The New York herald., 1922-05-06
equity SHIELDS GIRLS
STRANDED in BRAZIL
Secretary Hughes to Be
Asked to Restrict Pass
ports for Troupes.
ACTRESSES in DANGER
Taken From New York to
Work in Opera, but Put
in Low Cabarets.
INQUIRY ON IN PANAMA
Government Cannot Get at
y, Cristobal Dance Halls
Just Across Line.
INQUIRY ON IN PANAMA

Secretary Hughes is to be asked in
sociation to propose some measure by
which either passports will be denied
TO American girls going to South
America and the Panama Canal Zone
for theatrical performances or which
will provide safeguards for their re-
turn in case the shows that took them
there were stranded.
Recent happenings in connection
with theatrical performances in the
tropics are said to be under investiga-
ton by Government officials.
The case which Immediately prompted
the appeal to the State Department
was that of the ballet company which
was taken to Rio de Janeiro with Mile.
Lubovska, Russian danseuse, as the
star.
Performers Were warned.
When the organization was being
collected several months ago in this
city George Trimble. an Equity Of
fetal, basing his views on past ex-
perience, cautioned the performers on
the difficulties they might meet in re-
turning in case of misfortune. Said
Mr.. Trimble yesterday:
Just as was expected. four of the
girls, who were members of Equity. had
to be brought back by this organization.
So far as l know. other girls are still
there and conditions for girls who are
left to their own resources in South
American city are usually pretty bad.
One member of the party, Mr.. Cheshire,
and his sister. poopoohed our apprehen-
sions and said he was willing to take
chance. He has now had to depend on
the English consul there to get him back
to England, his home country. Four
men in the company who were Equity
members finally got back by working
their way.
''There have been number OF COM
panies started from here recently,
usually organized by foreigners, who
would take out girls to southern coun-
tries with the promise that they were
TO sing in opera or theatrical produc-
tions. They would even pay week
salary in advance in order to get them
out of the country. Then when the
young women reached their tropical des-
tination they found they were to sins
in low cabarets. and even worse.
..In order to break up this practice
have got in touch with Mr.. Hoyt of the
United States passport agency al the
Custom House. He suggested that the
Equity request Secretary OF state
Hughes TO authorize him to investigate
the case of every girl who applies for
a passport TO South American country
and who is not accompanied by her par
ents or guardian"
Complaints From Panama.
There also have been complaints lately
about conditions for show girls who go
to Panama. Mrs. Dorothy Bryant, secre-
tary of the Chorus Equity Association,
said that this body had been warned by
Dr. Gilbert Totten McMasters. who met
some of the girls on shipboard and
heard of the conditions they encoun-
tered. Mrs. Bryant said:
THE girls were taken to two cafes
in Panama with the understanding that
they were only TO sing in theatrical
performances When they arrived they
found they were expected after doing
their turn to mingle with the cabaret
patrons, who were usually of low order
"The Y. w. c. A. brought back five
Girls three months ago who rebelled al
conditions there. Unfortunately all the
cabarets are on the Panama side OF tn'
Canal zone. In Cristobal. for instance
the boundary line runs down the middle
OF one street. While 1t Is easy fol
persons to pass over the line II Is diff
ficult for the Government to contro
cafe conditions there. But Govern
ment Investigation was started recently
and II was really through the Governor
OF the Panama Canal Zone and th'
quarantine doctor there that some Of
the girls were enabled to return home. :
Since the cases we're taken up. there
have been fewer girls going there, not
more than twenty. Before that, how
ever there were quite a number"