The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-12
AN UNSTABLE UNION.

Will dCL cclIIly 2.sfgs
AN UNSTABLE UNION.
| Two facts seem established in regard to the
determination of the Actors Equality associa-
ton to affiliate with the American Federation
of Labor; first, that there number of con-
ditions under which actors are working which
badly need changing; second, that means is
being taken to secure these changes that will
make lot Of trouble for the actors themselves
Managers who are truculent about the move as
la menace to their business independence will
not make serious trouble, nor are the friendly
souls among managers and actors who decry
loss of dignity to the art of acting OF real I'M
portance in the matter. The trouble will be
found within, tho rnnk, Of the unionizeea play
ers The demands which the new union will
make are entirely reasonable. Actors at their
leading employment points rehearse new play
for periods of from four to six weeks without
pay; they provide costumes for themselves in
many cases. They demand minimum of two
weeks salary whatever be the fate Of the
piece and they ought to get this. The lowering
of wages during holiday periods is not fair
and ought to be stopped; the disbanding of
companies far afield without providing trans
portation for actors to their homes is hardship
There is reason for what the actors ask and the
managers almost unanimously admit this. But
how about the conduct of actors union7
The most influential actors are those whose
hold on the public makes them necessary to
their managers; they need no union to enforce
reasonable demands Many of them are now
in the union body Will they stick7 Actors
are clannish but they are capricious; they are
generous but they are cyclists; they are jealous
of their side of the footlights but they want the
center of the stage, each for himself or herself.
The profession is one in which individuality is
capital How will this condition work in level
ing labor values? It is easy to understand why
the PLAYERS have banded together to secure
redress of wrongs; it is difficult to believe, be-
cause Of the stage folks temperamental pc
cuIarities, that they will stay banded together
to make the common their individual rights.
Publicity and emphasis should be given to
the fact that much wider opportunity for pro-
motion is offered to enlisted men in the army
under the provisions Of the new military law
which goes into effect July first. Fifteen hun
dred new second lieutenants will be commits
stoned in the regular army; twenty-five vacan-
cies at West Point are annually open to en-
hi sted men: tine new aerial service offers
chances for advancement from routine duty.
To these attractions to young men OF ambition
and ability. there is added the opportunity for
regular educational work to be given as part of
the regular army routine. Our recruiting
service assumes great Importance in our recon
structed military organization. Some enter
prise and common sense are needed to make it
adequate to its part m the army building.
Much good newspaper space is wasted on
Item to- the effect that Tarrytown, n. Y.
woman fired twenty four shots at burglars who
entered her house without hitting even an inno-
cent bystander. IF she had scored hit the