The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-30
From the Kansas City Star.

"yHE actors on BroadWay lIHdSlie
 they are the victims of some new
 A and fiendish persecution. William Loeb, a patrolman, arrested six or them the other day for just walkin up ana down, doin' nothin' but jammin' the side walks" as he phrased the complaint to the judge.
 Magistrate Ten Eyck of the West Side court glowered.
 'The conditions along Broadway make walking uncomfortable" he said sterniy. Broadway must not be used as a stand ing place by actors to impede the pedes- trian traffic. In the future I'll commit any person found guilty of this offense and sentence him to the workhouse. It s got to stop.'
 Two were fined a dollar apiece. TWO others were paroled for several days as they announced they desired to contest the case, and the remaining two were discharged upon their statements that they were leaving the city immedlately.
 The action of Patrolman Loeb and Mag istrate Ten EyclS is not without precedent. Throughout the centuries the actor mas been persecuted Set apart from other men as adventurers and vagrants they have frequently been deprived or ciVil rights.
 Tn Fitzgeralds "The Life of David Garrick," he tells of the way actors were regarded 200 years ago.
 "The old history of the stage" he says "and the peculiar position of actors nave often been told, how, from their enter tainments being of the nature to cause crowds and Instructions, they Tell neces- sarilv under the class of 'vagrants anu could only escape the treatment or Va grants by attaching themselves 10 the king or some nobleman, and ever wear ing the livery of those august protectors. How they thus became literally his maJ- esty's servants, title retained even when the degrading character had long been abolished. and the king instead hao given them sort of license or protec- ton, known as a patent. It was not unnatural that there should be a strange feeling among the good citizens against the stage players and their profession especially as the vicinity Of a piaynouse was said to brink with 1t rapid corrup- ton. and abominations fatal to the order and decency of the neighborhood.
 'It is amusing to see how tacitly 1t was assumed that the playhouses were a. growing abuse, that might presently assume alarming proportions and whose repression it was high time should en- gage the serious consideration or all good men and heads of families.
 Broadway, New York. is the greatest street in the world for actors. It is home and heaven for them. From in the thir- ties clear up into the sixties they are rampant All of the big theatrical offices face the street and the sidewalks are crowded, day and night alike. with &C., tors.
 They own the street. On every corner around Times Square they congregate to tell of their triumphs-and they are not modest. Take the actors off and it would be a mystery who would remain Broad way is theirs by right of occupation. all ways has been and most likely always will be- Already the metropolitan press is printing letters from those who stand up for the actor.
 Are actors human beings or cattle?" asks one irate correspondent to the New York Times.
 'One would suppose from the rigid, inhuman decision of Judge Ten Eyck of the West Side court that they were the latter. This most honorable judge threat ems to send them to the workhouse if they are brought before him and proved guilty of standing around Broadway. What an outrage! During the day, were you to rid Broadway of the actors and promoters, there would scarcely be 100 souls upon the street, except at the time of matinee or evening performances. Then the crowds are enormous but no one seems to complain of the impossibility of walking the street at that time.
 why should there be this prejudice against players who do more for charity than any other profession, not even ex- cepting our most honorable judges. have seen upon Broadway. near Times Square, hundreds of foreigners obstruct- ing the sidewalks and cursing everything American and even heard them damning the President Why are they not arr rested and sent to the workhouse? It occurs to me that this most honorable judge must have a grievance against the actor''
 Says another:
 "On behalf of the theatrical profess sion. to which have the honor to be- long. l wish to protest emphaticaIly