New-York tribune., 1913-11-17
ACTORS DEMAND EQUITY
Adopt Sample Contract, To Be
Submitted to Managers.
HALF PAY FOR REHEARSAL
This if Preparation Exceeds 8
Weeks-Fola La Toilette
Speaks on Costumes.

Francis Wilson. president Of the Actors
Equity Association, presided at the Little
Theatre yesterday afternoon. at a meet
ing of that organization held for the pur-
pose Of discussing its progress since it's
formation six months ago. Some three
hundred actors and actresses were pres
ent.
The principal topic OF discussion was
the betterment OF .he condition of the
men and women of the stage in the mat
ter Of contracts with managers.
After Frank NJ Gilmore, chairman of
the contract committee. had explained the
salient points Of sample minimum con-
tract It was unanimo ,sly voted that,
with a few amendments to be made by
the counsel OF the association, the con-
tract copies Of which were supplied
TO those present should be submitted TO
the managers association.
There are three forms Of contract one
relating to the two weeks notice. which
both the actor and manager are required
To give. another regarding he run Of the
play and the third contract for the
season.
II is the purpose Of the contract to
limit the period OF rehearsal without pay
to three weeks. and for every week after
that the actor Is TO receive half week $
salary. If there are more than two mat
inees week, the additional performances
are to be paid for also performances on
Sunday. II performances are given the
week before Christmas or during Holy
L.
Miss Fola La Toilette. who in private
life Is Mrs. George Middleton. made such
an earnest address that her hearers grew
enthusiastic She said. I'm part:
This organization is part Of worlG
movement-the organization Of labor.
Small business has passed out and large
corporations have come in. Managers
now engage actors whom they could not
recognize unless they were made up
for the part they play We are passed
about like Eroceries-eggs, for instance.
Our trade mark is the last part we
played. We howl about commercialism.
We blame nearly every one except the
one We ought 10 blame-ourselves. We
have forgotten TO be concerned In what
concerns all OF us. Why. II all our griev-
ances were organized into one clean-cut
complaint and presented To the managers
there would be "A tidal wave o.
THE men and women should stand to-
gether I'm this matter. We have equal pay.
and can be mutually helpful II we join
hands. Some OF the women who play
are under enormous expense for costumes.
for they not only have 10 follow the
fashion, but help 10 set It. IL puts a
premium on wealth. not merit. when n
poor girl with merit cannot take a par;
she Is able 10 play Just because she Is
too poor 10 buy the costumes. This one
fact alone ought TO bring every woman
into the association. Ultimately the man
ayers will find II advantageous
one speaker declared that the actors
and actresses should be forced 20 stand
by the rules OF the association. or they
would leave II whenever they could
benefit themselves His remarks were an
swered by the chairman.
The other speakers included Grace
Griswold and Paul y. Turner. counsel
for the association. Others present in
cluded William Courtleigh, Edward Con-
nelly. Edward Ellis. Bruce McRas. Rich
ard A. Purdy. William Sampson. Edwin
Arden and George Nash