The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-08
RAP SECRET PEACE
AT EQUITY JUBILEE
Players Threaten New War
When Refused Terms With
Managers.
SLAOKERs NOT POPULAR
Fidelity Goes Ahead With
Benefit and Announces
Long Programme.

Though taps have sounded over the
war between the Actors Equity Associa-
ton and the Producing Managers Asso-
citation, dissension that bore all the
marks Of a counter revolution in the
Equity came to light at the big vic
tory celebration" of the A. e. A. at the
Lexington Theatre yesterday.
A number of players among the 2,2oo
present, who made up in voice what
they lacked in numbers, expressed We
hement discomfort over the terms of the
strike settlement. They grew particu-
larly wrathy over the seeming reluc-
tance of Equity leaders to reveal the
exact peace terms. An outbreak of dis
satisfaction came whom Paul Turner,
chief counsel for the Equity, was speak
ing, and repeated demands were made
that the contract with the managers be
| read.
After Mr.. Turner explained that he
| had no copy at hand but would send for
one, the malcontents waited for a time,
but later again called upon him to read
| 1t. Mutterings of disapproval came
afresh when the lawyer replied: at
would serve no good purpose to read
| the entire contract"
When he continued with statement
| that the keynote of the agreement was
| "a settled arbitration clause and added
| that "the second great point is that
there will be no discrimination against
A. e. A. members" the cacophony broke
out again. Men arose all over the audi
forum and shouted various biting ques-
tons at him. chief among them being
How are you going to prevent 2" and
What about the Fidos?"
Wilson QueIIs TumuIt.
After Francis Wilson, president of the
Equity, quelled the tumult, which GEN.
tired about the question of curbing men,
bers Of the Actors Fidelity League, Mr..
Turner finished with this assertion: I'm
going to tell this in my own way and
my own time
That failed to satisfy about two dozen
players, who climbed to the stage at the
end of the meeting and under the lead
of Frank Merlin clustered about Frank
Gilmore, executive secretary. and
heckled him vigorously. Mr.. Merlin de-
manded:
What have I gained by this strike d?
I'm In my old place, at my old salary
and under my old contract. All I've got
is the animosity of my manager, and
I'll never be able to stick with him. The
Ffdos who stayed in the cast got their
salaries raised, while I've been working
I twelve and fourteen hours a day for
the Equity"
Replies from Mr.. Gilmore that all
these and other questions would be an
swered at strike headquarters to-mor-
row did not prevent some of the protest.
ing delegation from denouncing the
Equity methods as steam roller tao
tics" 1t was necessary for the stage
hands to switch off the lights repeatedly
and for the house manager to request
the rebels to clear the stage before the
crowd went outside, where they con-
tinued their discussion heatedly.
Some of these players, who had Kissed
every mention of the open shop" dur
ing the afternoon speeches, declared they
represented a majority of the members
of the Equity. but members of the ex-
ecutive council belittled the movemeNt,
explaining that dissatisfied minority
was inevitable.
Cool Toward sIackers.
Other speeches. which di not call
forth so much opposition, were con-
cerned with efforts by prominent play
ers to urge tolerant attitude for those
who had not gone on strike. But a
rather cool reception greeted Lillian
Russell's plea $50 conduct yourself that
no animosity will be bred. Be generous
and kind and bring them into our or
ganization in that way
w. b. Rubin. a labor attorney, who
said that the actors had gained a VIC
tory, asked "If this contract Is salts
factory to Samuel Gompers will you say
that 1t Is not satisfactory to your" But
the noes" seemed to bulk as large as
the affirmative answers. Charles C.
Shay, president of the stage hands
union. and Joe N Weber, head of the
musicians. added their exhortations to
that of Miss Russell in pleading for
generous treatment OF, those who did
not strike. But Grant Stewart, CORE
spending secretary. quoted a line from
1.-THE Better Ole" when he said:
"we're going to miss this blinging old
war. I'm going TO forgive but with
mental reservations-and / don't mean
managers"
Other speakers were Hugh Frayne.
organizer for the State Federation of
Labor; Francis Wilson, Bruce McRae,
Frank Bacon. Marie Dressler and Nor
man Trevor.
The Fidelity League announced last
night that it's next meeting would be
held on Tuesday at 3 80 p. NJ. in the
grand ballroom of the Hotel Aston.
Future plans will be discussed then.
Previous announcement had been made
that, though the Equity had cancelled
its benefit performances, the Fidelity
would present benefit in the Century
Theatre on Sunday evening, \Septem-
Der 81.
Fidelity BENEFIT Programme.
The committee of arrangements in
cludes George NJ. Conan, William Collier
and Holbrook Blinn and besides a ski.
by the first two-probable on the strike
acts were announced by the following