New-York tribune., 1920-11-15

at the Hotel Astor yesterday gave AL
most unanimous approval to the asso-
citation plan to establish the Equity
shop in New York theaters.
The Equity shop, it is said. is modi-
tication Of the closed shop. Yester-
days meeting was one of series called
to discuss the proposal. The matter
will be disposed of by referendum
mong the membership of the associa~
.ion. II finally adopted the plan, it was
said, will bar members Of tho Equity
from appearing on the same stage with
actors and actresses who do not belong
to the association.
Balloting will begin in about two
weeks and the polls will be open for
a month, All officers of the Equity, it
was said, are heartily in favor of the
movement.
Meet Behind Closed Doors
Yesterdays meeting was held be-
hind closed doors. When the meeting
concluded the action taken was re-
ported by John Emerson, president;
Frank Gilmore, secretary, and Paul
Turner counsel Of the association.
"Thc Equity shop" Mr.. Emerson said,
"means that our members will not
work in the same company with nom
members---that's all. 1t doesn't bar
managers from employing non-Equity
casts whenever and wherever they can.
limited in any way. We must accept
for membership any one who speaks q
single line in production.
"To-days meeting was held for the
purpose Of explaining what is meant
by the Equity shop and the difference
between 1t and the closed shop. The
closed shop would mean that we would
declare that no manager shall employ
other than Equity members. Then We
would limit the membership OF the
Equity, SO that no new players could
be placed in productions.
But that, of course, isn't the Equity
shop. We arc in fact as much opposed
to the closed shop as any managers
would possibly be. We are opposed to
anything that would limit the activity
or the art Of the theater."
Would Affect Road Shows
A feature of the Equity shop plan,
explained by Mr.. Emerson, is the au-
thority vested in the Council Of the
Actors Equity Association to enforce
the Equity snop under such circunl-
stances as it sees fit. The council
under the plans provisions would be
would be taken in regard to touring
companies.
For the present members Of the Pro-
ducing Managers Association, which
includes the majority of the producers
in New York, will not be affected by
the Equity shop plan in the event of its
adoption. Under the terms of the
agreement which the association signed
with the actors in September, 1919, set
tling the strike, no such plan may be
instituted until the expiration of q
five-year contract.
Few Among Opposition
Mr.. Emerson said that only handful
of those present at Yesterdays meet
ing voiced objections to the plan as
outlined. The Equity shop pan, it was
said, would affect 10000 members Of
the Equity and an additional 1000
citation. This number. according to
Mr.. Emerson, comprises approximately
So per cent of the professionals en-
ployed in the theaters, exclusive Of
vaudeville houses.
Winchell Smith, co-author Of Light
MIN" and formerly member Of the
p1 reducing firm Of Smith & Golden,
said last night that, in his opinion,
the Equity shop plan was eny SUBJ
terfuge on the part Of certain officers
oe the association to bring about event
ually closed shop.
at appears to me- said Mr.. Smith,
Gust another step towards the closed
shop And it really amounts to prac-
tically the same thing. The plan now
under consideration would force all
the good acting material into the ranks
OF the Equity, and the organization
would then have the whip hand. With
practically all the talent in the asso-
citation. a manager would find it an
impossibility to cast production with
players not belonging to the associa-
tion
when the strike situation was being