New-York tribune., 1920-05-31

Wilton Lackaye and John Emerson
debated yesterday afternoon, in the
ballroom of the Hotel Astor, the issues
upon which each is campaigning to
succeed Francis Wilson as president
of the Actors Equity Association.
Fighting words were exchanged, but
no blows. Mr.. Wilson umpired the
argument. and proved his neutrality by
chuckling with equal fervor whenever
Mr. Emerson said "lie" or Mr. Lackayc
retorted "fish.'
There were times, however, when the
900 actors and actresses, who listened
when they were not applauding, kissing
or jeering the candidates, thought the
affair might culminate in & duel. The
winner viii be the one who gets the
most ballots next Friday in the same
room, when the Equity holds its an
nual election. Their rewards at the
finish yesterday were few hugs and
perhaps a kiss from actress adherents
Lackaye spoke for one hour; then
Emerson for a similar period. Then
each man spoke for twenty minutes in
rebuttal. and finally Lackaye closed
with a fiveminute talk.
Where Was Mr. Emerson?
"Who is Mr.. Emerson?" asked Nr
Lackaye. "In 1908 he was stage man
agor for Charles Frohman, fixing sala-
ries, hiring and firing" Then Mr.
Lackaye tQld what he was doing to
aid the organization of stage people
, at similar period.
in 1914, when ! was helping found
this organization, where was Mr. EN-
crson? Probably he was making a
movie serial of The Hidden Hand
During the strike last summer Mr.
Emerson was hissed for ten minutes
at the Lexington Opera House because
he eulogized George NJ. Cohan"--
"That's not true broke in Emers on
from his side of the platform, where
he sat with Frank Gilmore, executive
secretary of the Equity.
He eulogized Mr.. Cohan and you
Kissed him because Mr.. Cohan is the
gentleman who was willing to give
500, 900 to wreck your organization;
nc is Mr.. Conan, the Fido Equity
term for members of the Actors Fidel
ity League, an actors organization
supported by the managers), and Mr.
COhan, the manager, and as such he Is
my enemy and yours
Boothe's 212 Per Cent
"Now, then, who is Earl Boothe OF
this sinister combination of Emerson
Hyphen BoOthe? He is the man the
present administration has given d
contract for 500 q week and per
centage of all the profits of all the
entertainments given by you. a per-
centage of the talent of Ethel Barry
more, the loyalty of Marjorie Ram
beau, the beauty of Elsie Ferguson, the
genius Of Has5rrd Short, the golden
voice of Nance O'Neill. Now what 90
you think Of that"
There was rumble Of comment
from the throats Of the audience and
cries of "r0tten."
The work of all these people," con
tinued Lackaye, the work of your
selves in our Equity shows all goes tc
earn pr per cent and perhaps more
"Why do You say more?" truculentIy
demanded Mr. Emerson from his end
of the platform, and Chairman Wilson
commanded: "Hush.'
THE present officers Of Equity lied
twice when they were asked about this
contract that mas been given Boothe.
They said he didn't get any percentage
at all. Now they say il is only . 12 pen
cent
Threatened with Blacklist
"There are no Equity members in the
Shubert choruses," said Mr. Lackaye,
and when some of our girls have to go
to q manager for justice they glare at
her"- Mr.. Lackaye rolled his eyes and
glared, tWirling waXed ends of mis- mus
tache 10 finer points land they glare
at her, putting into their eyes the threat
Of the blacklist,
Another thing: The Equity consti-
tuition expressly says that any one who
has ceased to be an actor loses his
h.. !,