The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-28
ACTORS CHEER
NEW CONTRACT
AND COHAN AID
Producer, as Leader of FL
deity League, Offers
$500,000 Loan.
EQUITY RIVAL SCORES
Wild Scene Follows Read
ing of Terms Managers
Will Accept.
"EIGHT A WEEK'' IS BASIS
Full Salaries Xmas and Holy
Weeks-Gompers Attends
Benefit Performance.
0EIGHT A WEEK" IS BASIS


himself. into the meeting Of the new
Actors Fidelity League at the Hotel
Biltmore last night by accepting the
presidency of that organization, an
nouncing his resignation from the Pro-
ducing Managers Association, Offering
to back the new association to the ex-
tent OF 100000 and submitting from
the managers form of contract which,
as Louis Mann, vice-president, said,
surpassed the widest dreams of the
Actors Equity Association. the body
which the Fidelity promoters hope to
supplant In the affections Of the the
atre.
Although Mr.. Cohan did not definitely
state his acceptance Of the Office to
the gavel from Mr.. Mann. who had
been presiding until his arrival and dis
tributlng oratory unstintedly to the 500
players who packed the hotel ballroom.
Mr.. Cohan renewed his previously made
offer Of 100000 to the league, and sug-
gested that the check which he had
brought be turned over to the Actors
Fund OF America, II the board of direc-
tors persisted in refusing 1t. This sug-
gestion for donation to the Actors
Fund was carried amid the customary
histrionic outburst OF cheers.
New Contract Arouses Cheers.
Mr.. Cohan aroused an even eater
storm OF applause by reading the follow
ing provisions for new form OF Son-
tract which he said the Producing Man
ayers Association was willing to grant |:
> Eight performances to constitute a
week. with additional performances to
be paid for At the rate OF one-elghth
extra
Dramatic companies to rehearse gratis
for four weeks, with additional weeks of
rehearsal paid for at full salary
Musical shows to rehearse FIVE weeks,
with additional rel earsals at full salary.
All costumes. wigs, shoes and stock
ings for the chorus in musical comedies
TO be furnished by the manager and IN
both dramatic and musical companies all
gov ms to be furnished by the manager.
Salaries TO be paid no later than Sat
urday night.
II the play is rehesrsed less than ten
lhdyo DN IH6 manager
full salary shall be paid.
In case OF dispute over a violation OF
contract, the case to be settled by arbi-
tIation, manager and actor choosing a
representative, with a neutral umpire
called in from outside the theatre IL no
settlement is reached after three days
No suits are to be brought after the
award.
Beginning next season full salaries
are to be paid all companies during the
week before Christmas and Holy Week
! whether they work or not. Wherever
possible this arrangement to be made
this, season, though so many routes have
beerN booked that no general agreement
can Be made en- this point.
Cheers and More Cheers.
Cheers which Outdid anything the
Fidelity leaguers have tried their voices
on-and they can do plain and fancy
work at cheering-greeted these pro-
visions. which marked the most sweep
| ing concessions ever made by managers
In theatrical history. Referring to the
final section-payment for Christmas
and Holy Week-Mr Cohan won a salvo
| OF applause by saying:
~ don't want to pin any bouquets or
myself. but don't let any one tell you
the Equity is responsible for this
did it."
! Mr.. Cohan stated that part of tn,
contract affirmed that the Producing
! Managers Association would see that II.
/ members lived up to their contractua
! engagements. He did not read from
formal document in reciting the points
! Of the new instrument, but said they
! were the main terms which the mana
I gers would grant. and that he had beer
/ empowered ito give the Fidelity what
! ever It asks for within reason-anC
that WAS put up TO me to decide"
The ovation which this announcement
received was only one instance of tn,
explosive reception accorded Mr.. CohaI
: from the time he first entered the room
AS he was escorted to the dais, wher,
I the board Of MISUNDERSTANDING Mrs
( Fiske, present at her first meeting-sa
/ In state, with Alexander Leftwlch, on,
OF his stage managers, appropriately
stage managing his entrance, the audi
ence rose and cheered stamped, clappeC
and yelled for Mr.. Cohan for exactl.
minutes and 40 seconds-not quit,
equal to Samuel Gompers's acclaim last
ing three minutes at the Equity meeting
1, on Tuesday.
Mr. Cohan, after shaking hands witt
Mrs. Fiske and expressing the hope tina
representatives OF the press would not
that in his entrance he received hi
usual reception. said:
1T come to you not as a manager bu
as an actor. I have resigned from tn
Producing Managers Association.
shall do all in my power to guide you
You tell me what you want me to d
and I'll go ahead and do It. We al
know what we want-it's the theatr
and a return TO the old days. We wan
those who have been mlsled. We mus
have friendly relations with our man
ayers and our associates. and we wan
no weapons over our heads"
! Stop Hurrahing. He Says.
After reading the managerial offer o
a new contract which Mr.. Mann sal,
| . HnnkInalad on Eoilrfh Dana