The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-15


never had any one stand back OF me in
my life. Everything I've ever got I've
had to fight for, and I mean to 60 on
fighting to the end. I know some OF
you are saying I'm yellow" though cries
OF protest arose at this. 81 know you'll
say I'm tough guy" and he pulled the
brown cap from his head almost In
frenzy, but that's the kind OF q guy
, lam"
George" said Capt. Gleason, striving
to >placate him. we've all made mis-
takes, but
IF it's a mistake on my part" said
Conan, I'll be the first to rectify II.
I'm big enough for that"
Thereupon the gathering, having
gained this much as n concession, alb
ruptly melted away, while The Royal
VagaboDd" performance was started,
having been held back fifteen minutes.
stage Hands Pledge Aid.
Not so overlooking with the hlstrionic,
but noisier and more enthusiastic was
the meeting at the Aston ballroom in
the afternoon, when C. C. Shay. presi-
dent of the International Alliance or
Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion
Picture Machine Operators delivered the
message concerning the stage hands for
which the theatrical world has been
/ waiting the past few days. He brought
them to their feet with a wild clamor
| as he declared:
by unanimous vote of the general
| executive board. scattered In this coun-
try and Canada, the orders are that at
the proper time In your Judgment II
all other matters have been tried with
out avail, strike-if 1t busts the organi-
cation believe there Is a possibility
| of a conference at which we can bring
| about an adjustment in a straightfor-
ward way. But IL 1t means the rock of
destruction of our organization, built up
over thirty-odd years of effort from the
blue shirt boy to the present time. don't
know of a better rock TO be destroyed
en- If you go down to defeat you've got
us with you. for Wen stick as long as
God let's US live"
What forced the hand Of organized
labor in favor of the actors, Mr. Shay
declared, was what he termed 'the mon
umental bluff" of the managers In bring
ing suit through the Shuberts for $780,
900, basing their action on the Danbury
: hat case. In that case, the stage Hands
leader said, they were assessed $40
man to save the homes of the hatters,
and they would be willing to be as
sessed $40 each to help the actors
which would mean 100000.
Before him Thomas Gamble, a leader
of the federated musicians. had pledged
their support, declaring that the union
lied instrumentalsts were tuning up
with A, and as soon as they had reached
concert pitch they would give a SYM
phony such as you never heard before"
Offensive Is Perfected.
The meeting. which was presided over
by Francis Wilson. was further per
meated with union atmosphere by W. w
Rubin, labor attorney. He said:
This morning we perfected our often
sive machinery II these managers do
not listen to reason I am not sure that
some one may not come in from Uncle
Sam and invoke the law for their trust
in violation of the antitrust law. Well
invoke the Sunday law. II necessary. to
put them out of business. Just as Mr..
Wilson brought the hope Of democracy
TO the world so your Mr.. Wilson has
brought the hope of democracy to the
STAGE
Mr. Rubin explained later that he was
thinking of appealing to the Attorney
General of the United States for aid
under the Sherman law, and that the
Sunday law would be called into service
with reference to vaudeville perfor-
mances.
Announcement concerning the benefit
performances was made by Lieut.-Col
Earl Booth, who had previously sent a
telegram to E. II. Sothern declining an
invitation to join the actors organization
which Mr.. Sothern expects to weld more
firmly together to-day in the Hotel Bit
more. This actor soldier said:
Were going to see the public is en-
tertained though the managers have
closed the theatres. We have finally
signed a contract for the Lexington Ave-
nue. Theatre. running we'll on into Octo-
Der. 1t will open on Monday with a bill
that will continue for a week. amer
which there will be weekly changes. with
matinees Wednesday and Saturdays
and only Equity contracts. George d.
Grundy, the owner. signed the contract
in spite of opposition.
Spectators Barred.
Performances will be given at popu-
lar prices. with 81 as the top price. No
tickets will be in the hands OF specu-
lators. The money is to go into the
strike fund to take care OF people who
have walked out. The performers who
have volunteered include Ethel Barry
more, Lillian Russell. Marie Dressler
Pearl White. Lionel Barrymore. De Wolf
Hopper. Frank Tinney. Barney Bernard.
Eddie Cantor, John Charles Thomas
Frank Fay. Joseph Santley. Ivy Sawyer.
Van and Schenck, Herbert Corthell and
Charles MacNaughton."
De Wolf Hopper aroused a wild yell
with a revelation OF what he said was
the managers feelings at this time.
Riley Hatch and Jim Corbett." he de-
clared, were told a couple of days ago
by an author who has access to the Pro-
ducing Managers Association They're
on tenterhooks. Why. Lee Shubert was
walking on red hot irons the other day
He said: I'VE must do something I'm
told by my hackers in Wall street to
forfeit my $4,000 to the p. NJ. A, but
to open my theatres"
President Wilson said the strike fund
had been increased to $4,000 by private
contributions. and Frank Gilmore, ex-
ecutive secretary, reported that the mem
bership was now over 5000. He told
OF troubles with managers about getting
pay for productions like The Cave Girl"
The Voice OF Mcconnell" Going Up
| and Hello, Alexander" adding that in
one musical comedy the managers COM
PEELED the chorus girls to buy their
shoes and stockings, made them sur
render them before paying them for
| their last week, and then sold these ar
ticles to their successors.
Marie Dressler in addressing the
| chorus girls and boys in the Amsterdam
Opera House stated that she was at
work with Mrs. John d. Rockefeller, Jr.,
on plan to establish permanent hotels
for these members of the profession in
the various large cities. Miss Dressler
said she was also organizing general
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