New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Harbach, Opposing Dramatists'
Union, Declares Equity Shop
Means Danger for Theaters

Otto Harbach, playwright, and per-
haps the most prominent of the play
physicians on Broadway, yesterday gave
to The Tribune his reasons for oppos-
ing, for the present at least, the organ
ization Of dramatists' union to be
affiliated with the Actors Equity AS
sociation and the American Federation
OF Labor. The man who has been re-
sponsible entirely or in part for
Mary" Tickle Me-" Jimmie" Cup in
Mabels Room "High jinks," "Ka-
tinka," "Three Twins" Going Up" and
other successes was found in his
down upon Central Park. He had been
sought for an interview, but in fact
what came of the quest was not an
interview at all, as Mr.. Harbach was
in mood to talk and all the reporter
had 70 do was to Eyes" the playwright
until sweet little girl, who is very
much part of the household, sidled
IN with demands that daddy take her
skating.
So, ended the interview, so-called,
which went something like this:
"In the first place, l want to saw I
don't believe there is any clear-think-
ing author who is opposed to the
Actors Equity. Association or the
unionization of actors for the purpose
of obtaining for the actors as a body
all that they should have. And I don't
believe any one objects even to union
ration of any body of workers as
long as that body uses its collective
influence fairly and honestly in getting
But ! do believe that when any
organization (and as we are talking
about the theater let US confine our
selves to those persons most inter-
ested), be it Actors Equity, Drama
fists Guild or Producing Managers,
makes any move that gives it power
that should be vested in all the or
ganizations concerned, we should call
halt before the arrogance bound to
be born Of that power jeopardizes the
theater.
Belongs to Public
For, after all is said and done. the
theater belongs to the public and the
actor, producer and author, must serve
the public. faithfully if they would
survive. And they cannot serve the
public as long as there is dissension
among themselves, and there will be
dissension as long as one part of the
theater attempts to dictate to the other
parts.
'Since attending the automobile
show recently have found myself lk-
ening the development of the theater
to the development of the motor car
and the idea has been growing on me-
was being called horseless carriage,
the theater was looked upon by many
persons with about as much disdain.
Authors and actors were accorded
about the same degree of contempt by
the managers and there was little con-
sideration OF the comfort and safety
OF the public. Then came far-sighted
theatrical men who realized that con-
DAD business policy, and SO there were
erected comfortable and safe theaters
ln which were clean and convenient
dressing rooms that were not breeding
places for pneumonia and diphtheria.
There was some concern on the
part OF the managers for the public
and the players. Theater construction
vas standardized steadily until now,
except In remote places, most of the
houses are worthy OF the name.
Standardization Noted
At the automobile show I was i'm
Wessed by the Standardization of the
.aotof CAT ana was struck by tho COM
parison. 1t doesn't matter much nova
days what make Of car q man buvs.
ne VIII get standard body and chag-
sis and car that will give service II
handled properly N -
Now. like to compare the standard
lneater. comfortable and reasonah,v
.s .s1e Tor the public, with the boa~ nf
s ~. s.andard automobile, comfortable
.no reasonably safe. But a man buv-
ing z car, especially II he has owned
.es Dslore, seldom more than elances
- sne Dody. He expects it to be m
70 standard, and so the first th,ne, up
Wants TO know Ia what Is under ~
nooo. me power plant--the play. rem
what makes tho car 20.
lne spark plugs to nv mind are III.
nesofs making the explosions which
xeep the machine moving smooth1v ana
ny earpuretor represents the author
tAk!ng tho raw gasoline of life and
sctor. S'- A"'" i0r tne
Harmony . Necessity
NOV. x car IL out Of gas IL won't
sua. And " the csrburetor In out IF
spark plugs are foulcd there Won, Sssn hn
tns proper explosions. II al, ,boo
pafts sre not working In unison ~
car kscoraes stalled and the nost cnrns
1estssls ed beautiful body becomes @
When the automobile was an exner,-
ment we found beautiful bodies Eriny
worn out too soon because there was
TOO much power under the hood. The
en91ns was TOO powerful for TN car.
HOW, contend that If the drama
tiets q the prssent time Joined with
fhS Actcrss Equity Association, or II
- 40 ether reason thu Equity should