The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-26

counsel for the defence at the hear
ing on Saturday Justice Hendrick said
the assertion chad been mace that the
Producing Managers Association was an
unlawful organisation. No. evidence to
that effect, he declared, had been pro-
duced before him. Mr.. Sheffield stated
that 1t would be presented in affidavit
Governed By the statutes.
Justice Hendrick emphasized the
point that he was not voicing opposition
to the Equity or to the actors. since
he Is on good terms with the profession.
He declared that he was compelled 10
govern his opinion by the statutes.
The meeting OF dramatists at the
Astor was attended by about 100 writ
ers, and every author of,importance who
was absent was represented by tele-
gram Of support. After the meeting
Claiming Pollock made this statement ;
1--WE need an organization to pro-
tect our interests The Authors League
of America, with It's 1900 members. In
Guiding 90 per cent of the writer's In
this country and affiliated with similar
British and French bodies, exists for
that purpose. To-day, through Leroy
Scott chairman of its executive COM
IiHtltcs ~ ItHcN0u lne lnNihhllOh "
Join, which II extended last week, but
which was not then accepted for GER,
tain reasons.
1--WE accepted It to-day. abandoning
the idea of q separate league unani'
mously. We are now the dramatic com
mittee Of the Authors League and have
thereby much more standing and back
ing. Our immediate purpose IL to bring
back normal conditions to the theatre
and at the suggestion of Augustus
Thomas every dramatist who had q
play stopped by the strike, either II
actual or prospective production. hal
automatically become a member of Q
subcommittee for immediate action"
I'VE are going to find where the truti
lies In this trouble" Eugene walter
said, "and II we find conditions to b
dealt with we're going to proceed
against them vigorously. Speaking
for myself, ] think the author on thu
stage to-day stands between monopoly
and communism"
Promise Of a rosy outlook for tn,
playwright, particularly the unknown
writer, was held out by Earl Booth
chairman of the entertainment commit
| tee for the Equity. who said that ever!
manuscript submitted, no matte
whether its author had ever had I
production before, would receive at
least two readings from the play read
Ing coromittee. Only clean plays" h
declared, would be produced.
| All Star show Labor Day.
Lieut--Col. Booth has signed the leas
i of the Brooklyn Academy of Music 70
| Labor Day, when the all-star bill at Tn
Lexington Theatre this week will ap
pear there. For the production at Sar
| atoga tomorrow night Chauncey Olcot
telegraphed he would appear Edit
| Taliaferro and Margaret Vale, niece 0
President Wilson, have volunteered 70
productions here and elsewhere. Poi
circuit road companies will be 100 pc
cent Equity, according TO Jane
Thatcher. general manager. Q. e. Nee
producing manager of "Our PleaSan
| Sins" also came out for the strikers
The benefit for the Equity given b.
the actors at the Lexington Theatre be
| gan its second week last night. Their
were the usual numbers and there wa
the usual applause One of the official
said that the net profits Of $500 turne
| over after the first week to the A. f. T
probably would be equalled, judging b
the present demand for seats.
| Ethel Barrymore again is the briet,
| particular star of the performance, al
though there was a general change las
night, which added to the list such &c
lebrities as the Dolly Sisters, Harr
Fox. Carl Randall. De Wolf Hopper, a,
Duncan Sisters, Carl Hyson an
Dorothy Dickson, Marie Nordstron
John Charles Thomas Doyle and Dixo
and James Burton. Marie DTessler an
her chorus girls as well as-her-eHtft
siasm. and q large number of actors vol
.unteered in the spectacle "Equitgvr a
the end Of the show. repeated from las
week.
Three members of the company re
hearsing Whats the Odds" the muslcs
comedy being produced by Sam Shame
which was held up through the strik,
reported to the Producing Managers As
ISOLATION that threats had been mad
against them and against their famiile
over the telephone on Sunday. Georg
Mckay said he had been called up q
his home at FTeeport and told that
he left the Actors Equity Association I
Join the rival Actors Fidelity Leagu
his home would be burned, care bein
taken TO. burn his nine-year-old so
with It.
William e. Meehan said that while h
was visiting Mr.. Mckay similar threat
had been made against him.
The letter from George Cohan white
was read to the Actors Fidelity Leagu
by Louis Mann was as follows:
l Kindly convey my best. wishes I
your association and say to the member
that / am not yet ready to tender m
resignation from the Producing Mar
ayers Association and that one of m
real reasons for the delay Is because
am on a committee appointed for Il
purpose Of preparing a new form OF col
tract which Whan QnmDlafah will I n
sure, meet with the approval of ever
member of the acting profession. In II
meantime may I OFFER just word
advice2 Don't cry out that this man
right and that man is wrong. Don't a
low hysterical persons to say things @
impulse. Keep cool and be for a happ
ending. Cut out the cheers and Il
sneers and you'll soon get away froi
fears and tears. Please believe that
hope to be with you soon"