New-York tribune., 1919-08-11

in the vaudeville profession. The
mark of these men instantly appeared
IN public vilifcation of managers and
haranguing of actors, scurrilous at
tacks in their only published mouth
piece, and as grand climax the strike.
complete reputation of Actors Equity
contracts by which the managers were
faithfully abiding, vulgar street dis
plays, $500 a-week actors accosting $40
a-week chorus girls at stage doors and
asking them to get out in sympathy.
threats of assault on managers. wreck
ing of theatres. vilest of all anonymous
letters and the completest dcmonstra-
ton of all the misery an unscrupulous
agitator can create. particularly when
he has as his plaything an unusually
emotional class.
NO Obligation in Contract"
so far as the managers are con-
cerned. the Actors Equity Association
has proved itself the enemy Of the
actor and the manager. No contract
with any of it's members can tNer be
considered anything better than an OBJ
iigatlon that can be cancelled by the
Actors Equity Association at thirty
minutes notice. for the actor is no
longer free. There is q power above
nm that tells him when and where he
may or may not work; he has no right
to make an Individual contract since
ne cannot be sure that he can fulfil it,
1T has ceased to be a struggle be
tween the actor ard the manager The
manager must fight now to deliver the
actor from the grip Of unscrupulous
agitators and restore him to position
OF some personal liberty.
"The Producing Managers Associa-
tion will continue to keep the theatres
open and will give performances. They
VIII have no quarrel nor have they had
any quarrel with organized labor. a
fact which is clearly proven by the
continued good relations that exist be-
tween the managers and the unions Of
stagehands, musicians, etc. The Pro
ducing Managers Association deplores
a strike in this industry at the present
time when there is so much unrest
throughout the country"
A letter from Howard Kyle, found
er Of the Actors Equity Association, to
+. II. Sothcrn condemning the strike,
was made public last night by the
managers association. Mr. Sothern, as
well as Mr Kyle. has resigned from
the actors organization.
In the letter Mr.. Kyle said:
"For once the managers arc right in
their stand. They have recognized the
Actors Equity Association as an or
S,"iitA~S StVii anu titty llCN ilS IcpIc-
scntativcs to meet them and make a
mutual agreement for the uniform
adoption and use of an improved form
of the United Managers Protective AS
sociation- Actors Equity Association
contract to cover a period Of three or
five years. Each manager in the new
producing Managers Protective Asso-
citation (and it includes practically all
of th5em) is under bond by which he
any agreement made BY his organiza-
tlon. That is, any agreement like that.
of the adoption of a uniform standard
contract.
This was the very situation. or
should | say consummation, toward
which the Actors Equity Association
has been aiming for six years. Some
Of the radicals misapprehended the
spirit of cooperation that possessed
the managers and attributed their ac-
ton to motives of fear, whercupon an
utterly foolish and unnecessary ulti-
matum was issued concerning extra
performances which were made to in
clude legal holiday matinces and Sun
day appearances. The arbitrary action
was taken despite the insistent warn
lngs made to the counsel Of its i'll
advSedncss The aggression came, YOU
see. from our side when the managers
were in an amenable state of mind and
actually willing, as they arc now, to
stand for clause by which all sala-
ries shall be rcckoned by the performs
.Ora