The Moving picture world (May 1922)

36 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 6, 1922 ica definitely terminated his connection with our organization and notified him to that effect. "Senator Walker's position with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America has been only that of an engaged attorney. He was not authorized to make any statements for our organization within the past five months." "This is a subtle and tricky mind — the mind that wrote this," he said. Then he went into detail to cast into the discard this charge. "Thank God," he said, "that the day is not far distant when I will return to those professional politicians, as this person says, in Albany— those men who have done you exhibitors many favors. He charges me with neglect because for three months I have been up in Albany fighting for you, seeing to it that you got a square deal. But take it from me, I'm glad that I will soon give those men all my time exclusively. I'm glad I'll soon be back where a man's word means something, where a man's a man, where they don't kiss you today and stab you tomorrow. "Up there they do not make promises that they can't keep. When a man tells his pal or colleague he is going to do something he does it. He comes clean. And if he doesn't come clean he's through." He then hit at Movie Chats, which, he said, Cohen had "kidded many of us into believing were going to make millions." Then he attacked William A. True and Edward Fay, mention of their names handing the spectators their first laugh of the dramatic meeting. "Where were William True and Fay in Minneapolis while Berman and O'Reilly were running around pulling strings for who — for Sydney Cohen. "Neither one of this pair (True and Fay)," emphasized Walker, "has the interest of exhibitors or your business at heart. And I know. Their interest in the business is limited to that on which they cash in." Walker said he had been in the employ of the M. P. T. O. A. as general counsel for twenty-six months. "They say I got $1,000 a month," he said. He added that out of the twenty-six months he had served the organization he had received payment for but fifteen. He reminded the exhibitors of the statement made frequently by Cohen at conventions and other meetings that "Jim has got to get a retainer." He reminded them, too, that on those occasions he told Cohen and exhibitors that he was contented. "Have you ever heard Fay or True say that?" he asked. And a dozen voices answered negatively. "Did you hear of either one doing anything that benefited anyone but themselves?" He started to work for the organization in December, 1920, but was reminded that it was through his efforts that many bills of importance to exhibitors were championed by and passed through his influence and work in Albany before he was counsel for the M. P. T. O. A. _ "And, besides, what I want to know is, who hired me?" he asked. "Like Topsy I never was born in this business, I just grew in it." He reminded the exhibitors that Adolph Zukor had settled every complaint laid before him, namely, the Mrs. Dodge and Schwartz cases, those ranking as the two most important. Zukor having given the widow, according to Walker, $5,500 and to Schwartz, $3,500. He said that he asked for a contract for his services because of statements he had heard while in Milwaukee. "On the train en route to New York," he said, "I told Cohen I wanted a contract." He answered with : "What do you want a contract for?" I answered, "Because they are not substantial." Cohen replied: "Don't bother about these cooties ; I am the organization. But I told him that T wouldn't take his word on a bet.' He then referred to another statement charging negligence of duty during the latter part of 1921. He pointed out that in spite of illness he was called to New Haven and later went to Boston where he was taken suddenly ill. He was removed to a hospital on September 18 and underwent a major operation the following day. He did not collect salary because of illness for September, October. November and December. "Ask Cohen to tell you the truth. And they have said that I was negligent. The man who provoked that statement is nothing more than an ordinary, common, everyday, lying rat." Continuing in his attack against Cohen, he said : "He has lied continually about me. They have made insinuations they will have to eat." And here Senator Walker began to break down under the strain he was undergoing, mentally and physically. Tears began to trickle down his cheek as he said : "Those dirty rats will never live those lies." He then told, as he wiped his eyes, how he. sick, went to Washington, sat down with Senator Smoot. and extracted from him the promise the five per cent, tax would be defeated. ".\fter that I came back and went to the hospital. All my friends, God bless them, came along to see me. Even those who I fought politically came to wish me well. And one day Cohen came. I'll never forget what he said, for my nurse repeated it so often after that. Tiptoeing into the room he whispered: 'Sweetheart, I bring you love and kisses from 10,000 exhibitors.' "It is true and I went to the hospital — and he sent me there," he said, referring to the work he was called upon to do. And in these statements he was borne out by various members of the national organization. "You will never get along with a man who is ungrateful and guilty of breach of confidence." The Senator then went into details concerning pending cases in court involving exhibitors, saying that while Cohen had neglected these cases and given no thought to those involved when he "dismissed" him, he did continue with them and will dispose of each and every one. He told of further achievements in which the exhibitors benefited, most important of which was the revision of the fire ordinances after the Fire Department authorities had issued an ultimatum to every exhibitor in New York to comply with certain regulations. "I could forgive his (Cohen's) ignorance," he said, "but his ingratitude — never !" "I came to you clean — and I'm leaving you clean. Where is that slogan, 'an injury to one is the concern one all ?' *rhe hell it is. I sent Cohen a wire asking certain explanations, but he didn't answer. Cohen has retracted the statement, but he does not say that it is not true — and that's what he has got to do." Marshall Neilan Sails; Signs Goldwyn Contract Marshall Neilan sailed for abroad last week and took with him his assistant director, cameraman and production staflF. liefore sailing he signed his contract with (joldwyn, whereby he will produce his pictures in conjunction with the Goldwyn organization. "My arrangement with CJoldwyn is most satisfactory," said Neilan just before he left New York. "It gives me just the right scope for my work." T. 0. C. C. TESTIMONIAL DINNER IN HONOR OF ITS RETIRING PRESIDENT, WILLIAM BRANDT, AT THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL, THURSDAY EVENING. APRIL 20