New-York tribune., 1919-09-04
Big Managers
Block Peace
With Actors
Belasco Said To Be Head
of Minority Refusing
to Compromise With
the Equity Association

Some of New York's theatres are
going to reopen in few days, whether
or not the actors strike is settled.
That was the one outstanding fact in
a cloud of rumor that kept Broadway's
artistic strikers stirred up all day YES
terday.
For the first time since the strike
began. August 7, practically every one
OF the fifty odd members of the Pro-
ducing Managers Association attend
ed meeting of their organization yes
terday. They were in conference in
the offices of Cohan & Harris until
$3.50 o'clock. Then they adjourned
until $3.50. when they began another
session that lasted half am hour until
after midnight.
Asked for opinions during the re-
cess they shook their heads negative
ly; some of them gloomily. 1t is an
open secret that a minority of power
ful managers, headed by, David
Belasco, is preventing a settlement.
Arthur Hopkins, at the end of the
meeting, said settlement seemed as
remote as ever The managers had not
met strike leaders, he said, although
attorneys for both sides had conferred.
1t was to hear the report of their coun-
sci, Mr.. Hopkins said, that the man
ayers had met, and also to discuss
plans for reopening the theatres de-
spite the strikers.
11l
inch from their original position, their
spokesman asserted, and would deal
with no actor who could not fulfil his
contract.
White Rats to Meet
Another important development Of
the day was the announcement of an
open mass meeting OF the vaudeville
circus and burlesque branch of the
Associated Actors and Aristes of
Amerlca-the White Rats. This meet
ing will be held in Amsterdam Opera
House, $40 West Forty fourth Street.
tomorrow. Francis Wilson, interna-
ticnal president of the "Four A. s" and
president of the Actors Equity Associ-
alton, one of the branches, will preside,
The speakers will be James William
Fitzpatrick, international vice-presi-
dent of the A. A. A. A., and Harry
Mountford, international executive.
This will be the first open meeting
Of the White Rats since April, 1917,
when the strike of vaudeville actors
was broken. Since then an actor sign
ing a contract on either big time, small
time or family time circuits has been
compelled to swear that he was no
longer a member of the White Rats.
In the interim meetings have been
held secretly to avoid the managers
espionage. Broadway interpreted the
announcement of an open meeting as
show of strength by the "Rats."
One member of the organization
whose White Rat card bears three
gold service stripes for distinguished
service said yesterday:
"We are stronger than ever. l don't
believe the vaudeville actors would
lose second time if it was decided to
strike"
Complain Of High Fees
Among the grievances of the vaude-
Vile actors are the high percentages
they say they are forced to pay for
booking. The agent who books their
act over a circuit. they say, charges
them per cent, and "something
additional" that reaches as much as
10 per cent more. This means Is per
work
"The vaudeville actor pays more for
the privilege of entering the stage
door than member of the audience
pays for entering the front door of
the theatre" one Rat" explained.
The actor pays a part of his salary
back to the man who pays it to him
in the form of percentage for book
ing.
'In addition to that, the vaudeville
actor pays for his transportation, his
costumes, scenery and everything else
used in his act. The vaudeville trust
is so certain that we are going to strike
that it is trying to line up. non-union
stage hands through a private detective
agency, and, in addition, is paying
number of non-union performers half
salaries for doing nothing. 1t hopes to
use these people in our places if we
strike"
Walter Kingsley, publicity man for
Continued on page tve