The Moving picture world (May 1922)

MOVING PICTURE ARTHUR JAMES Editor-i n C hief MAY 6 19 2 2 The Mask Is Coming Off WITH surface appearances presenting a picture of calm preceding the great Washington Convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, the fires of a volcano that was lying underneath burst forth furiously during the present week and a first-class war situation presented itself. Senator James J, Walker, who has been general counsel for the Motion Picture Theatre Owners, attended a dinner at which Will H. Hays was one of the guests of honor. The dinner was in compliment to William Brandt, retiring president of the Theatre Owners' Chamber of Commerce. General Hays spoke, following out his program of a friendly co-operation among all elements of the industry for the common good. Senator Walker was master of ceremonies, and in the course of the evening he paid his respects to General Hays and sided with his views that co-operation and harmony were most essential at this time. He gave no higher praise to the General than the courtesies of the occasion demanded and subscribed to the principle of co-operation. The industry was astonished on the following day to read a newspaper story, published in New York but not sent to the trade press, which was an attack on Senator Walker and which announced that he had been dismissed as general counsel. This stoi'y stated that the Senator was a candidate for president of the exhibitors' organization, and that he was demanding a salary of $75,000 a year. The story also set forth that the entire move was a sinister producers' activity, which had as its object the destruction of the exhibitor body. The announcement was ostensibly the product of the executive committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, but since it was published it has been difficult to find anyone who would father the statement. Senator Walker in very plain language denied the story as absurd, said that he had at no time been a candidate for the presidency and that he was not making any salary demands of any kind, the figure of $75,000 being wholly fictitious. In order to defend himself against a statement that was most unfortunate in its general effect on the business, he got into conference with his friends and they strongly urged upon him that he lead the fight against the present administration of the theatre owners' organization. Telegrams had been sent over the signature of the executive committee to State presidents throughout the country, asking that they give power of attorney to the committee and indicating that Sydney S. Cohen was a candidate for re-election. Messages were sent in reply by Senator Walker and Charles O'Reilly, the New York State president, who is backing Senator Walker's involuntary candidacy. The final results of this interesting conflict will not be reached until the convention deals with the situation. That there will be a hard fight there apparently is no doubt. It has been the custom of Moving Picture World to speak the straight truth to all elements of the industry, but at no time have we endorsed the candidacy of anyone. We have felt for a long time that the presidency of Sydney S. Cohen was a mistake and that it was doing the exhibitors more harm than good. For taking this view we were criticized by Mr. Cohen's group and were the victim of a drive on our circulation which had the happy result of increasing it. We again reiterate that we have no candidate in which we have any personal interest, but do not hesitate to say that Senator Walker's election would be in line with progress and would be calculated to farther develop the usefulness to the exhibitor of the exhibitors' organization.