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)

2008 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES how they stood aboiit him, he wouhl find that the overwhehiiinc verdict would be for "The Keedle" to go back to Chicago and take his medicine like a man. Willie has meared labor up enough with his escapades, intrigues, and selfish negotiations. It should have no more of him. And it will have more of him if labor lets "-Willie," the interloper and muscler-in to its executive ranks, fight his own battles, and not be used as a cloak to help him sneak out of his pandering / rap. Willie has no right to ask labor organizations to endorse him, especially in view of what Willie has tried to do to labor organizations that did not fall in with his line of negotiating. We know how Herb Sorrell went to the producers to discuss an increase for his men. We know that Sorrell was told it would be O. K., but that if it were given, Bioff would pull the lATSE studio workers. We know that Sorrell was told what a tough guy Bioff was and what Willie might do to him if he went to "The Keedle's" office. Sorrell went. He was ushered into the presence of "The Keedle." The latter stuck out his hand. Sorrell refused it and told Willie why. Then Sorrell told Willie off. He told him in no uncertain terms. Willie denied that he had threatened to pull a strike, or would. Willie was shaky and nervous while Sorrell was telling him off. And when Sorrell was departing he told Bioff, "No double-crossing on this, either," and Bioff turned white as Sorrell stood over him telling him this. Then we also know that Willie did not show up for 4 days after Sorrell's visit, and it was said at his office. "Bioff is at home with a little heart attack." That's the guy who wants labor to help him. That's the guy who has refused to shake hands with reputable picture people because they did not negotiate the way "The Keedle" wanted them to. But Sorrell is the man who refused to shake hands with the panderer. And Sorrell is of labor. He worked as a member of the painters' craft, represents an organization affiliated with the American Federation of Labor for the same salary he earned painting, and negotiates for his men only. And he shakes the haiid of anyone he considers and knows to be right, but not that of a panderer who wants to use labor for his veil of purity. So Willie, with all his maneuvering and manipulating politically and otherwise to beat the pandering rap. should know that Hollywood labor, the rank and file of it, wants no part of him, and the quicker he quits posing as its friend the happier it will be. Variety of December 7, 1939, headline : Flacks Gft Non-Bioff Deal — Producers O. K. on Terms of Pact Definiti> agreement between producers and Screen Publicists Guild was reached yesterday at conference between SPO representatives and producer committee composed of Joseph M. Schenck. Y. Frank Freeman, and Eddie Mannix. Then an editorial signed by Arthur Ungar, same day : WiLUE Fading Out It must have been a most regrettable situatioi in Willie Bioff's life when the producers agreed on a contract with tbe Screen Publicists Guild. No doubt it was more regrettable than the situation Willie has been in for the past 17 yenrs — that of heinc: a fugitive panderer. Willie tried to badger the screen publicists into letting him be their spearhead. He did everything conceivable to whip them into line. But Willie found that the publicists liave a sense of decency and respect for womankind, and want no Tiart of the stigma of being represented by a fugitive panderer. Variety, December 11, 1939, a signed editorial by Arthur Ungar: Willie's Guest Abraham L. Mnrovitz, who recently was retained as Chicago attorney for Willie "The Kec^^le" Bioff to tbwart extradition proceedings, is a guest at the Encino ranch of his fugitive client.