The Moving picture world (May 1922)

34 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 6, 1922 down from Cohen" and an explanation of the charges. Inasmuch as Cohen did not attend the Chamber of Commerce meeting this week, it is not beheved by some that he will face the Senator in Washingrton if the latter finally decides to go there. But that there is every chance that the Senator will be on hand was hinted at when he said that he "will go anywhere to prove that these sta,tements are malicious lies." Anyway, the convention, because of the fire at Hotel W'illard last Saturday, which destroyed the ballroom, has been changed to Hotel Washington in that city. The coming week promises to unearth many important developments for both sides are on the alert and in a fighting mood. Both sides are determined and each is Hning up strong support, although scores of telegrams this week swamped the offices of Senator Walker from exhibitors who urged him to accept the nomination. The special meeting of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce in New York on Wednesday, April 26, came as a climax to a situation brought about through the publication of various statements in New York newspapers in which certain charges were made against Walker. The Chamber of Commerce in order to prevent disruption offered to bring Walker and Cohen together. Both accepted, Tuesday, April 25, was the date selected, but Cohen asked for a postponement, saying that that day was the anniversary of the death of his wife and, as was his custom, he had to go to the cemetery. Walker agreed to a postponement. On Wednesday, April 26, the meeting was called by President Landau of the M. P. T. O. C. C, but while Walker was present, Cohen was not. Mr. Michaels of Buffalo, in explanation for the absence of Cohen, stated that the latter had been "advised by his friends not to attend and for that reason he is not here." Adherents of Cohen, who, although at first loyal to the latter, were the first to shake the hand of Walker after he had completed his reply, had sought to keep representatives of the daily and trade press out of the session. Representatives of the press appealed to them, but in vain. Finally, those who opposed star chamber proceedings, succeeded in bringing the question to a vote and it was finally decided to admit the trade press. The meeting was then opened. Mr. Landau explained the purpose of the meeting and then introduced Senator Walker. Senator Walker said that he was not at all pleased to attend the meeting in the capacity that he did, but, he added, "it had to be done because certain things have been said against me that must be proved. And I am here to prove that they are untrue." Then he continued : "When I have talked to you on previous occasions, I have spoken to you on potentiality, history and business matters in general. Today, I am here to ascertain whether there is any character in exhibitors of this country. I have spent about three years with you and fighting for you and if I find that there isn't any character, then I will knowi that I have wasted those three years. I have every confidence in exhibitors, but now is the real test and I'm here to put you through it "Your chairman made a misstatement; no, I won't say that. But he did say that I was general counsel of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. I have been dismissed from that position I understand and yesterday I was made counsel of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State. I don't know what I am. But while I have been dismissed as general counsel for your national organization I cannot accept the job with the State organization. The reason I will explain later. "What is the M. P. T. O. A. anyway? It is an organization of exhibitors throughout the country without constitution or by-laws. That's what it is. The only way a man can join the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America is by joining a State organization, and he automatically becomes a member of the national association. I challenge you to go to the national headquarters any time and ask for the name of any member and they will refer you to a State organization. Without these State organizations there would be no M. P. T. O. A, Where is the list of membership? There is none." After explaining the functions of the national organization and its dependency on _local organizations, the Senator read a letter ' sent to his home at 6 St. Luke place, New York, by messenger, but addressed both to his home and office, 61 Broadway. The letter, he said, was delivered to him Saturday night, April 24, at 7.30 o'clock. Senator Walker read the letter in which the charge was made that he had been negligent and that "for several months you have not given your service to the organization" and that they were "taking this means of dispensing with your services." The letter was signed "A. J. MoUer, general manager; authorized by Messrs. True, Pramer, Collins, Lick and Brylawski. "While I have this dishonorable discharge in my hand — and that's what I call it," the Senator said, "I wonder if you reflect as I have. Have you ever had a bolt hit you squarely between the eyes? Have you ever been stabbed in the back? If you have then you know how I felt when I got this letter." He then directed attention to the fact that Moeller had signed the letter, characterizing the M. P. T. O. A. general manager as a "tool." "If Moeller can stand for this, I can." Then he resumed: "Let's see. They say I have been negligent. That is not true. I'm here because a man (Pramer) from Nebraska says I am unfaithful. That man away out in Nebraska says I am unfaithful. What right has he to make such a charge and what proof has he that I was unfaithful. These are only a few of the questions that these men will have to answer to me. "I am here to say, and will say it personally to any man who allowed his name to that letter, that any man who says I am or have been unfaithful is a liar. And that goes for them all. "I have struggled hard, and I've worked and always given the very best in me. I'm here to answer any charge and to demand an explanation. I've come here. Where is Cohen, where is he? "I've worked my way up and I defy you to find the man who will say that Jim Walker is not a square shooter. I have established a reputation for fair play. And I don't purpose to allow any gentlemen from Nebraska, Connecticut or anywhere else to accuse me of the dirty, contemptible things that have been said about me in the past week. Messrs. Nutt and Duncan declined to give their authorization; they wired Cohen to the effect. "I want to say, gentlemen, that you can write your own ticket with me any day, but I want square shooting. I insisted that the trade press be invited into this meeting because I was condemned in the public press and I demand the right to tell the entire industry my side of the case. 'They have gone into public prints in an effort to slander me. They stopped at nothing to poison public opinion against me." The Senator then referred to the statement issued to the press headed: "Walker Assailed by Movies." "He (Cohen) did not assail me when he inspired such a statement," said Walker. "He hurt me, but he did assail the motion picture industry in general. "I was called on the 'phone by a reporter of The New York Times, who read the statement to me and asked for a statement from me. But I refused to do so because I refused to let the public know the chaotic condition in which the motion picture industry was, knowing how anxious the public and press were to grab something that would further jeopardize the business." Senator Walker then denied that he had at any time announced his candidacy for the presidency of the M. P. T. O. A. to anyone, directly or indirectly. He referred to trade paper editorials in which the writers urged exhibitors to name Walker as their candidate. But these too. Walker said, were written without his knowing that they were going to be written; neither had be been consulted by those who wrote them. He then told how a writer on The New York World had rewritten one of these editorials, taking it for granted that the trade had received such an announcement. This supposition he embodied in a story, erroneously making the statement that Walker had announced his candidacy. This story appeared in The World of Saturday morning, April 23. "Quinn Martin, I have learned, wrote that story," said Mr. Walker. "I don't know Quinn Martin and have never met the gentleman. I did not know and had no reason to know that he was going to write such a story." A little later he said: "I know a man who has a corner on egotism and there isn't anything left for me." "I was offended when I read this story," he continued, "because it meant closer relationship with those whom I have learned to love. But if that article insulted you, then why did you employ me as your general counsel? "There is a writer on The Evening World, Joe Jordan, who covers the Legislature in Albany for that newspaper. Joe came out that Saturday afternoon with a story to the effect that I was to get $75,000 a year for a salary. That story handed me a great laugh. I refused to believe that it was possible to get $75,000 a year from an organization that can't pay $12,000 a year. "And if you read Jordan's article you will have observed that in it he said : 'All that remains to put this project over is Walker's acceptance.' Even there it is admitted that I had not even accepted any proposition. I asked Joe Jordan about it and tried to learn the source of all this information, money, and everything, for it was all news to me and handed me a laugh. Joe said he had read the story in The World and thought it gave him a wonderful chance to send me over. He mentioned $75,000, he said, because he was trying to get a big fee for me. Now if you know newspapermen as I do, you will understand that Joe Jordan meant no harm ; he saw a chance to put a friend over and that's what he had in mind when he wrote that story. And that $75,000 salary was invented by Joe Jordan — not me. I gave no statement at all to the press and talked to no one on anything. So again I say that nothing came from me; that I announced no candidacy and never did say I wanted $75,000. "That story did not appear in The Evening World until the last edition Saturday afternoon, which comes out late. Yet that letter with the dishonorable discharge was at my home at 7.30 o'clock. Think it over. "Cohen says I have been negligent. Well, I'll show you letters from that same Cohen for months back in which he makes no complaint of any kind. "Mr. Cohen yesterday asked that the meeting be postponed for his convenience. We consented. You heard the reason why he wanted this postponement. Well, that's O. K. for one day, but where is he today? "Do you want me to say what he wanted me to say about J. D. Williams when he did not show up at a meeting ? This 1s where he belongs for these statements attacking my character were made by him." He then took up the statement sent to the press on Saturday purported to come from the executive committee. He read the following passage from the statement: "In The Evening World is a statement from Mr. Walker to the effect that he will accept the presidency of the organization if given a salary of $75,000." Then he said : "That statement is a malicious