Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY CONTRACT JUMPER REPUDIATED BY THE A RTISTS' AS SOCIATION Jos. E. Howard Dropped from White Rats* Member- ship Rolls. Affair May Precipitate Crisis. On Tuesday evening last at the regular weekly meeting of the White Rats, Joseph E. Howard was dropped from the rolls as a member-elect by a unanimous vote. On Wednesday reports spread that the same meeting also declared against any White Rat appearing hereafter upon the same bill with Howard or Howard and Barri- son, but no confirmation of this could be officially secured. Howard and Barrison were reported during the week as* routed for Shea's, Buf- falo, commencing next Monday. The act is "laying off" at present. The rumor that an order for White Rats to "walk out" of a bouse Howard and Barrison might play in caused much specu- lation as to the results. In the absence of any confirmatory news on this point, that possibility has been taken as a sup- position, the reappearance of Howard and Barrison being awaited with interest. The failure of Howard and Barrison to appear at the Lincoln Square Theatre last Monday afternoon, after having executed a contract with William Morris, Inc., for a three-weeks' engagement from that date, brought about a commotion in variety circles, which extended to the daily press. All the New York papers on Tuesday carried an account of how Harry Mount - ford, Secretary of the White Rats' Board of Directors, had explained to the audience from the Lincoln Square stage the sup- posed reason for the act's default. Mr. Mountford spoke at both of the Monday shows, concluding his remarks by intro- ducing George Fuller Golden, who received an ovation at each performance. Mr. Golden had arrived in the city from Sar- anac Lake but a short time before going on in his monologue at the Square. Mr. Golden consented to fill the void in the Morris program when the situation was explained to him. Holding in his hand the contract signed by Howard with Morris, Mr. Mountford made a strong speech against "The Vaude- ville Trust," as he termed the managers of the United Booking Offices, explaining to the audience that no blame attached to William Morris for the failure of the heavily billed headliners to present them- selves. While to the lay-folk in the thea- tre the technical end of the speech may not have been fully understood, the Sec- retary made it perfectly clear that How- ard and Barrison had broken a contract, and the White Rats of America repudiated Howard as a member of the organization. Mr. Mount ford's speech in full is given below. The incident, taken up by the papers, gr.ve to Mr. Morris and the Lincoln Square invaluable publicity of a nature attracting the general reader more readily than any- thing which has happened since the Mor- ris Circuit announced itself as the vaude- ville opposition. On Tuesday evening what purported to be a statement issued by Howard was sent to the New York papers. In but one or two instances was the statement or any extract from it used. It contained among other things wording to the effect "that I (Howard) am officially informed the head of this organisation (White Rats) admit- ted to-day that Percy G. Williams is right and William Morris wrong." This referred to a visit made at the offices of Mr. Williams Tuesday morning by George Fuller Golden at the request of Mr. Williams, who met him Monday afternoon after the matinee at the Lin- coln Square. Mr. Golden is not an officer of the White Rats. He is the founder of the order and its first "Big Chief." Fred Niblo is the president and the present ex- ecutive head of the Rats. Much resent- ment among artists was felt at the at- tempt at deception practiced in the "How- ard" statement. Mr. Golden called in his private capacity and while at Mr. Williams' offices was shown by the manager all the data in writing in connection with the affair. Golden examined all the papers, but passed no opinion, according to his own state- ment on Wednesday. On Tuesday also, in reply to a question by a Variety representative as to the truth of the charge that either he or the United Booking Offices was paying or had promised to pay the salary of Howard and Harrison's for this week to the act if it would not play at the Lincoln Square, Mr. Williams said: "I absolutely deny it, and I will give $1,000 to the Actors' Fund or to the White Rats if it can be proven there is one word of truth in it. At the same time Mr. Williams produced for inspection the documents in the case. He showed a "slip" dated Aug. 19, put in the contract department of the United for a contract for Howard and Barrison to play his houses. This is the usual pro- cedure. The slip was marked "entered Aug. 20." Mr. Williams' contract bears date of Aug. 19, with the following words typewritten on a blank space, "With an additional option of weeks." Mr. Wil- liams said the option was exercised on the Tuesday morning after Howard and Barri- son's first appearance at his Alhambra Theatre, when they were informed the act would be taken for ten more weeks. The Morris contract, made for three weeks by Howard and Barrison, also in the possession of Mr. Williams, bears the date of Aug. 20. A copy of a letter writ- ten by Howard to Morris, dated Sept. 15, notifying Morris the act would not play the contracted engagement, was also dis- played, as was a letter under date of Sept. 18, written Howard by Harry Mountford as Secretary, reciting the facts up to that time, and asking Howard to call on the White Rats to give his version of the affair. Mr. Williams added: "I have taken no acts from any one, nor will I, and you can say if you will that I shall be very careful not to take any act before, during or after it has entered into a contract with Mor- ris »» William Morris said during the week that Howard had first entered into nego- tiations with him, and closed his agree- ment to play for the Morris Circuit, specif- ically askinf thereafter (or permission to play the Williams houses and Hammer- stein's. That he (Morris) gave him such permit to play the Williams houses, but objected to Hammerstein's owing to the near vicinity of the American, where How- ard and Barrison were contracted for. Howard agreed not to appear at Hammer- stein's, said Mr. Morris, but he did so. Morris gave out a statement to the papers in which he said: Whenever the United Boohing Offices believe that it* self-constituted license to monopolize the vaudeville field in the East is in the slightest degree threatened, they always attempt guerrilla, underhanded and illegal methods. These tactics go to the extent of procuring the execution of ante- dated contracts, and when that near-crim- inal action is unavailing, then by working the alleged blacklist, and that failing, then by spiriting the actor out of the city and agreeing to pay his salary during the period of time that he remains idle in order that he should not perform in a theatre operated by William Morris, Inc. At the headquarters of the White Rats, Harry Mountford, speaking in his official capacity, said regarding the Howard and Barrison breakage of the Morris contract: "Joe Howard called here on Friday when several of the Board of Directors were present. He stated that were he to appear at the Lincoln Square on Monday an in- junction might be issued against him, or some trouble follow. We agreed that we would be present with $1,000 in cash to deposit in an emergency, and the Board of Directors of the White Rats voted that sum for the purpose. It was then under- stood that a rehearsal of Howard and Bar- rison's act would be held on Sunday morn- ing, and we were to send an expressman to Hammerstein's for the act's scenery. We had sent Howard a letter by special messenger to call and state his side of the esse, and he called in answer to that. 'The following day Howard came up again. There were present then President Fred Niblo, Director Junie McCree, Major Doyle, Attorney Denis F. O'Brien and my- self. In our presence Howard stated the contract with Mr. Williams had been ante- dated, the 'optional' clause inserted after signing, and he also said Mr. Williams had agreed to pay him his salary this week if he would not play the Morris date (Lincoln Square). A further reason why he should not play for Morris was that he wanted another contract for ten weeks longer signed by Morris himself. This was agreed to by Mr. Morris over the telephone. Then Howard said he also wanted Mr. Morris' wife's signature, and detecting his aim in thus insisting, we again called up Mr. Morris, who said Howard could have as many signatures as he liked. Thereupon Mr. O'Brien and Howard retired to our stenographer's room where Mr. O'Brien drew up another con- tract at Howard's dictation in the terms made by him. This contract was signed by Mr. Morris and his wife and forwarded to Howard, but not returned. "Before leaving this office Howard de- clared, T'm a dirty dog, and I've been wrong. I'll play for Morris. You tell him to bill me as big ns he likes. I'm going to play, and if Miss Barrison won't, I'll appear alone.' "That was the last we have seen or heard of Howard. When we attempted to locate him on Monday we were told he had gone out of the city." On Monday night last Howard was re- ported at a show In Brooklyn. He was elected to membership in the White Rats June 6, 1907, and paid the initial fee of $10. Howard had not been initiated into the order. It is not unusual among the artists elected to membership in the Rats to receive initiation some time after. On Wednesday Howard stated to a White Rat«he would gladly receive an injunction restraining him from playing at Buffalo next week. This is the first case of a broken con- tract to arise since the White Rats an- nounced that any member breaking a con- tract would be severely disciplined. It is also the first instance of an out and out clash between the vaudeville factions, al- though Morris claims other efforts to in- duce acts away from him have been made, Mr. Mountford's speech, as reported by a stenographer present at the Lincoln Square Monday afternoon, was as follows: Ladles and Gentlemen: I have the honor of being the secretary of the Board of Dlrectora of the White Bata of America, and I appear here thla afternoon to offer 70a an explanation for the non-appearance of Mr. Joeeon Howard and Miss Mabel Barrison, and alao to point out the fact that Mr. WlUlam Morris, who Is Interested In and furnishes the attractions for this theatre la doing everything in bis power to please you. We do not want you to think that It was be- cause of any previous arrangements with other managers tbat Mr. Howard and Miss Barrison will not appear. I am here to explain why. Sometime ago Mr. Howard consulted with Mr. Morrla about colmt Into vaudeville, and Mr. Morrla Immediately sLxued the contract w to him. That contract calls for the appearance of Mr. Howard and Miss Bar- rison for two weeks In this theatre beginning this afternoon, and one week in the American Theatre "I. I m V Bttte °ffl«l*"y that thia contract, of which I have a copy here [showing the paper]. Is very plain and simple. This contract forblds- tbe appearance of Mr. Howard and Mlaa Barrison In any other vaudeville houses exceptlnc those controlled by William Morris. Inc.. for T period of four months previous to their appearance here* this afternoon. Later Mr. Howard approached Mr. Morris and showed him several letters con- taining offers for engagements, preceding and following the Morrla time, to appear in the dif- ferent vaudeville houses of the "opposition"—the United Booking Offices. St. James building, this city—and because he did not want to stand in the way of the actor Mr. Morris waived the four- month clautie which permitted them to play the Colonial Theatre and Hammerstein's theatre un till last night. I call them the "opposition" and Mr. Morrla of the "Independent" vaudeville circuit who la op- posing tbeni has a perfect right to apend hla own money in his own theatres, and the public has the same right to patronise them and will so Ions as he gives them a return for their money. This Trust (for there Is a "Trust") is trying in every way to prevent others from opening vaudeville bouses. They have the opinion that they can get other people's acta, the persons In their em- ployment and everything else, but they will find they cannot. They have tampered, and delight to wduce our members and the managers of thea- tres that the White Rats are Interested in. Mr Morris has learned from other sources that another contract has been signed by Mr. Howard, and Mr Howard himself confessed It to me and at the time (on Friday night), be assured ua he would aprw'ar In this theatre-fto-day. although the op- position had promised jtf pay him hla full sslary for three weeks If heltould not appear here Mr. Howard Is a m#mber of the White Rats of America, and as officials of that body we are here to day to prove to you and tell you about Mr. Morris' good faith In this matter. He promised our Big Chief. Mr. Fred Niblo, and our Uttle Chief, Mr. George W. Monroe, on Satur- day that sooner than Mr. Morris should suffer any damage from the other people he would sign him for ten weeks longer. Mr. Howard and Miss Barrison suddenly left New York last night in secret, but Mr. Morris meana to keep faith with you and he has engaged this afternoon a much more expensive turn than Mabel Barrison and Joseph Howard. I refer now to the founder and the first Big Chief of the White Rats of America, Mr. George Fuller Golden. Mr. Golden reached New York at 1 o'clock this afternoon and Mr. Morris at ohm. asked him If he would not help out. Mr. Golden hesitated at first aa his health 1m poor and be- cause of his unpreparedness and his having im- portant business engagements other than profea- Klonal. for he had no intention of returning to vaudeville for at least another yenr. but Ikm-humc of this difficulty and thut the public would not think that this management was hn-aklnu fiiith with them, and I know Mr. Munis |* trying to keep faith without regard to .•.-I. Mr. '(inlden heartily <onsented to fill tin- k<'|> "■> ""• Ml! In place of Mr. Howard nod Mi. KunKon I regret Mr. Howard I- h iiinn!.. r of the White RatH. What they will •!,> wlili him I do not c.ire to tell, nor do I kn>>u ,it prco-nr. Hut you, the public, who are th« ma -ti-rs ( .f the manager* ami the actorH will !><• |>I<>.i~i-i| ti> know that the ahnence of thcHe two !>»■ I'M -n riot matter In the least, oh I am sur.- Mr. i; >M<-i] will he alhle to do letter than tl..- :-.-. > lie ^ .-n of the n ach of their contnnt, ;im! i .1" -in.- \..n will appreciate the fact thiit !!■>■ f . -ii in no w.i.v has been with Jftlr. Monls. '••■■" irUlng you all a great Mil and doic- ' • <--t he <t anyone else possibly could, even - i nil tin- opposition's contemptible method*. 1 iH. \ou will aee the appear- ance «• "-' which is better than hava two appi- . >• not true.