Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 1171 Mr. Balaban. I do not i-ocall whether he was in the room at that time. I am quite certain that he had to leave to catch a phme, but wliether he was present at that time I do not know. Mr. McCann. AVe will read it again: Mr. Kaliane reported the recent conversations with the presidents and Eric Johnston whicii contained tlie follovvini; recommendations: "Lay off carpenters if they reluse to perform the services to which tliey are assigned. Do not be in any luirry; take as much time as yon can bef.ire crossing .inrisdictional lines. Work with the lA to get a snfficient number of carpenters, electricians, painters, and so forth." Do you recall giving those instructions to Hollywood? Mi. Balaban. I recall discussions as to how we might keep the studios operating a while longer until we used up those sets. I do not recall that anyone spoke to Mr. Kahane out of New York that day. Mr. Kahane is here and he can answer whether that message was given to him by someone in New York, or by Mr. Mannix. Mr. McCann. I fear Mr. Kahane has gone, has he not? (No response.) Mr. McCann. I do not think it is material whether it was given to Mr. Kahane or to Mr. ^lannix, since Mr. Kahane presided at these meetings. But did you make the statement I have read to Mr. Mannix or to Mr. Kaliane? Mr. Balaban. I did not. If such a statement was made it repre- sented the core of a discussion that took place between the presidents as to how we could keep the plants going. You do not take a step of this kind without trying to find out in which direction you are going. Mr. McCann. That is what I am trying to get at. Did that repre- sent the views of the presidents there as presented either to Mr. Free- man, Mr. Kahane, or Mr. Mannix ? Mr. Balaban. Not being very familiar with details of studio opera- tion. I cannot recall part of a discussion, but I do recall one part of it, and that was to keep going as long as you can. The detail was to be worked out by men who know much more about that than I do. Mr. McCann. I am going to read another paragraph to you, and I will ask you whether you recall this and whether it conforms with the views expressed by the presidents at the meeting of the presidents in New York: Kahane states : There are two courses to pursue. One, as the sets become hot and as men are laid off do not cross jurisdictional lines, doing nothing to cause a picket line to be establLshed. Shoot until sets are exhausted and tlien close down ; or Two, attempt to keep oi^n as we did on March 12, 1945. Call on lA to do the struck work and do the best we can. This would bring on x>it'ket lines and the accompanying strife. Do you recall the sub.stance of that having been given to Mr. Kahane ? Mr, Balaban. I do not recall any discussion with Mr. Kahane nor do I recall any such discussion with Mr. Mannix. I know that we did discuss in New York keeping the studios open, shooting as long as you can. Mr. McCann. You remember shooting as long as you can ? Mr, Balaban, Yes, sir, Mr. McCann. Now the next paragraph states: It is apparently the opinion of the New York executives and Johnston to try the second course. If we fry this course and call upon lA and they siionld fail to be able to keep us open, then the lA may attempt to get the federation to settle the matter or adjudicate the matter with the carpenters.