The Washington times., 1917-01-11
MANTELL DEMANDS
VOTE FOR ACTORS
Advocates Plan to Enable The
atricaI People to Exercise
Franchise.
EMPHATIC IN HIS VIEWS
Shakespearean Societies Here
Have No Excuse for Ex-
istence, He Says.

Voting was never a more popular
sport than It is now. The agitation OF
those who are disqualified from exer-
cIsing the right Of suffrage is becona-
ing more and more marked,
The so-called ''suntragists' are not
the only ones who are strangely dis
Qualined through legal interchangeable
actors arc In the same boat
Robert Manten made this point the
bash Of an interview yesterday. but he
did not 90 into any definite argument
over the subject. he merely voiced his
utter inability to comprehend wherein
there was any gain for the disqualih-
cation
In Front Rank Of Drama
On account Of a certain telephone
message. due from Norfolk. from
Robert Bruce Mantell. IT., aged four
years, the talk was fast and furious,
but intensely interesting.
Over q period Of more than quarter
Of century. Manten has stood In the
front ranks Of the drama in this coun-
try. and whatever he SAYS and thinks
has a world and a lifetime Of expert
ence back OF IL
"A1I az this worry of the suffragists
e1wayt brings my own. particular.
cross to- mind,S said Mr.. ManteIL He
has q trick OF opening his eyes very,
very wide, when excited, and his mo
bile face sshines with interest
His hair may be quite gray, and
his record q living witness to many
- NAA
lean stage, but Robert Manten does
not seem the least bit old.
He il one Of that precious race Of
people who are always young, no mat
ter how old they are. Perhaps It is
the four-year-old boy down in Norfolk.
with the yellow hair and sturdy fig-
ure, but then again 1t might be only
the divine spark of ageless genius it.
self that one sees.
No Time to Lobby.
I'VE actors can't vote" he went on.
''and it Is the most outrageous and
nonsensieal thing ever heard Of.
oh, yes" In answer to q question, "sev-
eral people have tried to do some
thing about II, but no one is really
;. interested enough in us but ourselves,
and gracious knows we do not have
time for lobbying"
He called to mind a few Of those
who are allowed to vote, and the in
terviewer was weirdly aware Of the
fact that regular bona nde suffrage
arguments, which usually come from
I women, were being SvIgoro4sly
welded BY Mr.. Mantell.
In conclusion he asked that a mes.
sage be delivered certain clubs of
this city. The writer, since this
story has been written editorially,
disciaims all responsibility for this
statement
Awaits q Diseussiep.
Mr.. Mahtell asked especially that
the message be printed, and said he
would be pleased to talk with any
who are interested enough to talk
over the question with him.
II consider that have been offered
the highest kind of an insult" he said,
-'by the so-called Shakespeare socie-
ties, Drama League, and other liter
airy uplift societies of this city. re-
fer to the audiences, or rather lack
OF audiences, at my performances this
week.
lis there any other person in this
city, in this country, no. ask in the
world, who is going about touring
with a company such as mine, play.
ing Shakespearean drama? There is
mott
ITO think that the only repertoire
company to come to this city to play
Shakespeare should give The Mer-
chant OF Venice to a mere handful, a
practically empty house.
Voices q Criticism.
what use Is there in these so
cleties? Why do they exist? To
bring attention to themselves by
pointing the finger of shame at that
which does not measure up to their
standards? And when something
which is their standard comes to
washington, where are they? What
have they done to uphold IL, to, sup
mort II, to prove that IL is a proper
standard not alone for them but for
all?
81 had thought that here in the
Capital there would be more sincerity
of purpose and action
; ssBut ! find on the other hand 9
:shaIIowness, and superficiality fal
outstripping anything ever discovered
in the States.
you have a Shakespeare Society
of America, a Shakespeare Society
washington, and a Drama League In
this city, not to mention many
branches Of the Federation Of WON
ems Clubs, who use many hours Of
their valuable time talking about the
Bard of Avon
"And yet, when the plays whict
represent the very pith and body Of
their reasons for existence, come tC