New-York tribune., 1918-06-25

president Of the Universal company:
Harry Levey, manager of the industrial
department of the film company, and
6. r. Byoir, associate chairman Of the
Creel committee, to his Office, BOZ
Broadway, for a conference at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
After four hours behind closed
doors, during which time stenog-
rapher took the statements of each
man relative to the taking OF the pict..
ase ts bsr snd the hep dputs maar he1 B1Js Mr.
Cochrane, Mr.. Levey and Mr.. Byoir
came out Of the Office emiling and all
apparently on the best Of terms with
one another.
"These men and have had con-
ference regarding the dispute over the
showing OF the picture, and they have
agreed to leave the matter in my
hands pending a decision," Major
hiddle announced to newspaper men.
"They also have promised that they
will refrain from making any further
statements about the controversy. OF
course, what has been said can't be
unsaid."
Mr.. Cochrane, Mr. 1cvey and Alr.
Byoir acquissced, and Mr.. Levey shook
hands heartily with Major Biddlc. Each
said he would make no further state
ments until decision had been
reached.
Mr.. cochrane and Mr.. Byoir stood
shoulder to shoulder in the Office and
smiled at each other, giving the i'm
preston that an amicablc agreement
was at least not an impossibiiity.
Before they had promised Major Bid
die that they would refrain from fur
ther talking about the matter. both
Mr. Cochrane and MIR. Byoir had made
additional statements yesterday.
Answering Mr.. Creol's assertion that
his committee did not propose to let
one company satisfy its greed by show
ing picture that other companies had
been prohibited from photographing,
Mr.. Cochrane said:
Our only greed in the matter is our
desire to have the glory of showing
picture that we have made. We are
perfectly willing to let the government
fix the price at which we may show
the pictures"
In answer to Mr.. Byoir's statement
that Mr.. Cochrane had been notified
Saturday afternoon that the company
could not show the picture and that
he had acted in bad faith by continu-
ing to advertise the picture for Sunday
night and allowing persons to buy
tickets and enter the theatre, Mr.. Coch-
rane said he pursued that policy be-
cause he had telegraphed Secretary of
War Baker at Washington and ex-
pected to. receive word from Baker
showing the airplane company that it
would be safe in permitting the pict-
ure to be shown.
MIR. Byoir, referring to Mr.. Coch-
Pathe Weekly had enjoyed special
privileges from the Creel committee
in being allowed to take and exhibit
tank pictures, said:
"The Hearst Pathe Weekly and the
Universal Film Company both applied
for and were given permits to take
pictures of American tanks in action.
The Pathe took their pictures and the
War Department then refused to honor
any other permits. If any complaint
had been made to the committee we
would have asked the Pathe to with
draw the picture. We didn't even know
vented the Universal people from TAX
ing the picture.
Mr.. Byoir and Charles S. Hart, di-
rector Of the division of Aims depart
ment of the committee, yesterday in
vited representatives Of film and trade
papers to meet them in the Office Of
the dRision of films. in the Times
Building. They explained the methods
pursued by the government in the TAX
ing Of war pictures.
Referring to Mr.. Cochrane's charge
that Mr.. Creel and thirteen of his rep
resentatives, former Hearst employees,
"acted with him and were responsible
with him for suppressing the pict-
ure," Mr.. Hart declared that several
Of the men named were in France and
knew nothing of the pictures.