The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-03

actors, and similar guarantees from
leaders OF the Equity.
The dramatists said they would ask
the managers to resume productions of
the playwrights brain children on the
basis of these pledges, and that IL the
producers refused this ultimatum-for
that would be it's virtual character
the play writer's threatened to obtain
control OF the plays under a writ Of
mandamus and to make the productions
themselves. They said they had heavy
financial backing for Independent I'M
dertakings. They also drew up a
standard contract for authors-the sec
ond standard contract the managers are
to have hurled at their devoted heads.
This calls for the retention by the
author Of the motion picture, foreign
and stock rights to his work, which
has usually gone to the produceri In
the past.
The statement of Frank Gilmore be-
foer 5000 adherents who shouted
hossanahs to the Equity at the Licking
ton meeting presided over by Francis
Wilson, the president, which almost
made audible the cooling OF the dove of
peace, was this:
I'VE have something which we are
not yet ready to divulge. but to the
pcSS VI my htoWtouBc anu DtleL OuI
waiting will not be long, Because OF
combination OF circumstances the end
will come sooner than many Of you ex-
pect." Mr.. Gilmore declared after
ward to reveal the basis for this as
sertion. but an on cial of the A. f. L
backed up his prediction.
Asks PROFIT sharing.
Another speaker at the meeting was
Tn1e sv.,
mense roar of approval when he said
Let's not recognize the managers wher
| they are ready to recognize us" He
demanded the abolition of the manager
and the substitution for him of the
| actor manager handling productions rur
on q profit sharing basis other orators
who made the hit of their careers were
Lillian Russell. Richard Bennett, who
has done producing as we'll as acting ant
who lined Up with the Equity; Haze
Dawn, Henry e. Dixey and Lillian Al
bertson. whose husband. Abe Levy is {
partner of A. H. Woods and a par
owner Of the Eltinge Theatre, but WHIT
declared that ''my family, in spite of II
interests, is 100 per cent. Equity"
] At the Biltmore meeting OF the Fl
deity Mr.. Conan, after declaring tina
Samuel Gompers told him last weel
that 'he has never stood up behint
| contract breakers" made a statemen
as the president, of the aims Of tn,
| organization, In which he said tina
from tonight on the Actors Fidelit.
League seeks no new membership" an,
that the league was in a better posi-
ton tonight than we ever were before.
Within forty-eight hours. he asserted
there will be little sunshine aroun'
this town SO far as actors are con
cerned'
Mr.. Mann In the usual speech. havin
| first suggested that representatives b
sent to Congress to ask that body I
pass laws looking to the prevention o
future strikes by actors, referred fee!
ingly to the hindrances placed in tn
way of Bessie Mccoy Davis during he
appearances lately in the "Greenwic
Village Follies." In this connection
Mrs. Davis issued statement earle
in the day that because she was tn
only member of the cast belonging I
the Fidelity, the management tried (
get her to join the Equity for fear tina
organization would close UP the show
the other players blocked the passage
way to her dressing rom when sh
needed make a quick cange, and pu
the word "scab" all over her room. an
altogether annoyed her SO much sh
felt compelled to hire the brother-ir
law of Ami Oakley, the famous dea
shot, as bodyguard.