The sun., 1919-08-02
UNITED WE STAND,
SHOUT 1900 ACTORS
War to the Death Against All
Managers Declared With
q WhOop
A. f. OF L. PLEDGES AID
Thespians Are Ready to Align
With Hodcarriers and
Bricklayers.
A. F. OF L. PLEDGES AID

The tyrant ONCE boy received a severe
blow yesterday afternoon from fifteen
hundred actors gathered in meeting in
the grand ballroom OF the Hotel Aston.
Never again. declared the stage folk.
will they brook his insults. Never again
will he turn up q supercilious nose when
an important Thespian swaggers in
through the Office door. Never again
will he inform said Thespian that the
boss Ia not IN, when the feet OF said
parsonage can plainly be seen reposing
on his desk in an inside Office.
The actors were one and all with
Harry Mountford in sentiment when he
shouted his indignation at the insults to
which the craft had been subjected by
the lowly ONCE boy In the past. They
greeted his remarks with an approving
roar such as actors dream OF hearing
from the other side of the footlights a
howl that emanating from a first night
audience would be the supreme seal Of
success
with as thunderous a shout they voted
unanimously to remain united in. their
fight against the managers, and to leave
their fate entirely in the hands of the
Associated Actors and Artistes of Amer
lea and tho American Federation OF
Labor. Through those bodies they will
strive for an adjustment Of their diff
ferences. and II the managers persist in
their refusal to arbitrate as they have
done In the past-well, this Is what
James Fitzpatrick. international vice
president Of the -Four AS" said may
happen:
Managers Duly Warned.
'sThe time may come when the man.
ager has his house filled to capacity and
the performance Is about to start when
a representative Of the organization may
walk in and announce that unless the
terms OF the actors are accepted there
will be no play"
In such event, Mr.. Fitzpatrick told
them, II will be their duty to stand by
the organization. Shouts OF well stick
came from all parts OF the room, and in
the demonstration that followed Mr..
Thomas was unable to make himself
heard for several minutes.
Then, again, Hugh Frayne, general or
ganizer of the American Federation OF
Labor. who was introduced to the crowd
by Chairman Francis Wilson, pointed on;
another possibility.
Pledging the full support of the A F.
l., he ridiculed the idea that actors
hodcarriers. bricklayers and plumbers
at Is because of that doctrine" he said,
| that you have been unable to obtain
recognition due and given to bricklayers
hodcarriers and plumbers. You will not
be contaminated by affiliation with such
people, and II II becomes necessary for
the hodcarriers, bricklayers and plumb
ers to withdraw their patronage from the
theatres that deny your rights they will
do So
The whoop that went up to the CALLER
les as the labor leader banged his large
| fist on the table caused him to remark
II was an actor and got such q cheer
as that I'd demand a raise OF salary al
once"
A. r. of L. Pledges support.
In. concluding Mr. Frayne turned to.
ward the press table and said, II would
like the papers to state that the Ameri
can Federation of Labor Offers its goot
Offices to this organization in its attemp
to reach an equitable agreement with the
theatrical managers"
Another feature OF many emotiona
outbursts on the part Of the audience
was the acttpn taken by certain weareri
Of the buya.in In resigning from thu
Actors Equity Association
These persons were compared By
| Harry Mountford with soldiers who de
sert under FIRE. Charges of treason L
the organization. and remarks abou
yellow streaks' and cold feet" mingled
with torrents OF abuse poured upon theil
| heads
Miss Amelia Bingham was character
lied unkindly. and Of another lady Wit
announced that she was an artistic anC
not a laborer, 1t was said that her state
tment was lacking in confederation
| Bruce McRae stirred the audience to
| frenzy with an attack upon the mem
bers Of the Chu Chin Chow company
who bolted the organization. He spok
| of the three women and one man VIII
had refused to quit the association, ant
asked that their names be inscribed upoi
q roll Of honor.
When a shout for the names of tn
four went up Francis Wilson said EN-
phatically that they must not be men
toned, but noisy vote OF gratitude wa
given them just the same.
New Organization Abused.
The proposed new organization whicl
Is planned to promote cooperation be
tween actors and managers came in TO
a good share Of abuse. Mountford ex
pressed the opinion that II would be
VOLTS den into which the theatrica
sheep would be iured.
He spoke of this and OF the libe
suit which the managers have file
against him as a last minute attempt t
break the Actors Equity Association. o
their refusal to arbitrate he said
They arbitrate with musicians The
arbitrate with stage hands. VIII
shouldn't they arbitrate with you VIII
are the foundation OF the theatre?"
Fitzpatrick, speaking OF the work o
actors In the war, said: Many Of then
were at the front but they didn't Sc
any managers there. There were plent.
of them holding down bombproof job
in the s. o. S. and in this country.
you've got to live with your own con
sciences" he told the actors; you can
live with Jake and Lee"
The charge that managers had trie
10 prevent the meeting by calling un
necessary rehearsals was made by sew
eral speakers. Even that universal ia
yorite, George NJ. Cohan. came in 70
some criticism which was roundl
cheered.
In the extremely emotional audienc
were innumerabie stars of the legitlmat
stage, some of whom reached such
high pitch of excitement that the
pressed TO the platform to wiring tn
hands of the speakers.
On the platform were representative
OF several of the -Four A" clan, includ
ing the Hebrew Actors, German Actors
Vaudeville Actors and Dramatic Actors
Chairman Francis Wilson announced ar
other meeting OF the Actors Equity Al
ISOLATION to be held within a week, bu
, did not specify the day.
Resolutions adopted give the Associate
! Actors and Artlstes OF America fu
! power to act for the Actors Equity Al