Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-11-21
REMOVES BAN
FROM THEATRE
Proctor Playhouse at Peace
With Painters Union Follow
ing Mediation Of City Official.
STATEMENT OF UNION
Every Effort Was Made to
discourage Patronage After
Theatre Was Deemed Unfair

Through the mediation of promi-
nent city official harmony was last
night effected between Proctor 8
Theatre and the Central Labor Union.
Because the amusement house en-
ployed non-union painter, the Cen
trail Labor Union, representing Or
ganized labor of the city, declared
the playhouse unfair" at meeting
November 7.
Circulars were then distributed
stating the grievance of the Painters
Union, as it had been presented to
the central body for consideration
Every effort was made to discourage
patronage of the theatre by union
leaders and through a personal en-
deavor the union men asked patrons
going to the theatre to stay away,
and were instrumental in materially
decreasing the usual size of the au-
dience.
The fight against the theatre be-
gan to assume such a state as to be
untoward to the best interests of the
city, that the city official stepped In
as mediator. He learned that neither
F. F. Proctor or H. Sanderson, pro-
prietors, had been apprised of the
conditions here by the Central Labor
Union. The union committee had
had unsatisfactory conferences with
the local manager and the general
manager of the chain of theatres, II.
Brunell.
Compromise Reached.
It Is understood the theatre man
ayers were willing to employ union
painter from the start, but baked at
the demand that all the work be
done over by a union man merely
because it had originally been done
by non-union man. This, the the
atre people held to be unreasonable.
When the city official took hand
he determined to confer with either
Mr.. Sanderson or Mr.. Proctor. The
latter is said to be in Europe, so
the former was called on the tele-
phone at his home at Crawford yes
terday afternoon. He was told of
the conditions, and within about an
hour he was in the city. A con-
ference was arranged for him and
the Central Labor Union committee,
which took place at the theatre last
night. A compromise was reached, i,
whereby union painter was en-
ployed and union men in other work
as far as possible. but the work al
ready done by the painter formerly
employed would stand. This is prac-
tically what the local management
was willing to agree to in the be-
ginning. This morning Charles
Beck was at the theatre doing the
painting work. He Is a member of
the local Painters Union.
Statement of Union.
The following statement was issued
by the Central Labor Union commit
tee. following the conference last
night:
'To the residents of Perth Amboy
and vicinity: The representatives of
the Central Labor Union of Perth
Amboy, in conference with Mr.. San
derson, of Proctor's Theatre, have
amicably adjusted all grievances be-
tween said Central Labor Union and
Proctor's Theatre; and hereby de-
clare said theatre fair to organized
labor. We take this opportunity of
Mr.. Sanderson for his ac-
acknowledgement Of the justice of the
claim of the Central Labor Union and
for his courteous treatment of the
committee representing organized
labor during the negotiations.
(Signed)
Edward CROUCH,
William j. Murtagh,
Arthur Schroeder,
Joseph l.. Crowell."
The non-union painter replaced
by the union man was earning $12I
per week; the union man receives the
local scale Of $3.50. If the painter
replaced joins or Is allowed to join
the union, he will be eligible again
to the position he held at the theatre
1t is doubtful If he will be admitted
In the local union because Of his re-
fusing to join in the first place, but
Arthur Schroeder, business agent for
the Painters Union, this morning de-
clared he would do all he could to get
him admitted if he so desires. The
stage workers of the theatre have re-
GENTLY been organized in new union,
as other stage employees of local
patpeq