The Connecticut labor news., 1923-10-06
Threaten to Close Up Theaters Unless Play CTS. Association Is Curbed ut That's Only Another Bluff to Carry On F i g h t Against Organized Labor.

the active Organized Labor unions IT the building trades and manufacturing lines, the "Open Shoppers" are now trying to induce public sympathy to- ward their nefarious aims by attack ing the theaters and threatening te close up the playhouses unless the terrible labor element that has en- tered 1t through the Actors Equity Association, (the actors unlon), IS put down and out Of course it's bluff because the playhouse managers would starve to death if the actors quit on them, but the insidious pur- pose is to turn the public against all Organized Labor through the medium of the threat that the playhousess might be clased unless the actors union is put out of business.
 Of course the "Open Shop" organ, the Hartford Courant was quick to grasp the threat and broadcast 1t un- der big headlines Even HaFttord, blase as 1t IS with its insurance wealth, didn't fall for the stuff but just to keep mmbers of Organized Labor Tn touch with the extremes to which the anti-union forces are going m their efforts to- disrupt Organized Labor, the attack on he actors is reprinted from the Hartford Courant. It's so ridiculous that all is needed is to get the hook" that is thrown out and let it 20 at that The attack follows:
 Is the American stage doomen Will the theater soon, because of the attacks made upon 1t by nionized actors, stage hands, musicians, etc, become a mere shadow of it's former self? That IS question which is agltating the true lo- yers of the theater and a constant thorn the side of producers who ind them selves handicapped at every turn by the variant demahds upon them.
 The romance of the theater has seem ingly began to fade out and the threat ot constantly increasing labor troubles has taken its place, all stemmmg rom the chip p-on-the-shoulders" attitude ot equally ultra-aggressive allies, the musi- clans and theatrical stage employees. 1t is becoming obvious that the theater cannot long continue to prosper under the continual barrage attacks of its la bOr unions.
 A prominent New York banker, who has contributed literally to the develop ment of the theater ln America, said when interviewed on the matter :-
 T can see but one solution to the la bor problem in the theater. And III the labor problem 1 include the actor who has deliberately and shamelessiy for
 
 dinner pail insignia of the laborer. believe that the time has passed for statements, for pleadings, for argu- ments 1 believe that the only cure tor the closed shop infection winch aftficts dramatic artists is to, close the theaters, --tIghtIy, board them up,Suntil those peopIe through hunger, come to their senses"
 Tt is a drastic cure," he continued, but sometimes drastic cures are more merciful than prolonged probingS and temporizing with the malady'
 '.Ihe ultimate closing of the theaters under present conditions IS movable, he added sadly, because managers can not do business The labor conditions and regulations Ill the theater have prac- tically eliminated 1t i'll many sources as an avenue of investment. Managers who have not stamina enough to control the situation i'll their own theaterS, who supinely submit to being led by the nose by a few agitators among actors and stage hands, cannot look tor sympathy III their problems, nor respectful consi- iteration of their business from intelli- gent business men"
 Il do not hold the managers guilt ! less," he continued, but l blame the ac- tor primarily for this deplorable condi- 1 ton, for the actor IS the custodian of art, | and he has dragged his art in the mire. He should be the leader Il the theater, and he follows the lead of the stage , hand"
 A closed shop is the goal of Equity, ! That the Actors Equity Association is set on regulating the source of actors with czar-like hand IS indicated i'll the ! current issue of the magazine. its mouthpiece
 "Equity's travelling representatives are belng empowered to suspend members in the field who refuse to obey instructions and regulations of the A. E. "A, and the offending member will be present with printed slips officially suspendinp them, pending permanent council action"
 Frank Gilmore IS secretary-treasurer of the Equity" and he believes in dues. His ambition is 100 per cent union with non-Equity actors on the outside lookino in. A mechanic i'll a letter to Gilmore and published in Equity said |
 During the past year and half the members of Typographical Union No. ol employed on morning papers have paid m dues an average of $4 per week-a a total of something like $35O It may not always have been paid cheerfully, | but 1t was paid dutifully-which is not much of difference" This letter sums IT. Equitys attitude.
 The New York Commercial" in dis cussing Equity's determination to estab- lish the closed shop in the theater, de clares:
 MT. Gilmore, in one of his humorous writings, whose refrains arealways pleas or arguments for dues, says:
 No one will continue to pay dues for, a protection benefits equally those who will not contribute to secure that nro- lection.
 What protection do Equity dues af ford! What protection have they ever The present contract between actor and manager was signed before Inc aff1iafinra 11ritIn l,n