The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-31
New Trust Breaks Contract
Because Open Door Policy
Isn't Revoked
AFFECTS LEATH CIRCUIT
Independents Refuse to Come In
When They Are Welcome
to Book Anything.

More than thirty attractions booked
by the Shuberts. Liebler & CO., Henry
w. Savage and William a. Brady for
the Academy OF Music's winter season
have been cancelled. In the list IL
included "The Merry Widow" sched-
uled for Christmas.
This information was brought hcrS
yesterday morning by Jake Wells. pres.
ident of the Leath Circuit. who had q
long business conference with his az.
soeiates before returning to New York
last night The boycott rule against
Mr.. Wells also applies TO Norfolk
Lynchburg. Roanoke. Knoxville, Chat.
tanooga, Evansville. Ind. and Montgom.t
cry, Ala. How long 1t will continue IL
matter of conjecture, and. strange IA
II may seem. 1t was ordered by the so.
called independent producers because
in declaring for the open door in all
of his theatres Mr. Wells refused to
deny admittance to Klaw & Erlanger.
After fighting for an opening. the in
dependents refused TO come in unless
the opposition was turned out, but az
that would violate the very spirit OF
freedom, Mr.. Wells and hia associate.
refused to comply. Subsequently he
was dismissed from the independent
organization without being given an
opportunity to be heard
Mr.. Drnd.'. SomersnuIt.
When William A. Brady came to Rich-
rnond in May TO plead for chance to
present his attractions, he stated in
/ newspaper interviews that he wanted
/ to be put on the same footing as tho
syndicate. and that IL his companies
4 u mi A io, hs,A H,,,t
how many syndicate people performed
on the Academy stage. so long as ha
could get there. That was the object
| OF independent organization
Finally. Jake Wells. who had led tina
| fight against klaw & Erlanger for
years. secured from that firm the prom
/ Use that It would fight no longer; that
Southern theatre owners and mana
gers could book what they pleased. this
being the real open door victory for
which he had long been battling.
But with 1t came the independent an
nouncement that the syndicate had to
be crushed and that Southern mana-
gers must take one or the other, when
| they had been demanding the cream of
both. 1t was simply a case OF proGting
by public sentiment against trust meth
DDS TO create still greater trust
Southern managers Mad.
<aNGOIuiues ~ fNcllS, nearly every
| manager in the South is opposed to
conditions existing at present. though
afraid to lift a voice In protest. They
could not kick against The old syndi-
| cate he said, .and now they are
afraid to kick against the new They
were lighting for the right to be boss
Of their own affairs to book as they
pleased. to give the public that for
which the public was clamoring. En.
they can't do It, Some of the newspa-
pers have stated .hat have gone back
to Klaw 6. Erlanger. That is abso-
iutely missta.ement, and Is made for
the purpose of placing me In the wrong
attitude. Our theatres have gone mo-
| where. they. are Just. where they were
at the opening-open to the most de-
s1rable productions, regardless of whose
shop from which they might come.
shupert Brady, Savage. Liebler and all
the others are free to book with us
direct, If they desire. They are well
come. and we want them. and If they
stay out. they do so OF their own ac-
cord. II they state otherwise, they are
quilting the newspapers and deceiying,
the people.
Worse THIN Old Trust.
I Il plugged along cor two years for
the open door. showed that the South
was solid for 1t and pledged its sup
port II meritorious attractions were
sent into that territory. The fight was
not only in the interest OF our own
theatres and the public, but was OF
direct interest and advantage to the
shnberts. so as to get them in where
they had been denied admittance here
tofore, The very object of the indie
pendent organization was to secure any
leEitimate attraction. regardless OF
VINO produced 1t. We won that con.
tention, and then the independents
turned around to out-syndicate thu
syndicate. ! would not turn The
others did, and now this new trust
cancels all contracts heretofore made
with our houses.,'
Farewell Service.
/. The prayer. service at the Seventh
be nnn Ghflsf1an CHURCH tonight will