The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-08
Jake Wells to Keep Faith With
Public and Still Eager
for Fight.
BY JAKE WELLS.

New York, July 1.-The continent
Aeenns considerably amazed that on the
heels OF great victory refused to
Join in an attempt to punch the head
OF the underdog. ] have been accused
by some OF a tender, hearted, fooi chis-
airy; others have hot scrupled to say
more cruelty that have been bousht
off am not, OF course. able 20 10
cate the sponsor for the latter bouquet
/ trust he will not endure 10 coue"
under sexless ANONYMITY. want 20 hes
myself plainly down as responsible
for the undoing OF the theatrical trus..
1 want to set myself plainly down 40
equally opposed to a successor to that
theatrical trust. whether or not am 10
share the booty. Here is the cohoi-
tlon found In my business over the
Southern circuit booking hrm o.
two men, Klaw & Granger. donihal, I,
ing. The injustice Of the cond't'o1l
need not comment upon. Time CAM
when the booking device not only faliea
TO meet expectations but failed eNen
to furnish our house the material "
keep open. II was then impera.'.s
even as 1t had long since been obvious
that this tyrarnical and selfish ooh'.
nation must be broken down as a mat
ter Of American decency or matter
of business. With this conviction !
started out to do the best cou!o
with intolerable conditions. prom
ised the press this: free stage, an
open door"
The press and the people OF the
South rallied to my aid, and won
over the most powerful syndicate or
trust ever organized. did not WIN
because ! promised a new and peter
trust ] won because the people mao
been promised by me, and believed my
promises. that they would be given
theatres and theatrical system donl-
mated by American Independence. good
taste, energy. enterprise. I desired 20
give tho very best from any source
for the money the public paid. we
have won what? little victory IN
which to humilate our enemies and
their selashness? No; we have won
free American stage. I have never
promised to crush Klaw & Erlanges
or their associates. could never nave
gotten the support from the great
South that rendered possible the VIC.
tory on so cheap platform as :"
are going to give you better trust.
We have won good and hard and prop
err. We have won because our fight
was Just and honest and true. and be-
cause for that reason the press anc
people supported US. Having won. o5
grace of the people and the press, or
speciac. plain. American promises e
them, / propose in victory to keep M
word and say Il know no difference
between Klaw & Granger and shu
bert or anybody else"
This must and shall be a square deal
The American stage must be free ant
fair, else II cannot represent the asp!
rations OF the American public unit
some one comes along big and tru
and brave enough to make 1t ueasur
up to the American press and people
Personally have not broken from tn
National Theatre Owners Association
They must break from me II they az
not live up TO the promises they mad
the press and public, whereby we were
victorious.
AS the motive force and creator o
that association. dare them out irts
the arena. To the public by who's
grace we won and whose respect d.
not choose to forfeit by breaking fait!
and creating new trust In place o
the old one, still stand By what
promised-the open door.