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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1916)
THE SUNDAY OREGONTAH", FORTXAXIJ., APRTIj n,. 1916. 11 ACTORS' UNION HOT FEASIBLE. IS VIEW Portland Persons Identified With Theater Skeptical Regarding Proposal. MOVE CREATES INTEREST Executive of White Kat9 Declares Profession Will "ot Receive Fair Treatment Unless Organized Strongly. in Portland last week of Harry Mountford, international executive of the White Rats Actors" Union, has created local interest in the country-wide movement on the part of members of the theatrical proiessiou iu become unionized. Mr. Mountford addressed local actors inH transients connected with the sev eral vaudeville houses and urged them to join the organization ana Decome affiliated with the American Feder ation of Labor. He declared it would be impossible to receive fair treatment from theatrical managers until the actors become strongly unionized and are in position to eliminate what he termed the more "flagrant abuses" which, he says, have been heaped upon them in the past. Local men identified with the the ater, who have discussed the subject, are of the opinion that the movement is not a feasible one. John F. Logan, legal counsel for the Heilig and Baker theater interests, and who has been for years local corre spondent for the Dramatic Mirror and especially interested in the theater, said: "The whole scheme of the relation between the theatrical manager and the actor is at the parting of the ways. Cuetoms which have been honored in the observance since the days of David Oarrick, over a century and a half ago, are being cast into the melting pot of change. The question is, shall the sea eon's adventure with possibilities of achieving a great success, or termi nating in a financial failure upon two weeks' notice, continue to be the rule written or unwritten ae a part of every contract, or shall the engagement of the actor be .reduced financially to a prosaic certainty in the form of a fixed sum per week throughout a fixed sea eon? Old Custom Recalled. "It has been the custom, against which the memory of the oldest actor runs not to the contrary, that when an actor engaged himself to a manager in a. given play, he, with the manager, embarked for a voyage which led to the Golconda of financial and artistic success or ended in a sea of troubles. By rules as ancient as they were fast and binding, the management could terminate the engagement upon a fort night's notice, and by the same token, the actor, if dissatisfied with his or her eituation, or with more alluring ad ventures elsewhere, could in the same time and by the same means terminate the engagement. "It was further the custom that during Christmas week and Holy week preceding Easter, the manager could at a proper time give notice that the company either must lay off or work upon half pay. It was further the right of the manager to forego salary payments while traveling and for missed engagements. Other cus toms, large and small, important and trivial, made the actor's life one round of uncertainties until payday, com monly known as the time "when the ghost should walk," was often as fickle and uncertain as the size and enthusi asm of the varying audiences. Extortions Are Charj;eI. "Added to the actor's ancient trou bles, there have lately arisen com plaints against extortions, not large in themselves, but aggregating con siderable by reason of repetition in the form of various booking commissions. Other charges involve the jug handled contracts which give the man agers so many loop-holes to escape a bad bargain, while the actor ia held strictly to every provision against his interest which has been adroitly nomi nated in the contract. To rectify these and many other charged evils so called, the actors throughout the United States in all branches of the profession are in a seething committee of the whole bristling with demands that equitable contracts be made or entered into between the actor and -the man ager. Their ultimate aim has been charged to be that of unionism and a confederation with the American Fed eration of Labor. "The immediate remedy proposed for these evils is an equitable contract wherein the manager and actor will come together without the accursed middleman and the right on the part of both actor and manager in case of dis pute to have their grievances- settled by arbitration. In doing this the man agers charge that the actors will lose their artistic standing. The all-sufficient answer of such men as Francis Wilson, Wilton Lackye, Howard Kyle and others is that if this be treason to former artistic standards which made the actor the grasshopper and the man ager the ant, the managers can make the most of it." Milton Seaman, manager of the Baker Players Company, cannot see the ad visability of such an union as the as sociation suggests. He says: "I can speak for only the stock ac tor or actress in connection with the proposed Equity Association and so far no one here seems to be able to see wherein stock people would be at all' benefited by Joining such an organ ization. It may be very good for the so-called 'production actor who has been subjected to more or less abuse in connection with that branch of the theatrical business which might .'be regulated by a strong organization and adherence' to established rules, but in the language of the average stock actor "there ain't no such animal" in con nection with stock. And stock people have no special grievance, that is no particular commonly practiced evil that it is necessary to unite to protect themselves against. Rules Not Evaded. "The rules governing stock engage ments and the customs pertaining to the same are few and equitable, and seldom does one hear of any reputable manager or actor trying to evade them. Aa for any established salary for ac tors, that Is simply out of the question. That is governed entirely by circum stances, and circumstances change and fluctuate from season to season and from place to place entirely too wildly for anybody or any book of rules to make any se-ious attempt to regulate. "If any stock manager gets the rep utation of not dealing fairly with his people he simply finds that it is im possible to get anyone worth while to join him and that soon puts him where he belongs. If. on the other hand, an actor does a few things that puts him In wrong with any reputable recog nized management, no matter how good an actor he might be, he soon discovers that his application for work receives scant attention at any place where he really desires to go. "All these people pass the word along by the 'actors' -wireless." and managers nearly always write or telegraph for mer managements regarding juijr people in whom they might become interest ed as to other qualities besides acting ability. For stock theaters are in a way "homes," and it is desirable from all standpoints that a congenial 'fam ily" be gathered together, thereby avoiding much grief and discord as the trying weeks of a long season go by. If the managers are satisfied and the actors are satisfied with present stock conditions throughout the United Btates, why an Equity Association?". Arbitration Board Suggested. As a result of the meeting of the Actors' Equity Association held March 10 in the Hotel Astor in New York, at which the members by unanimous vote went on record in favor of Joining the American Federation of Labor, the United Managers" Protective Associa tion has begun steps to enlarge its or- PORTLAJtD GIRL APPEARS IX ORPUElli PLAYLET. t r. 1 :-' ' M arfTUerite Mcnlty. Marguerite McXulty, who has the role of wife in "The Lollard," a playlet to be seen at the Or pheum for the first time this aft ernoon, is a Portland girl. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. Bourgeois, of 313 East Thirty-third street. "The Lol lard" is a comedy from the pen of Edgar Allen Woolf and the star is Harriet Marlotte. Miss Mc Nulty has a vivacious part to play in the comedy and critics along the circuit have singled her out as one of the hits of the show, many praising her work as being next in merit to that of Miss Marlotte, the star. The young Portland actress gained her first stage experience in San Fran cisco, where when but 8 years old she played "Oliver Twist" with McKee Rankin. She is a niece of Chief Justice Sullivan, of Idaho, and is in her 18th year. ganization in order to offset the pro posed affiliation. It is exDected that the United Managers will enlist nearly every manager in the country and it is lkely that all differences in the fu ture will be adjusted bv an arbitra tion board consisting of the heads of the ederation of Labor and the Man agers' Association. The action taken Indira too tVmr at the annual meeting of the Equity As sociation in May the resolution will be officially confirmed, and that there after actors belonging to the organi zation will carry union ''cards." .rrancis Wilson, president of the as sociation, at the recent meetinar said: "Hitherto actors have refused to or ganize for their own protection, giv ing as an excuse that theirs was an artistic profession, and that it was be neath the dignity of an artist even in yiuieL-Liun to employ tne meth ods of the mechanic. That was all very wen at a time when few classes of people were organizing and there was but little need for protection as a pro fession, when all classes that is, artists and artisans and professors are organizing for protection: even the actor has at last, thank God! his pro tective association. So that there is no need to hide our dignity, our artistio dignity, which has given way to ne cessity. "Are we any less important as a profession, as a people, than the stage mecnanicsr xney toolc the dare and they have now equitable contracts. Are we any less important than the mu sicians? Are we not more artistic? Are we 'not more temperamental? Are we not more hysterical than musicians? Tet these temperamental and hysterical musicians, from the snare drummer up to Paderewski, took the dare and they now have equitable contracts." Members Would Be Controlled. Howard Kyle, corresponding secre tary of the Actors' Equity Association, writes at length on the subject of af filiation with the Federation of Labor as operative to benefit managers as well as actors in the Dramatic Mirror of March 18. It is Mr. Kyle's opinion that "those who have given the most careful study to our problem of es tablishing a fixed standard of uniform minimum terms between actors and managers, as defined In the A. E. A. form of contracts, are certain that af filiation with the A. F. L. to this end would, in the long run, operate to the benefit of the best managers np less than to actors. When asked from the floor at the special meeting what was to be gained by such a move our presi dent replied: "It would enable the as sociation to control its members." MICHIGAN SOCIETY TO GIVE KOVEL EXTEUTAIMIEXT, V i, i a A novel variety of entertainment will be introduced tomorrow night at the Michigan Society of Oregon rally at the Masonic Temple. There is to be a big "pot-luck" supper, to which all the guests will contribute, and also an entertainment of the vaudeville type. Many local singers and entertainers will be heard. One of the features of the rally will bo a "picture show." . Motion pictures of various places In Michigan and es pecially of Detroit and Ann Arbor will be accompanied by a short talk. In place of admission, the former Michigan residents who attend the party will contribute some sort of food. Mrs. Norman T. Smedley, East 5877, is chairman of the refreshment committee, and will five instruction, as to Jho. xare.tx opda axeeded, , Furnish. Your Home at Jenning's Great Special and Removal Sales Lowest Prices on Furniture of Reliable Quality for Your Home i 1 1 ii i ii ii ii l i ii r Removal Prices on Davenports Rather than move these fine Davenports we are offering them at the lowest prices evermade on pieces of equal quality. Reg. $65 Quartered Oak Davenports, 6 feet long, fumed finish, genuine Span- O "1 fyjj ish leather bag cushion seats X O Reg. $100 Quartered Oak Davenports, with genuine Spanish leather bag H a o g cushioned seats, fumed finish J), jj) Reg. $95 Mahogany Frame Davenport, leather upholstered with tufted seat and back, 6 feet long, with extra large storage tQ7 space (sample) pO uU Reg. $100 genuine Mahogany Davenports, 6 feet long, upholstered in the finest tfjrfO OC Verona Velour Reg. $130 Quartered Oak Davenports, uphol stered in first quality genuine Cf? rf f black leather; tufted seat. . . u)0 aOLI Reg. $40 Quartered Oak Davenports, 4 feet 6 inches long, with genuine Span- Ani O C ish leather bag cushion seats 4 X CiO Second and Morrison Store. Arts and Crafts Furniture We are exclusive Portland agents for Limberl's Arts and Crafts Furniture, which is the very highest possible type of workmanship. We show today in our windows a fine example of this furniture in a solid oak dining-room suite, inlaid with ebony; massive, yet graceful, in design. A full stock is carried on our floors. Spring Housefurnishings See our window display of Reed Furniture, Crex Rugs, Hodge's Fiber Rugs, Aerolux Shades, Draper ies and Cretonnes. We show the newest patterns and colors. A Sale of Rugs Regular $37.50 Seamless Axminster Rugs, 9x12, extra fine quality, in small designs, suitable for the .dining-room or bed- fOQ 7E room, at D0. 3 Regul'r $5 Axminster Rugs, 36x72, q q f large variety of patterns, special at )0cU 'Regular $2.25 Reversible Bath Rugs, 27x54; in small geometric designs. Spe- (t i fJf cial at ? J. ,OU Second Floor, Main Store Rugs at Removal Prices We made heavy purchases of Rugs be fore the recent advance in price and wo are actually offering Rugs now at less than present wholesale prices. The Rugs listed below are rare bargains at the prices we name: Regular $27.50 Velvet Rugs, Qxl2 size, a number of patterns in small patterns from which to 'select. Spe- fc 1 Q O C cial at plI00 Regular $15 Brussels Rugs, 9x12 size, in a variety of the very latest flJQ OC designs, special pifOt) Second and Morrison Store Refrigerators We have- just unloaded a car of the famous "Columbia" and "Herrick" Re frigerators; they are in the newest mod els, modern and sanitary, either white enamel or genuine porcelain lining. This is a rare opportunity to buy a new re frigerator right at the beginning of the season at removal sale prices. Priced from $8.50 upward. Removal Sale Spec Is Regular $22.50 Quartered Oak Buf fets, with plank top and 10x36 bev eled French plate mir-tjj'l o ror, golden wax f inish P A O O Regular $15 Solid Oak Dining Tables, 45-inch, top, with 6-foot extension, heavy pedestal, golden fl wax finish. Removal sale $8.75 Regular $4 Quartered Oak Dining Chairs, with genuine leather slip seat, priced this week (JjO 7C at only .. P- - Second and Morrison Store. $14.00 Royal Oak Princess Dressers, with 18x30 beveled French Q 7tZ plate mirror vOtlU Lace Curtain Sale Fine Marquisette Curtains in beautiful patterns, with imported lace edging and insertion. Regular $3.50 Curtains, pair $2.(." Regular $4.00 Curtains, pair .S?.0 Regular $5.00 Curtains, pair ;?.7." Regular $6.25 Curtains, pair S t.TO Regular $7.50 Curtains, pair $5.0 Regular $9.00 Curtains, pair Jj?i.7o Second Floor, Main Store. EXTRA SPECIAL Regular 3.50 Hygeno Carpet Sweepers with metal case and nickel trimmings; cyco bearings, spe cial at only Sl.90 -Second and Morrison. H enry Jennin $17.50 Quartered Oak Dressers, with 14x24 oval French plate Q '7C mirrors, golden wax finish PO I J ons Washington Street at Fifth Removal Sale at Second and Morrison Streets $6.50 High-back Arm Rockers, hard wood body, with quartered oak back and roll seat, well made and substan tial, four patterns from fcO QC which to select pO !- Second and Morrison Store. A Sale of Trunks Regular $14.50 Trunks, specially priced this week at only $10.!)0. Regular $23 Women's Trunks, complete ly lined with art cretonne, S17.U.J. Regular $31 Fiber Wardrobe Trunks, with four drawers and hangers, $1J;J.75. Regular $9 Cabin Trunks, $.7.". Both Stores. DISEASES INVADE GAMP CANADIAN SAYS QUARANTINE IS PLACED OS TROOPS. Sirs. Osborne Middleton Gets' Letter From Brother Mentionlns Vatal Accident to Comrades. That the Forty-seventh Battalion, Canadian volunteers. Quartered at Bramshott -camp in England has been having- difficulty with contagious dis eases is indicated by a letter received in Portland by Mrs. Osborne Middleton, 392 Dekum street, from a brother, James E. Mclnnes, who joined the army at Vancouver, B. C. The letter was dated March 1. "Wo started our quarantine on Christmas day with meningitis," h writes, "and got out after 16 days, but were only out about six days when we were put in with measles. If there are any more signs the day the doctor inspects we will have another 12 days and so on . As there are 33 in our hut the chances are that we ,will not be out for a month at least." Mr. Mclnnes said that the original plan of sending' his battalion to Egrpt had been changred and that they are to be sent to France instead. "We will be at least two months at the base in France training before we go into the trenches," he thinks. The letter says that the windows of the camp are kept darkened in order not to lure the invading- Zeppelins. Of the fatalities of the camp life be says: "One of the men in our hut took the liberty of blowing his head off with his rifle the other night while temporarily insane and was accorded a military funeral. Another, while doing bayo net exercises, in jumping into the trench, ran his bayonet through him and died immediately. Another, while unfixing "his bayonet, had the misfor tune to run it into his eye. He was lucky enough to como off with his life, but lost his eye." Woman, Eager to Cast Vote, Registers in Hotel. So! She Didn't Want Room, bnt She Did Want to Take Part in State I'riraarien. A PORTLAND woman appeared at one of the hotels yesterday and told the clerk, she wanted to register. The hotelman politely turned the reg ister around, handed her & pen and ebe wrote down her name and address. "Do you want a room with bath?" he asked. "Why, no, I don't want a room at all. I just wanted to register so that I can vote." she replied. . The clerk, informed her that it would be necessary to give a brief history of her life to officials in charge of regis tration at the County Courthouse, if she desired to vote at the forthcoming pri maries. "Oh, my dead, I didn't know that," she said, as she darted out of the hotel. PERSONAL MENTION. William Sterling, of Burns, Or., is at the Imperial. George L. Bond, of Roseburg, Or, is at the Perkins. D. J. DuBrllle, of Corvallis, Or, Is at the Seward. R. H. Schilling, of Boise, Idaho, is at the Nortonia. J. W. Cook, of Deer Island, Or, is at the Cornelius. W. H. Wilson, of The Dalles, Or, is at the Cornelius. W. E. Thompson, of Bridal Ven, Or, is at the Nortonia, William Harper, of Cottage Grove, Or, is at the Oregon. C. V. Burt, of Newport, registered at the Imperial yesterday. J. R. King is registered at the Nor tonia from Arlington, Or. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Reynolds, of SI1 verton, are at the Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. White, of Pendle ton, Or., are at the Seward. 3. L. Adams, of Ashland, Or, regis tered, at the Perkins yesterday. . Hi- 6 an,tch.e0I g, Jiuaberman, ioT Wauna, Or, was at the Portland yester day. John Neilson, of Bandon, Or, is among the arrivals at the Perkins. O.'L. Wallman, of Corvallis, Or, reg istered at the Cornelius yesterday. Registered at the Mallory is J. R. Capablanca, of New York, champion chess player. Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Dickason and Miss Bertha Lehman, of Ashland, Ohio, are at the Oregon. P. K. Ahern, of the Pinkerton. De tective Agency at Seattle, arrived at the Portland, yesterday. E. C. Crossett, of Davenport, Iowa, who has extensive timber holdings in Oregon, is at the Portland. Alex McLean, superintendent of the Ostrander Timber Company, of Ostran der. Wash, is at the Nortonia. J. H. Ackerman, president of the Monmouth Normal School, at Monmouth, Or, arrived at the Seward yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. John. R. Shaw, of Mill City, Or, are at the Imperial. Mr. Shaw is engaged in the lumber busi ness. Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Smith, of Eu gene, Or, arrived in Portland yesterday and are at the Imperial. They came by automobile and, found the roads be tween Eugene and Portland in good condition. MRS. WITHERSPC0N IS SUED Hill Military Academy Anticipates Collection of Howard Judgment. Without waiting for Mrs. Edah With erspoon to collect the $6833 heart balm she was awarded recently by Circuit Judge Morrow from her recalcitrant wooer, Joe Howard, actor and play wright, the Hill Military Academy yes terday filed suit against Mrs. Wither Bpoon and her father, G. L. Reimann, for $864.40. The money is due, it is set forth, for tuition ana study materials fur nished Mrs. Witherspoon's son, Law rence Amzie Witherspoon, who has been a student at the academy since 1911. The amount is asked with in terest from June 30, 1915. Rabid Coyotes Appear Again. CANYON CITY, Or, April 8. (Spe cial.) Rabies among coyotes has ap peared again in the vicinity of Long Creek. Several have been killed while attacking domestic animals. It was thought that this danger had been eliminated. POPTJIjAR GIRti WHO BEC. BRIDE OX HEDVESD 3CAMG t t : . v - v" , , - " - 1 Z ttr. , f- ' -.':.- Z r t s -- - 1 1 k I - - . - j - M f . ' ' Z l ..; . : ' ' . ." ' IT i . s - ? i r I L ' T f 1 I ji 1.-. v.w.. .-. .j,.rW,f n fri. . . .-..r. .v. .w. s,. .. T Markham Photo. Mrs. Edward 91. Kuhnert (Eva Slater). Miss Eva Slater and Edward M. Kuhnert were married Wednes day. April B, in the First Presby terian Church, Rev. John H. Boyd officiating. ' Mr. Kuhnert is with Berger Bros, and he and his bride will be at home after May 1 at 304 Wheeler street. ALL COOS TO BE HOST RAILROAD CELEBRATION WILL BE IN JULY OR AlrGC8T, Plans for Excursiona and Entertain ment of Visitors Are Beinff Completed. MARSHFTELD, Or, April 8. (Spe cial.) The entertainment committees of the railroad celebration organiza tions are busy with their plans for the excursions which will visit Coos Bay the last -week in July or the first in August. Assurances have been coming in so fast recently that the expecta tion is the country is going to be swamped with visitors when the time arrives for the Coos Bay reception to the state of Oregon. The committee is enlarging the oc casion to a county demonstration and the Bandonian, the Coquilleite and the Myrtle Pointer will be as glad to en tertain the stranger as anybody else nearer to the arriving point. One idea that will greatly facilitate the opportunities of becoming ac qualnted has been adopted and will be carried out to full measure. It is pro posed to tag every visitor so he may be known as a stranger, and every Coos County person will wear a badge of identity. Details of the programme will be worked out without undue haste, for it is desired to have events of real in terest. It is taken for granted that guests are not going to be so much seekers for frivolous things as they are bent on seeing everything there is here in the way of natural scenery and points of beauty. attle. April 8. (Special.) Harvey Lantss, professor of law, and Miss Helen M. Ross, a newspaper woman who was graduated from the university with the class of 1911, were married at the University Congregational Church April 2. The weddinqr was intended to be a complete surprise to Miss Ross' colleagues in journalism. it wasn't. The university chimes rang out a wed ding march while the knot was beins tied. 3 llll'ililli'l "JOY RIDE" FINE IS $10 Two Arrested on Charges of Supply ing Liquor to Auto Party. Algie Hall, 20 years old, who has been living in a barn near Bertha Station, wj arrested yesterday by De tectives Hyde and Abbott, and special agents of the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company, as he was carrying an electric meter to a second-hana store. He is charged with the theft of the meter and several yards of copper wire from a vacant flat at Second and Clay streets. The police have watched him for some time. The young man was recently con victed in the Circuit Court, for Btealing tools from a Portland Heights home and served 15 days in the County Jail. Professor Weds Graduate. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Se- ill $2900r$'3300 Jk "i'AF.O.B. PORTLAND fM? Face Kfo. 27 LEWIS-WILEY HYDRAULIC CO. OV4KER S "77ungs are getting Letter Speaking of the revival of the lumber market "With the opening; of the camps there is employment of many men, the consumption of quantities of supplies and the placing in circulation of the pay rolls of the camps." Things are getting better. S THERE any question as to which class of citizens is the more representa tive, influential and substan tial, the property owner or the non-property owner? Peace of mind and independ ence are important factors in success. The first property a man should own is a H03IE. Start today laying plans for your home on Westover. You'll be delightfully sur prised at the liberality and advantage of our new financial aid plan. SELLING REPRESENTATIVES Second Floor-Title rd Trxisl Bid It is but a matter of months until the Packard Twin Six power plant will dominate land, air and sea. 1 FRANK C.RIGGS COMPANY CamllJiaad.23iiantl Washington StM. HIGH COST OF FUEL SOLVED Manning Kerosene Oil-Gas Producing Burner The Manning Kerosene Oil-Gas Producing Burn er generates gas from Kerosene Oil, can be fitted in any stove, range or heater, water heater, coffee urn, candy furnace, or, in fact, any place that a good heat 1h required without alteration of any oC ttfese appliances. For use in homes, hotels, stores, boats or' any place where fuel is used. Noiseless, smokeless, odorless. DALLY DEMOXSTRATIOX. COUSTV AGEXTS WANTED. EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY. H. W. Manning Lighting & Supply Co. 63 AKD SIXTH ST., PORTLAXD, OR. r p