New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-29
Equity Policy
Is Sustained
BY Judge Mack
Three Thousand Actors and
Actresses Hear Decision Of
Arbitrator Which Estab-
fishes Shop Plan as Legal
Enthusiasm OverOutco,ne
Ruling Sought on Conien-
ton Managers W ere
breaking ~ Agreement

HTce tnOuSdNG actors ana actresses,
assembled in the Astor Hotel yesterday
afternoon, were Informed Of decision
by Judge Julian w Mack, Of Chicago,
which sustans the policy Of Equity Shop
in the arbitration between the Actors
Equity Association and the Producing
Managers Association. The announce
ment, read by John Emerson, president
of the association. was received with
enthusiasm. 1t had been anxiously
awaited by the theatrical profession
for month. An adverse decision
would have compelled the Equity to re-
linquish its Equity Shop policy for the
next three years.
In announcing the decision Of Judge
Mack, who was appointed umpire by
both factions, Mr.. Emerson said:
"This establishes Equity Shop as
sound and legal for all time Here
after. we believe. the great proper
ton Of theatrical companies Will be
composed Of Equity members. Equity
Shop is already 100 per cent
effective in the Independent hrst-class
producing companies. Office reports in
dictate That at least rs per cent of the
stock managers throughout the country
will accept Equity Shop during the
coming season. A similar situation
prevails among the touring managers.
IS First-Class Producers Accept
eighteen Of the first-class produc-
ers here have accepted the principal
of the Equity Shop ard have issued
contracts to THEW companies in con-
Torrance with it. This means that
only members of the Equity can be en-
gagged for parts in these companics.'
Arbitration was sought on the con-
tention of the Producing Managers
Association that the Actors Equity
Association was breaking the agree
ment which terminated the 1919 strike,
in establishing Equity Shop. although
no effort was made to extend it to
members Of their body. Judge Mack
ruled:
case have reached the conclusion
that the Equity Shop plan, and the
resolutions and instructions of the
Actors Equity Association with re-
spect to this plan, are not in violation
of the agreement between the Actors
Equity Association and She Producing
Managers Association, dated Septem-
Der 6, 1919, and are not in violation of
law or of sound public policy"
Rumors Of detection in the ranks of
the Equity Association were put at
rest by the presence on the platform
at yesterdays meeting Of Ethel Barry
more, John Drew and others of promi-
hence in the theatrical profession who
had been mentioned as leaders Of the
alleged revolt against the present adj
ministration. 1t had been intimated
that Miss Barrymore, Mr.. Drew and
300 other members Of the Equity had
resigned during the past few weeks.
615 New Members Elected
Ny. Emerson and Frank Gilmore.
executive secretary of the association.
made statement that there had been
only six designations during the past
seven weeks, practically the same num-
Der as left during similar period last
year They pointed out that G15 new
members were elected within the same
seven weeks, as compared with 300 last
year
Judge Mack's decision, in part, fol-
lows:
II feel constrained to decide that
Clause Of the basic agreement Of Sep
TENDER 6, 1919, does not run in favor
of managers outside the Producing
Managers Association and limits the
Actors Equity Association and its
members solely with respect to en-
ployees of the Producing Managers
Association.
assuming the facts to be as argued,
do not find that the Equity Shop plan
forbids any Equity member from work
ing for any member Of the Producing
Managers Association who EMPLOYS
non-Equity members or refuses Equity
membership to any actor who had pre-
viously, while engaged by member of
the Producing Managers Association,
failed to i9in. Although such an actor
might, byHfeason Of the application Of
the Equity shop to managers not NOM
bers Of the Producing Managers Asso-
citation, decide to join the Actors Equitg
Association while still in the employ Of
q member of the Producing Managers
Association, this can hardly be termed
force or coercion within the meaning
Of Clause G."
Refers to Cohan Ccse
Referring to the arguments that
members Of The Producing Managers
Association through bookings and CON
tracts profit from the business of other
managers; that one epcndcnt" man
ager (meanine George Cohan) had an
nounced his intention 10 retire from the
producing field because Of the Equity
Shop campaigns; and that, in conse-
quencc, members Of the Producing
Managers Association would be daN
aged, Judge Mack ruled that these con-
tertlons could not give the agreement
. different meaning from that already
outlined.
"The loss to members Of the Pro-
ducirg Managers Association could be
averted if the outside managers Joined
the Producing Managers Association,
or came under the control, manage
men1 or direction &C any OF its mem
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