New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
Sothern to Form New Body

Walters.
Sothern to Form New Body
From the press headquarters of the
Producing Managers Assoc iation it
was announced that +. II. Sothern, who
resigned from the Actors Equity Asso
citation when a strike was called, was
forming a new organization Of actors,
"to maintain the dignity and the
standards of the theatrical profession"
1t was also stated:
Before o'clock he (Mr. Sothern)
had received more than sixty enthusi
astc acceptances from some of the best
Among others who joined with him
Immediately were David Warfield,
Minnie Maddern Fiske, Henry Miller,
Howard Kyle and many others whose
names Mr.. Sothcrn announced he would
give out for publication Tuesday, when
he hopes to have his association as
sumo more definite form"
The press representative of the man
ayers issued a statement in connection
with the filing of the Shubert suits
against the actors, in which he said:
"The suits against the individuals
and officials Of the Actors Equity As
sociation will be vigorously prosecuted,
the first steps being the service of
papers on the actors named, and follow
ing this will come, in many cases, ac-
tual attachment of bank accounts and
property Of individuals to compensate
the managers for the losses sustained
as result of the breaking of contracts
and the closing Of theatres.
Wilson Bond Acceptable
"Of course, if Francis Wilson, the
president of the Actors Equity, wishes
10 hN, of to
tee the managers in the event of YER
diets for damages, the individual actors
may be able to retain control Of their
property and their bank accounts pend
ing trial of the suits; but even though
Mr.. Wilson is reputed millionaire, it
is not expected that he will put up his
own property as a bond for the actors
whom he has persuaded to break con-
tracts and close theatres.'
The suits filed by the Shuberts, it
was stated on behalf Of the managers,
would be followed by other suits for
large amounts by the owners of every
to close as a result of the actors
strike.
The complaint Of the Shubert suit
alleges that not only did the Actors
Equity Association prevent players
from working, but in certain instances
Threatened 10 stone them if they con-
tinHed to appear on the stage. The
suit was filed by cambridge Colby and
William Kline as counsel for the Win
ter Garden Company and was sworn
to by Lee Shubert as vice president of
the company.
Ziegfeld Given Ultimatum
The council of the Actors Equity
Association had given Florenz Zegfeld
until $3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon
to declare whether he was a member
of the Producing Managers Associ-
alton. 1t was generally understood
that the actors were preparing to call
strike of members of the Folles
company if Mr.. Ziegfeld announced
that he was standing by the other
managers.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock a note was
handed to committee of members of
the Actors Equity Association who
were waiting for Mr.. Ziegfelds de-
cision. This note read:
81 feel honorcd to announce that
have to-day become a member of the
Producing Managers Association"
Then the copies of Justice Lydon's
Injunction were served.
Among those specifically restrained
by the injunction We're Francis Wilson,
John Cope, Harry Mountford and
James Fitzpatrick, as officers or advis-
ers of the Actors Equity Association,
and Paul p. Turner. Eddie Cantor,
Gus Van, Joseph Schenck, johnny
Dooley. Ray Dooley, Eddie Bowling,
Harry G. Brown and John Steel, all
principals of the Iollies.
1t was announced at the managers
headquarters, however, that before the