Evening star., 1939-08-10

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 10.-With
all the fanfare of a world movie pre-
mier. flying squadrons of Hollywood
and Broadway stars came here today
for a showdown in the most bitter
jurisdictional dispute in the history
of American theatrical unions.
Led by Ralph Morgan, president
of the Screen Actors Guild, they
threatened strike that might dark
en- every theater in the Nation un-
less the American Federation of
Labor's Executive Council rejects
an attempt by the Stagehands'
Union to take in a block of dissident
entertainers headed by Sophie
Tucker.
Outlawing of Charter Seen.
William Green, A. F. L. president,
said last night he believed the Ex-
ecutive Council would hand down a
"clear-cut" decision on the stars
demand that the A. F. l.. outlaw a
charter issued by the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage En-
ployes to the American Federation
of Actors.
With Mr.. Morgan in the Holly
wood delegation opposing extension
of the I. A. T. S. E.'s jurisdiction
were Edward Arnold, Binnie Barnes,
Jean Muir, Wayne Morris, Mischa
Auer, Henry Hull, Lucille Gleason
and Larry Steers. They arrived at
Newark yesterday by plane.
Broadway stars joining them in
their planned council protest in
cluded Tallulah Bankhead, Frederic
March, Peggy Wood and others.
They held a final conference last
night with Lawrence Tibbett, radio
and opera star, and Frank Gilmore,
president of the A. A. A. A.
Mr.. Green said the A. F. L. coun-
Gil probably would not announce Its
decision before Friday, but that
There will be no need for further
inquiry, so far as I can see"
The Executive Council turned
down a plea by Mr.. Gilmore that its
closed session be made public and
it was even doubtful whether all the
visiting stars would be allowed to
appear.
1--WE won't allow the place to be
stormed," Mr.. Green said yesterday.
"Only the unions involved will be
allowed to delegate a limited group
of spokesmen to explain their argu-
ments and no one else will be ad-
mitted"
Direct Action Indicated.
The stage and screen stars indi-
Gated direct action would be taken
If the executive council permitted
the I. A. T. S. E. to "encroach"
into the actors ranks.
1--WE are in the midst of a poll
regarding a strike if necessary now,
Mr.. Morgan said. "And we should
know in another day or two re-
garding a strike If the A. F.. l..
council insists on being dishonest
in upholding its own constitution.
II, speaking personally, am in
favor of a bolt from the A. F. L. S
ranks If they won't obey what is
clearly demanded In the constitu-
ton"
Members Of Council.
Here are the members of the
A. F. LIS executive council who
will listen to the actors complaints
and render judgment:
William Green, president Of the
Federation (chairman); Frank
Duffy of the Carpenters union; T.
A. Rickert of the garment workers,
Matthew Woll of the photo-en-
gravers, John Coefield of the plumb
ers, Daniel j. Tobin of the team
sters and chauffeurs, Harry C..
Bates of the bricklayers, Edward
]. Gainor of the letter carriers, Ed
ward Flore of the hotel workers and
Frank Morrison, secretary treas
urer of the Federation.
George Browne, president of the
"stagehands" union, will retire from
the meeting room, since his union
L