The Connecticut craftsman., 1932-03-15

ARRIGONI OFFERED MEN 90 PER CENT. PAY SLASH
 (Continued from page 1, column 7.) of Wesleyan University. In an edito- rial in the Wesleyan Argus the stu dents were requested in the plainest of language to boycott the theatre because of it's unreasonable stand against it's former employees. The editorial read as follows:
 Boycott the Middlesex."
 Every night since college opened supposedly intelligent men from this campus have walked into the Middle sex Theatre with laugh and smart crack at the picket continually pass ing to and fro with a double sign thrown over his head. They have laughed and sneered at this represencc Labor. Such conduct is dishearten ing indication of the lethargic and don't eare' attitude of our college worth his salt should go to the Mid dlesex. We should like to see rigid boycott placed upon this organization that hires non-union help. They student clienteles' money until they recognize the fundamental principle of unionism.
 denial of unionisn on the part of many members of our undergraduate body denotes a softening of the intel lectual and moral marrow. There was a time when Wesleyan was regarded as one of the liveliest, one of the most mentally alert. one of the most liberal colleges in this country. Far back in the dim, dim past the men even held a banquet for liberals, League for Industrial Democracy ban quet. Last year we were invited to form a Liberal Club, but nothing came of it. There are men the faculty and amongst the undergraduates that are in the forefront of modern so- ciety, but when so many can fla grantly patronize a theatre employing non-union help the great ajority seem to be wallowing in flabbiness- American Federation of Labor have brought great benefits t0 our capital istic society. The respect, if not the sympa4thy of Wesleyan men should tbe be men with red blood in their veins re- fuse to attend the Middlesex Theatre until union men are again employed"
 Alleged Stench Bomber Caught.
 The climax to the long struggle for the recognition of the right of theatre employees to secure a living wage came recently when William A. Kra- mer, a New London man having no connection, official or other, with the union moving picture operators or stage employees union, either in Mid dletown, New London or elsewhere, was arrested and charged with pos sessing a bottle of noxious liquid within the picture house. On March 7, Kramer was sentenced to a term of thirty days imprisonment for his alleged deed. Nothing brought out at his trial connected him in any way with the union operatives in Middle town. He has appealed the sentence. One of the features of the trial was that both local police court judges declined to act as judge of the case, pleading former services to MT. Arrigoni. The fact is be- lieved to be that public senti- ment is so strongly with the union men that the judges, both of whom are ambitious, preferred to keep out of the mess. A Meriden judge was brought in to hear the case.
 Middletown Papers Shy.
 The lockout of the union workers in Middletown is the result of so un- fair a treatment of the men that powerful labor unions in Hartford and elsewhere have pledged their support in the fight that will be carried on with increased vigor. The Craftsman has agreed to publish more of the mems side of the story in subsequent issues, so that the public may get the facts that are denied to them in the city where the trouble exists, be- cause the local papers fear to offend so powerful a taxpayer as MT. Arri- goni This theatre owners treatment of his former loyal and efficient en- ployes has been such that only com plete airing of the case can do the matter justice.
 No Need For Pay Cuts.
 The union operatives of Middletown have collected figures on costs of the operation of moving picture theatres that show that with the advent of the talking pictures and the elimination of wages of musicians and others from the necessary expenses, the cost of conducting modern playhouse has shrunk amazingly. Vaudeville and organists have been dispensed with, so that program may now be run off for about one-third of the cost of the former pre-talkie bill. While the cost of the talkies has increased over the silents somewhat, a handsome