New-York tribune., 1919-08-09


the Princess Theatre, was again post
poned.
Cohan & Harris announced that E.
II. Sothern had resigned from the Ac-
tors Equity Association and made pub
lie letter in which he said that he
could not be in accord with the pro-
cedure Of the strike.
II have resigned from the Actors
Equity Association" the letter reads.
"1n my capacity as an actor I have
tried to mediate in preventing strike.
In my capacity as manager, which
have been for thirty-five years, l have
signed contracts with twenty-one thea
tres for next season and cannot break
these contracts.
"The proposition was empowered to
make to the Actors Equity Association
mass meeting-that the association
should meet the managers in confer
ence-was voted down, or believe an
understanding could have been arrived
at. Under the circumstances I feel
compelled to resign, as am not in ac-
cord with this procedure"
Holbrook Blinn Returns
Although Edgar Selwyn, Eugene Wal
ter and Willard Mack, co-authors of
Megrue appeared at the Selwyn yester-
day and offered to take parts in "The
Challenge" it was found that little
outside talent would be necessary to
enable the show to continue.
Holbrook Blinn, who went out with
the striking actors Thursday night, re-
turned to his part yesterday. In
statement explaining his position he
said he had purchased an interest in
the play, and therefore stood as pro-
prietor of the production, as well as
an actor.
Ee also said the members of the
Actors Equity Association had IN
formed him that they appreciated his
position, in that he was morally and
legally bound to stand behind his con-
tractual obligations"
"My sympathies." Mr. Blinn continued
"are entirely with the actors I hope
they win.
~ want it to be distinctly unde.-
stood that | am playing in The Chal-
lenge' because am legally bound to do
SO. My position at the present time is
not that of the actor but of the man
not even my managerial interest could
persuade me to remain at the head of
the cast as long as this trouble con
tinues."
Following a meeting late yesterday
afternoon the Producing Managers AS
sociation issued statement in which
they expressed their determination to
keep the theatres open.
Places left vacant by the strikers.
they said, would be filed as soon as
possible. They also announced that
they wished to so on record as not
opposed in any sense to organized la
bor, and declared they would guaran-
tee the future engagement Of all actors
who remained loyal.
so Rehearsals Called Of
Bainbridge Colby, attorney for the
organization, was instructed to bring
suit against the Actors EQUITY Asso.
citation and every individual member
of the body who had violated his con-
tract with the managers.
The Actors Equity Association held
a meeting last night at their newly
opened strike headquarters, 100 West
Forty-tifth Street. 1t was chiefly q
jubilation over the success Of the
strike. 1t was announced that 600 new
applications for membership had been
received.
Among other actors or strike are
Kelly, Frank Fay, Sam Ash and Fran
els Byrne.
Thirty rehearsals Of Forthcoming
because of the strike.
William A. Brady announced las
night that he intended to reopen the
Playhouse Monday nignt. "If 7 cant
put on anything else" he said, "lll
show moving pictures. think I'm a
good enough Snowman to get up some
sort OF an ente rtainment"
Members Of the stage hands union.
which, 1T was believed, might strike .in
sympathy with the actors. said yester-
day that they had received no request
for support. No definite steps could be
taken II such a matter anyway. they
SAID, until it had been passed upon bv
the unions international council and
1t would take at least forty eight hours
to call this together.
Strive to Fill Gaps
Early. yesterday all of the theatres
closed by the strike announced that
performances would be given last night.
Tickets for these performances we're
on sale at all agencies as well as at
the box Offices.
Rehearsals were called and managers
strove to fill the gaps in their casts
with understudies and actors resting
IN the city from engagements on the
road VA '''e
London came to the aid of the Actors
Equity Association yesterday when a
caolegram was received from Alfred P
Lugg, president of the English Actors
Association. giving the New York BODY
strike jurisdiction over all English act
oors employed in this city This trans
Ter OF jurisdiction, 1t was said, would
materially swell the ranks of The
strikers, since there are from one to six
English actors in the casts of nearly
every play in the theatrical district
The cablegram read:
we hereby instruct our members to
act in harmony with you"