New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-15
THEATRICAL BATTLE
TAKES A NOVEL TURN
Producing Managers Associa-
ton Disrupted by Withdrawal
of Syndicate Allies.
SHUBERTs GET CONTROL
Klaw & Erlanger and Other
Managers Form New Organ
ization-End of Middle
man, Says Cort.

man, Says Cort.
A bomb was exploded in theatrical cfr<
cles yesterday when several of the most
prominent members Of the National
Theatrical Producing Managers Assoc
citation resigned from that organization.
Following the designations Of Henry b.
Harris. Joseph Brooks. George NJ. Conan.
A L. ErIanger. James Forbes. Joseph VI.
Gates, Samuel III. Harris. William Har-
ris, Mark Klaw. Frank Mckee. Fred
eric Thompson and A. w. Dingwan, IL
was rumored that the Shuberts. who left
the association year ago, would be re-
instated and would assume the control
formerly vested in the directing men,
bers of the so-called syndicate
Yesterdays turn in the situation fol-
lowed the formation earlier in the week
of combination of managers of thea
tres throughout the country. controlling
twelve hundred houses. for the purposs
of booking the meritorious attractions
of any producing manager who came to
them for time. and the formation OF a
new alliance of producing managers who
agreed to leave their bookings. as here
tofore, in the hands of Klaw & En-
LANCER.
These latter managers we're Charles
Frohman. David Belasco. Henry w Saw
age, Henry B. Harris. Joseph Brooks.
Cohan & Harris. Klaw & Erlanser.
Florenz ZiegfeId. Augustus Pitou.
Charles B. Dillingham;. Joseph NJ
I-,-s..
Thompson. AT H Woods. Joseph NJ
Weber, Henry Miller. Daniel Frohman
and William Harris. 1t was runOred
that Harrison Grey Fiske was also asked
TO join the combination. Mr.. Ffske was
thrown out of the old association year
ago as the result of charges preferred
against him by Henry W. Savage over
the rights to produce THE Devil in this
country.
Henry 3. Harris's Reasons.
The new alliance was formed to COM
bat the National Theatre owners AS
ISOLATION when John Cort, president of
that body, proposed conference to dis
cuss the question of bookings. which
was received favorably at a meeting of
the National Theatrical Producing Man
ayers Association This action of the
association was followed yesterday; by
the designations of the members named
above
In announcing the designations Klaw
& Erlanger gave out a letter sent =
the association by Henry B. Harris. It's
president. which broke up the erganiza-
ton. so far as the syndicate's allies are
concerned. and leaves il in the hands OF
independent managers. Mr.. Harris said:
Early in the career Of this association
1t was resolved that none of the delIbera-
tiOnS and resolutions discussed and passed
by this board or association were TO be
given out to the press 1r public unless
specifically ordered by the board. and then
only through our secretary or president.
This distinct understanding was DELHI
erately and grossly violated by member
who gave out the happenings of last Thurs
days meeting. which were not only m
correctly quoted but were utilized for the
benefit of some one not member of this
organization
/ do not care to hold office or member
ship in an association that has members
who have so little regard for their pledges.
dent and member to take effect imme-
diately.
1t was said last night that the syndi-s
cate supporters had used the fact that
William A. Brady, a Shubert ally. had
introduced the Cort proposal for an open
door policy in the West 10 form an
other organization and to drop the old
one as soon as the Shubert influences
became manifest. In a nutshell the
syndicate instead of trying to GUST the
Shubert supporters gOt out themselves
after forming another association
Others May Follow cort.
1t was said on Thursday that wagen-
halls & Kemper. Henry w. Savage and
Henry B. Harris looked with favor on
Cort's proposal The action of Mr.. Har-
ris yesterday dispOses of his attitude in
the matter. but the other managers are
said TO be favorable TO the offer held cut
by the Cort association for bookings
Both managers send many companies
over the circuits of small cities. Wagon
halls & Kemper. it is reported. having
made more than 100000 during the
present season with five companies play
ing Paid in Full"
MIR COrt would not discuss last night
the prospect for a favorable outcome OF
the conference SuSStSICU bN hAlAs QtS-
ferring TO stand for the present on his
statement issued as soon as he learned
of the action of the producing managers
who had resigned. His statement was as
follows;
I feel highly elated over the fact. as I
cor slider il a complete rOut of that par
ticular element which heretofore predOTni-
mated in that association
At a meeting of the National Association
of Theatrical Producing Managers. held a
few days ago. when my letter was read 10
the members OF that body that We're in at
tendance il was expected by Jne directors
present who unanimously voted 70 meet
with the directors OF the National Theatre
Owners Association and get together for
their mutual benefit as they were the only
ONES whose interests were IDENTICAL
When this reached the ears OF Mr. III =
LANCER he said they had done Just what
bc did not want them 10 dO-recoSnize the
National Theatre owners Association
Add that Is lust what they did by agree
ire to a meeting. But as the board of
terisl that he couldn't crack the whip over.
he, Immediately organized scheme AMI
tool the close allies and had them with
draw from the National Association OF
Theatrical Producing Managers that
they would not be bound IN the future II
M, meeting arranged for took place
consider 10 a great victory for the Ma
tional Theatre Owners Association. as 10
demonstrates to.us. we'll other pro-
ducir~s managers. who number about two
hundred that he was afraid to meet US
in the open ana hear. and 20 have the
two money interests get together without
a middleman being able TO dictate