The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-07-07
Union Chief Bures
acts Concerninq
Ringling Closing
Circus Had Cleared Qudrter
Of q Million This Yedr. Says
Actors OHiciul

workmen were thrown out of jobs this
week when the Ringing Brothers,
Barnum & Bailey Circus quit the road
at mid-season and went back to win
ter quarters in Florida.
John Ringling North, millionaire
manager of the show, blamed organ
lied labor for the closing. He claimed
the circus was losing money and
could not go on unless the employees
scrapped four-year contract they
had with the show, and took 25 per
cent pay cut. Most of the workers
were already getting only $50 month.
Newspapers devoted columns and
columns to the shutdown. Editors
turned their "sob" writer's loose to
turn out tear-jerking stories about
the "great American institution" being
driven off the road, and thousands
of kiddies" being robbed of jobs be-
cause of the unreasonable and stupid
attitude" of organized labor.
The Other Side of the Story
Facts in the case tell an entirely
different story, however.
Instead of losing money, the circus
had cleared $25O,OOO in cash profits
up to the time it closed this week at
Scranton, Pa.
And instead of the American Fed
Grafton of Actors-the involved union
l-refusing to make any concession, the
Organization offered to compromise
on 1917 per cent reduction, "sight
unseen," and the full rs per cent if
the circus books showed such action
was necessary.
North refused to open his books un-
less the union agreed to the rs pei
cent cut in advance.
Labor's side of the story was told
Thursday by Ralph Whitehead, execu-
tive secretary of the American Fed
Grafton of Actors.
Backed by City Official
To back up his statements he pro-
duced affidavits from the mayor OF
Scranton and other city officials who
attended conferences between North
and the union officials.
"Every effort was made by Mr.
Whitehead to bring about a satisfac-
tory settlement but John Ringing
North would not compromise" saiC
Mayor Fred J. Huester.
Huester and other city officials were
present at the conference where North
admitted the circus hadn't lost a dime
in it's business so far this year.
1t was one of these same parleys
that the union committee suggested
compromising on 1917 per cent cut
North wouldn't listen, but snapped
out, "You take a 25 per cent cut Of
we go back to winter quarters"
Refused To Open Books
"Our union suggested that if Mr.
North could prove to our satisfaction
that the circus was losing money we
would be willing to go to our members
and recommend acceptance of the pay
cut" Whitehead disclosed this week
''But Mr.. North refused to permit in.
dependent certified public accountants
to examine the corporations books un.
less the 25 per cent cut was first
agreed to-"
Whitehead said it is apparent that
the circus management "felt they hac
already licked the cream of business
in the big cities and were unwilling
to take the usual business risk of con-
tinuing their scheduled tour of the
smaller cities"
When the circus played three-day
stand in Washington earlier in the
season the tents were packed at every
performance and thousands were turn.
ed away.
Replying to the editorial lamenta'
tions upon the closing of the circus
Whitehead said:
"The 1000 performers and workmer
are attached to the circus not only by
bonds of sentiment buy by bonds OF
necessity. 1t means bread and but
ter to them. Is it likely they woulc
cut off their livelihood just out OF
spiteful and arbitrary insistence or
wage rates which the circus could not
sustain?
"Yet this is what the circus man
agement, with it's traditional subor'
dination of truth to imagination, is
trying through high-powered public
1ity to make the public believe"