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ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION 213
" honorable victory." The two factions failed to reach a satisfactory agreement although all parties continued to work for the cause as directed by the Equity president.
In an effort to prevent producers from signing contracts with Equity members, Equity filed suit in Superior Court against Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., and Mr. Tully Marshall, charging that the producing firm " induced and coerced" Mr. Marshall into breaking his agreement with Equity by signing a contract to make a picture, and " threatened to continue to coerce and induce other members of Equity to break their agreements."
At the end of July, a survey of the situation revealed the following results of the campaign. Attendance at Equity meetings approximated 3,000. The association had announced an increase in membership of 2,200 actors. Nine volunteer committees were engaged in organization. Approximately $700 was paid out daily for relief. Total weekly expense was about $5,000. Over 200 members in support of Equity had refused to report for work. Productions with non-Equity casts were reported to be delayed by surreptitious endeavors on the part of workers who were sympathetic with Equity.
On the other hand, producers stated that 164 Equity members had accepted the standard contract. The large producers were lending contract players to each other and to some independent companies ; this was an uncommon practice. A few of the smaller producers had cast pictures with Equity players. It was reported that many studios had employed actors under verbal contracts.
Equity had not called on allied labor unions for assistance, for the stated reason that such a request would mean an enormous sacrifice in employment and money to the affiliated participants. The union was opposed to the calling out of contract players because it believed that such a move might antagonize public opinion. The United States Department of Labor had sent two representatives to negotiate a settlement. The general program on the part of Equity had been to maintain loyalty among its members while seeking to increase its strength.
August 1, 1929, had been named as the date for the levying of a heavy schedule of fines and suspensions of from four months to a year for all Equity and non-Equity members signing contracts contrary to Equity instructions. This announcement had created consternation in some quarters. Hollywood merchants