Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

390 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 3 1 Everybody Ready for Amalgamation | For that and other equally good reasons, amalgamation was no less popular a word at Dayton than it had been at New York. The futility of the struggle had become evident, and the leaders were too solicitous for the future of exhibitor organization, as a practical and prosperous fact, to permit personal differences or past animosities to hinder the reunion of the divided groups. The international committee of seven were met by President Neff and Secretary Wiley, Orene Parker, of Covington, Ky. ; Peter Jeup, of Detroit, Mich.; T. P. Finnegan, of Dallas, Tex.; R. L. McNab, of New York, and M. E. Cory, of San Francisco, Cal. A conference behind closed doors immediately followed the exchange of courtesies. Opposition to all forms of legalized censorship was seen to be one condition of consolidation. The infusion of new blood into the executive places of the League was laid down as another. Having come to a preliminary mutual understanding, the two committees set another date, a few days away, for a second conference and adjourned. This second conference was held July 7. Three days later, July 10, amalgamation was an accomplished fact, and the breach of a year was finally healed, as far as the committees were concerned. The way for this vital action had been paved when President Marion A. Neff declined to run for re-election and Marion S. Pearce, of Baltimore, was nominated as the fusion candidate. Mr. Pearce's election was unanimous, as was that of the slate he carried into office with him. His associates on the successful ticket were First Vice-President T. P. Finnegan, Texas ; Second Vice-President Mark E. Cory, of California; Treasurer Peter J. Jeup, of Michigan; Secretary W. R. Wilson, of Ohio. Four places on the enlarged executive board of nine members were to be filled, it was resolved, from the ranks of the international. For these positions Judge Tugwell, William J. Sweeney, Charles H. Phillips and Fulton Brylawski, of Washington, D. C., were named. In addition, sweeping resolutions were adopted against state, local or Federal censorship, and even supervision of films by the National Board of Review (then the National Board of Censorship) was denounced. To say that both sides felt profound relief at the result would be putting it mildly. No one pretended that the Dayton convention had been the success its predecessors were. The number of exhibitors in attendance was discouragingly small, the manufacturers of film and accessories had not obtained results commensurate with the outlay required for their exhibits, and it was felt that it would be disastrous to the future of the league if such a fiasco were to be repeated another year. From the danger of this, amalgamation saved the league and set it again in the right path. Little Activity Before San Francisco Convention The year preceding the San Francisco convention was one of little league activity and enthusiasm. Marion S. Pearce had been elected president at Da)rton upon an amalgamated platform. However, amalgamation really never took -place. Th'e old league spirit seemed gone and with no funds to work with President Pearce faced a rather dismal outlook. His own large business interests in Baltimore took up most of his time. However, he bent to the task with spirit and self-sacrifice and traveled aiiout considerably over the country, going as far west as Kansas City in an effort to build up the various state and local organizations. Very little however was accomplished. No new state organizations were formed and most of the state organizations were delinquent in their dues. Immediately after the close of the Dayton convention, several important meetings were held in New York City by President Pearce, former National Secretary Wiley and Samuel H. Trigger of the New York branch, for the working out of plans looking to the complete amalgamation of the two. bodies. These meetings were attended with only partial success. The state international branches of New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Pennsylvania, showed a very strong disposition to carry out the amalgamation plans of the Dayton conference at once. The Minnesota state branch, in the meantime, had held their state organization intact and practically merged into a Northwest Association, embracing Minnesota and several of .the adjacent states, which has developed into a very strong body. The semi-annual meeting of the National Executive Committee was held at the Hotel McAlpin in New York in January, 1915. Besides President Pearce, the following were present : M. E. Cory of San Francisco, Secretary W. R. Wilson of Columbus, Treasurer Peter J. Jeup of Detroit, and much routine business was transacted. A Board of Trade movement was then on in New York City and a committee of the organization met with the Executive Committee in an effort to induce them to hold their convention simultaneously with an exposition to be held in New York City. The Board of Trade movement not coming to a head, however, this proposition was dismissed. President Pearce advertised in the trade papers asking the exhibitors of the country their preference as to a time and place for the National Convention of 1915. The majority of the replies favored San Francisco, so this city was selected, ratifying the action of the Dayton Convention. Cory Chairman of Convention Committee M. E. Cory of San Francisco was chairman of the convention committee and elaborate preparations were made for the holding of an exposition and convention July 13-16, 1915. The exhibitors however did not respond as had been expected. The attendance at the convention did not exceed two hundred and nearly all of these exhibitors came from California and more particularly the immediate section in and around San Francisco. Except for the exhibitor attendance, which was decidedly disappointing, the convention and exposition was well conducted and full of interest. Prominent producers were present and spoke, the chief topic being that of censorship. Prominent stars from Los Angeles attended the convention ball. It was stated at the time that more exhibitors were present at the Elks Convention in Los Angeles than at their own National Convention in San Francisco, indicating pretty clearly that league membership at the time did not include a very large number of exhibitors who had the means to travel to the coast and with organizations able to take care of their business while they were away. The following members of the executive committee were present : Marion S. Pearce, Judge A. P. Tugwell of Los Angeles, Peter J. Jeup of Detroit and M. E. Cory of San Francisco. President Pearce declined re-election, stating that his health would not permit him to assume the extra burden of the position. It was felt that a very active leader was necessary and the choice of the convention was Fred Herrington of Pittsburgh. M. E. Cory was elected vice president; L. W. Brophy of Muskogee, Okla., second vice president ; and Peter J. Jeup of Detroit treasurer. The election of a secretary was left to the executive committee as was also the time and place of the holding of the next national convention. Later the executive committee elected James Delves of Pittsburgh national secretary, and national headquarters were opened in the Apollo Building, Pittsburgh. President Pearce's Suggestion Ratified It was President Pearce's suggestion and his suggestion was ratified by the executive committee, that the secretary should be paid a salary which would compensate him for his time and efforts expended, and also enable him to act as a field organizer with headquarters in New York City. President Herrington confronted the same obstacles and difficulties, very little co-operation and lack of funds, as did President Pearce. He started work immediately after his election and has been at it ever since with untiring cpurage. He has traveled all over the country, endeavored to inspire organization at the various state and local conventions and fought the battle of the exhibitor whenever an issue arose. He deserves the unlimited thanks of the organization and exhibitors in general for his sincere belief in organization and his self-sacrificing efforts to bring it about against such heavy odds. . .. It is with interest that the writer awaits the; gathering of the delegates in Chicago, and the reports of the work that the Herrington administration has accomplished.