New-York tribune., 1919-09-03
Managers Purpose to
Open 5Houses With Aid
of Fidelity; Recruit Mu.
sicians and Mechanics
Knights of Labor
Members Drafted
Strikers, Still Undaunted.
Declare Mysteriously
That Victory Is Near

Developments yesterday in the war
between the striking actors and the
managers were:
The managers broke off secret
negotiations with the strikers which
have been going on since Saturday, and
announced that they intended to re-
open their theatres as soon as possible.
Casts are to be recruited, it was an
nounced, from the Actors Fidelity
League and stage hands and musicians
from organizations affiliated with the
knights of Labor, once an active rival
Of the American Federation of Labor.
II is planned to reopen the Selwyn
Theatre Friday night and four others
Saturday.
Florence Ziegfeld, a member Of the
Producing Managers Association. said
the knights of Labor had been granted
a permanent injunction. restraining the
American Federation of Labor from in.
terfering with it.
committee of playwrights repre-
senting the Authors League of America
met and decided to make another at
tempt to intercede between the man
ayers and the members Of the Actors
Equity Association. If the managers
are hostile to this attempt at media.
ton, the playwrights say they viii re-
cover their plays by mandamus pro-
ceedings and produce them themselves
with the aid of the Equity
George M. Cohan, president of the
Actors Fidelity League, at stormy
meeting in the Hotel Biltmore, said:
The clouds are beginning to break.
There is no doubt in my mind that
there will be sunshine in fortv-eicht
hours. We are in better position
tonight than ever before. Before long
we Will have recognition from all
ends"
The Producing Managers Association
was in conference until midnight with
its attorneys and Mr.. Cohan. At the
conclusion Of the meeting Arthur Hop
kins, speaking for the association,
said:
There is no news
1t was understood that the managers
were considering a compromise offer
rendered them secretly by the leaders
Of the Equity and that several had
voted in favor of accepting it, A
strong conservative element, said to be
headed by David Belasco, was reported
to have opposed it.
Staffs Quietly Recruited
The managers have been quietly re-
cruitng musicians and stage hands for
week. Among the theatres and plays
wh'ch the managers are planning to
reopen are the New Amsterdam with
"Ilegfeld's Follies," the Liberty with
George Whites "Scandals of 1919" and
the Astor with east Is West" At the
Manhattan Opera House A. II. Woods is
to begin the previously advertised fall
run of Friendly Enemies" starring
Louis Mann. vice president of the Ac-
tors Fidelity League. Jess Dandy has
been ordered to appear for rehearsals
IN the role previously filled by Sam
bernard, who is now aligned with the
striking actors.
The Selwyn Theatre Will reopen Fri
day night with "The Challenger Archie
Selwyn announced last night He said
the seven sets of scenery in the plav
will be shifted "by loyal employees Of
the Selwyn Theatre"
Frank Gilmore, executive secretary
of the Actors Equity Association. and
ITS representatives on the war coun-
cil limited at this development during
the afternoon, when he explained to a
gathering fstrikers at the Lexington
Avenue Theatre why the Gallo Opera
Company was not allowed to open. Mr..
Gilmore said:
1--WE had given the Gallo Opera Com
pany warning that they might be
closed. did this personally. as con-
ditions were changing from day to day
1t was discovered that it would be very
unwlse to allow the Shubcrt Theatre
to reopen after one of our companies
had struck there four weeks ago. Gallo
that I hoped that something might
happen which would permit the show
to open. Unfortunately that some
thing did not occur. We have some
thing which we are not ready to di-
vulge, but to the best of my hnowl-
edge and belief our waiting will not be
long"
TIE question of the closed shop
stands between the strikers and tho
managers. A member of the Produc-
ing Managers Association stated this
fatty yesterday. He said also that
Charles Shay, president of the stage
hands. was ir irsstng that the actors
demand the closed shop.
Shay Called Strike Head
Arthur Hopkins. spokesman for the
Producing Managers Association, re-
Fsrrcd to Shay as the real head of the
strike. at must r. apparent to every
one that the control Of the strike has
passed from the actors to the stage
hands. and therefore MIR. Shay is the
dictator" he said.
What may develop into another as
sault upon the managers position had
it's birth yesterday afternoon at the
Hotel Astor, where committee Of
stage authors met to discuss the situa-
ton. The committee was drawn from
the drama committee of the Authors
League of America. and was composed
of Eugene Walter, Gene Buck, Augustus
Continued on page four