went beyond words.