The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-26
ACTORS STRIKE
JARREDIN ACT2
FCOURT SCENE
Permanent Injunction Will
BE Issued Against Play =
ers of A. E. A.
ALL CONTRACTS UPHELD
Order to Be Made Tomorrow
Association Members Not
Worried Over Decision.

The managers triumphed yesterday
In the first round of the legal battle
stirred up by the actors strike, when
Justice Peter A. Hendrick of the Su-
preme Court decided to make perma-
nent the injunctions obtained by the
managers of six companies to prevent
the Actors Equity Association and a
number of it's members from inducing
players to break their contracts with
these managers.
In his opinion, given out in his
Chambers Justice Hendrick took the
stand that while the actors have a
perfect legal right to Join any organi-
cation they wish, they have no more
right to break a contract with man
sger at the instance of third party
in this case the Equity, which issued
the strike instructions-thant the man.
ager has to violate such an agreement.
Such actors, he declared. could be en-
Joined from working for any other
manager during the life of the con-
tracts. .....
At the Equity headquarters it was
stated that the injunction would, Of
course, be obeyed. 1t was pointed out by
theatres affected by this restraining or
der had been closed and were now
practically dead" The court ruling Is
looked upon by the managers as a guide
for future action to prevents the disturb
anoe of their productions, and they be-
lieve they have taken a long step to-
ward victory. Equity leaders did not
make known their decision as to whether
they would appeal.
PlaywFishts 10 Meet Governor.
While this judicial phase of the battle
of Broadway was being threshed out the
playwrights, who formed the Stage Writ
ers' Protective Association last week and
called a meeting Of American authors for
yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Astor.
were deciding to discard their new or
gsniEation and enroll themselves as a
branch of the Authors League of Ameri-
ca, of which 20 per cent. were MEM
bers. They resolved a message from
Gov. Smith stating he would be glad
to have conference with a delegation
concerning the settlement of the strike.
and 1t is expected the meeting will take
place on Wednesday.
Another meeting yesterday was that
OF the National Association Of the Mo-
ton Picture Industry, which decided to
remain neutral in the present hurly-
burly. Still q third meeting was that Of
the Actors Fidelity League at the Hotel
Biltmore last night. called for the pur-
pose of installing the newly elected off,
GERS. George NJ. Cohan, chosen unani-
mously for. president, was absent
at the beginning, and Louis Mann,
the vice-president, read letter
from the manager stating that he
was not yet ready to send his resignation
to the Producing Managers Association,
as re was busy, for one thing. serving
on committee TO prepare a ifs'e form
of contract designed TO please the actors.
Later Mr.. Conan appeared and made a
speech which indicated clearly he would
accept the presidency.
In addition to the failure OF the Win
ter Garden to continue its performances
Thurston the magician was unable to
open his show at the Globe Theatre last
night, his black art being powerless to
keep the stage hands and electricians
on the job, Despite assurances from
both sides that he would be unmolested
the stage employees vanished as If at
the waving of wand. Another wizard.
Houdini, was able TO appear in person
az the opening NJ his first complete fea-
ture film, THE Grim Game" a photo
play illustrating his talents at escaping,
which was well received at the Broad
way Theatre.
Plays Affected by Ruling.
The decision Of Justice Hendricks
dealt with the temporary injunctions OBJ
tanned recently by managers individually
and not as members of the Producing
Managers Association. The managers
and plays affected were Henry w. Saw
age, with Head Over Heels" Lee and
]. ]. Shubert. with "Shubert Gaities oil
1918" and Monte Cristo, Jr." and
winchell Smith. and John L. Golden. with
Three Wise Fools and 'Lightnin.'
The managers were represented in court
yesterday by Bainbridge Colby, Nathan
Burkan. Charles H. futile, William, Klein
and David Gerber.
Justus Sheffield was spokesman fol
the defendants. With MartinlW. Little
ton and Paul Turner. also representing
Equity members he had pleaded las'
week for a further adjournment pro-
testing that even by working overtims
he and the associate counsel would bt
unable to prepare an adequate defence
Justice Hendrick, however, decided tC
settle the matter of the injunction II
order to speed up the cases for trial
In the presence of counsel for botl
sides Justice Hendrick dictated to thu
official stenographer a statement of hi
intention to issue an injunction restrain
ing the actors involved from breaking
their contracts with the managers. HI
suggested that all counsel get together
this afternoon and agree upon a forma
order containing the injunction, which
he said, he would sign at p. NJ
tomorrow.
When Mr.. Colby demonstrated tina
two days was long time IN view o
the excited situation in the theatrica
world" the Justice remarked:
81 assume that with my decision OF