International projectionist (Oct 1931-Sept 1933)

31st I. A, CONVENTION AT COLUMBUS Election of officers and change in permit system are salient features of meeting. No change in officers. Press reports of conflict false. Strong attack on permit system James J. Finn ELECTION of officers, particularly to the Presidency, which heretofore has been almost a perfunctory affair, and consideration of and action on what has come to be known as the "permit system" featured the International Alliance Convention held in Columbus, Ohio, June 6 to 9. The Convention registered the largest number of delegates in the history of the Alliance — 824 delegates from 665 local unions being accredited by the Credentials Committee. Thirty-one locals were not represented at the time the report was read. Unfair Press Reports If ever any convention was subjected to unfair treatment by the press — both public and trade — that convention was the I. A. gathering in Columbus. Papers within the motion picture industry have long been known to garble news relating to the I. A., and in some instances even to go out of their way to misrepresent the facts of certain happenings throughout the year. But it was some surprise to read in the public press highly colored statements of "gangster activities" in and about the Convention, the asking for police protection by Convention officials, the necessity for a "strong armed guard" about the Convention hall, and the "terrific conflict" which was being waged by opposing forces at Convention meetings. Columbus papers appeared to be the sponsors of this distortion of the facts, a portion of which was released to all newspapers over national press association wires. It can be said at this time that none of the foregoing quotations from the public or trade press is true. While it is only natural that in an organization like the Alliance there should exist certain differences of opinion as to policies which would be reflected in vigorous verbal attack and counter-attack on the convention floor, the Columbus I. A. Convention might well serve as a model not only for labor organizations but for all large or ganizations having a national membership. There were no "gangster activities," no appeals for police protection, no "strong armed guards" about the Convention hall and, as it appeared to this writer, the sessions were distinguished by a surprising air of placidity. All Officers Re-Elected The table accompanying this article sIjows that the entire pre-convention slate of officers, with one exception, was reelected. The exception was the election of R. E. Morris as International Trustee in place of Walter S. Croft. All other office-holders were returned for another term. Contests for all offices were conducted in an eminently fair fashion and strictly on the merits of the individual contestants. Distribution of unsigned literature attctcking S'am Kaplan, President of the New York City Local 306, by his local opponents, and the appearance on the streets of Columbus of two trucks bearing placards which emphasized the salient points contained in the pamphlets, were the only disturbing notes. Obviously a New York local matter, these occurences were merely incident to and not a part of the Convention. Local Autonomy An important feature of the President's Report was the re-statement of the policy of the General Office to confer on local unions full authority, under the grant of local autonomy, to negotiate for terms and conditions. Another pronouncement as to policy stated that two-man sound projection shifts were deemed necessary, and any local union affecting a reduction in manpower did so at its own risk and expense. Various other important matters were discussed in the report. Consideration for and cooperation with the stagehand was requested of projectionists' locals. Terms and conditions of the new Road Scale agreement, effective to September [9] President William C. Elliott Cincinnati, Ohio General Sec-Treas. Fred J. Dempsey Boston, Mass. 1st Vice-Pres. John P. Nick St. Ijouis, Missouri 2nd Vice-Pres. William P. Covert Toronto, Canada 3rd Vice-Pres. William J. Harrer Ardmore, Penna. 4th Vice-Pres. Joseph C. Campbell Oklahoma City, Okla. Sth Vice-Pres. William T. Madigan Minneapolis, Minn. 6th Vice-Pres. Floyd M. Billingsley San Francisco, Calif. 1th Vice-Pres. Harland Holmden Cleveland, Ohio Trustees William C. Scanlan R. E. Morris John McCarroll A. F. L. Delegates William H. Clendening James F. Burke Delegate to Dominion T. and L. Congress William B. AUen 1, 1933, were promulgated. The strict necessity for observance of the I. A. rule that all amplifying equipment employ a card man was stressed. Efforts to secure legislation compelling two-man sound projection shifts were commended and the recommendation made that renewed vigor go into such work. Internal dissension in local unions was condemned as conducive to destroying the morale of the Alliance as well as of the local union involved. All local unions were urged to observe the recommendation of the Cleveland Convention that a reserve defense fund be established. High praise was paid the West Coast studio locals for their fine work in connection with the renewal of the Basic {Please turn to page 11)