Harrison's Reports (1928-1928)

J3nt6t“ed as second-ctass matter January 4, 1921, at the pest office at New iork. New iork, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison’s Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: United States ?10.00 U. S. Inaular Possessions 12.00 Canada and Mexico. . 12.00 England and New Zealand 14.50 Other Foreign Countries 16.50 25c. a Copy 1440 BROADWAY New York, N. Y. A Motion Picture Reviewing Service by a Former Exhibitor Devoted Exclusively to the Interests of Exhibitors Its Editorial Policy: No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Columns, if It is to Benefit the Exhibitor. Published Weekly by P. S. HARRISON Editor and Publisher Established July 1, 1919 TeL: Pennsylvania 76 49 Cable Address : Harreports ( Bentley Code) A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. X SATURDAY, MARCH 10, J.928 No. 10 THE CASE OF IOWA You know, of course, that the exhibitors of Iowa, the home state of Senator Brookhart, have supposedly gone on record as opposing the Brookhart Bill. On Wednesday, February 29, C. C. Pettijohn, representing the Hays organization, took the stand before the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, which was holding a hearing on the Brookhart Bill, and spoke against the bill. He gave the committee the names of the exhibitors ot tne different states that are supposeoiy in favor 01 the present system of arbitration. When he mentioned the name of E. P. Smith, President of the Iowa exhibitors, Senator Brookhart interrupted him and asked him questions as to what took place before the memorable resolution against the bill was adopted. The Senator was trying to prove that it was due to the machinations of C. C. Pettijohn that the exhibitors passed that resolution. C. C. Pettijohn denied that he used any undue influence on the Iowa exhibitors to oppose his bill, stating that he merely talked to them and pointed out to them how injurious the Brookhart bill would be to the interests of the independent exhibitors. Senator Brookhart then read into the record the following letter, which was sent to me by Mr. Smith a month before the meeting: Des Moines, Iowa, January 12, 1928. Mr. P. S. Harrison, 1440 Broadway, New York City. Dear Mr. Harrison: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 7th, forwarded to me from Newton, Iowa, causing a few days’ delay. I am glad you have pointed your finger out our way, because Senator Brookhart is from Iowa and we surely ought to be doing something to back him up. It looks to me as if he has hit the nail on the head with his bill. Just how he ever learned so much about the motion picture business is more than I can figure, but it sounds O. K. to me. It seems to me that he has incorporated in his bill the essence of the trade commission parley. Every independent theater owner should write his Congressman and Senators to vote for the bill and to get their friends to do so as well. I happen to know Senator Brookhart quite well. He has fought some hard battles in Iowa, but there is nothing he likes any better. If he is really interested in this matter of ours he will not give it up easily. The producers are probably working quietly and effectively through the Hays organization and because of the political influence of Will Hays our Senator may find a lot of opposition. Our weakness, of course, is our lack of organization. On paper we have a fair state association. In reality it does not amount to much. I have been either the president, secretary or business manager since 1922. Working without salary. Going to Chicago, New York, Columbus, each year, or some other place and spending a good deal of my own money. I do not see that I have accomplished a great deal. If sre had something to tie our state organization to we might make some permanent growth, but it seems to me right now that our National body is just about NIL. I like the leaders personally. But what do we do when we get together? Nothing but argue. Not more than two men can agree exactly on the same thing. When I left the Columbus convention last June I was of the opinion that I had wasted a lot of my time and money trying to be a part of the theater owners organization. I doubt if it is ever any different. The rank and file do not have confidence in the leaders and the leaders want to hold some prominent office and get their names in the trade papers. I am sure that the average independent exhibitor has more confidence in Pete Harrison than he does in any of the state or National leaders. And I can not blame him because I seem to have that feeling myself. I guess it will finally be up to you, Pete, to “lead us out of the wilderness.” From where we sit, out here in the sticks, it looks as if it was not worlh while to make the effort. Of course we will support Senator Brookhart. We have called a general meeting of all Iowa theater owners at Des Moines, January 23. We have also asked them all to write their Congressman and each of the Senators. I feel qu te sure the Iowa delegation will support the bill. Senator Steck is not friendly to Brookhart, but think we can show him that he should support us on this matter. I-et me say this in closing. Call on me anytime for anything. I believe your publication is more widely read and more carefully read by theater owners and exchange men than anything else that’s printed. I don’t know just how you do it, but you sure know how to make ’em like it. They believe you are honest and most of them know you are telling the truth. You can’t give them any too much hell to suit me. I would like to know you better and hope to some of these days. Kindly correct my address for your files. I am permanently located at Des Moines and am looking after all Iowa M. P. T. O. business and correspondence at the address given below. Wishing you every success in your work and hoping that I may in some way be permitted to assist you in your wonderful work for the good of the industry, I am, Sincerely yours, E P Smit st E. P. Smith, 1 517 42nd Street, De3 Moines, Iowa. ♦ * * When Senator Brookhart finished reading this letter, Pettijohn took the floor to assure the Committee that Mr. Hays has never read the Brookhart Bill, he has not discussed it with him, and that he has not used any political influence to kill it. He then assured the Senator that Mr. Smith changed his mind legitimately, after hearing him (Pettijohn) point out the dangers of the Bill. “Mr. Smith was, in fact, the last man to change his mind on Sunday when we met,” Pettijohn said. (These are not the exact words, but it is what he said. When I get the transcript of his speech I shall give it to you word for word.) When Pettijohn finished speaking, the Senator read the following letter into the record : * 4= * Des Moines, Iowa, February 6, 1928. Thomas Arthur, Mason City, Iowa. Dear Tom: We are all expecting you here for the 13th Tom, and that is not all, we would like for you to come down Sunday if you can. There is a lot of discussion of the Brookhart Bill. Pettijohn is going to be here Sunday and has asked to meet fifteen of us at 3 P. M., Sunday afternoon. Hope you can come Sunday and positively must have you Monday. At the meeting Sunday we want to draw up some resolutions and have them to present Monday, so we can get somewhere. We will also elect officers and do a lot of other business. Hope you can come in for Sunday for the 3 P. M. meeting with Pettijohn. If you find it absolutely impossible to come at all will you drop me a line, Tom, but are surely going to expect you. Sincerely, E. P. Smith. * * * The reading of this letter stunned Pettijohn, for he did not know that the Senator had such a document in his hands; he was worrying lest I appear at the hearing myself, well enough, bringing with me the letter Mr. Smith had sent me, because I was told that the day before some one among the Hays forces spoke about some letter that I had in my possession and the supposition is that he referred to the Smith letter to me. But he, Pettijohn, did not dream that one of Smith’s letters trying to “fix” the passing of the resolution against the Bill would have fallen into the hands of Senator Brookhart. Mark that Pettijohn said to the Committee, in answer to interrogating by Senator Brookhart, that Smith was the last man he won over ; but Smith wrote to Mr. Arthur fully seven days before the meeting that it was Pettijohn that had asked him to invite fifteen exhibitors to “frame” the resolution. Why only fifteen exhibitors? At the meeting there were only thirty exhibitors present. I suppose that that was the number that had been ( Concluded on last page)