The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 141 these three men picked on Rochester. And you all know it down deep in your hearts." Michaels then said that he had personally got in communication with Sydney S. Cohen and pointed out to the latter the importance of the trial. At this point, Joseph Quittner of Middletown, a member of the Board of Directors, said that he had sacrificed important personal business and rode all night from Washington to be on hand, because he thought the issue was a most important one and he upbraided the accusers for not daring to appear. It was then voted to proceed with the trial and that all evidence be submitted to the Board. This was agreeable to Counsel Mclnerney of Rochester and he submitted his evidence, purporting to back the charges. This evidence consisted of mainly two exhibits — "Exhibitors' Bulletin" of April 29 issue and a letter sent by Sydney S. Cohen. The article in "Exhibitors' Bulletin" was headlined "A Call to Arms I" The article was read. It was an attack on Berman, as well as O'Reilly. He told of a trip to Sam Berman, quoting from letters he received from various men Berman is alleged to have "talked to in the interests of the candidacy of Senator Walker." He also accused Berman of making "slandering and untruthful statements about me." He refers, too, to a telegram sent to him by Claude R. Cady, president of the Michigan exhibitors, seeking to know "Who is paying the expenses of Berman"? In the statement over his signature in "Exhibitors' Bulletin," Mr. Cohen also states H. M. Richey, general manager of the Motion Picture Theatre Owmers of Michigan, in Detroit, wrote him that Berman had addressed a special wire to Miss Goldstein, secretary of Adolph Zukor, of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. The writer, who happened to be in Detroit at the time and was with Mr. Berman when Mr. Richey came into his room at Hotel Statler on Sunday, April 22, can state that no such telegram was sent out by Mr. Berman, who has since sent Jim Ritter, of Detroit, authority to call at the Detroit offices of Western Union and Postal Telegraph and get copies of every telegram he (Berman) sent out. Cohen, however, in telling the story in "Exhibitors' Bulletin" did not mention this fact. However, he does attack O'Reilly and Walker and said that he did not mind "Senator Walker's attack on myself, but it was entirely unjustifiable for him to go out of his way in his tirade of abuse and visit his spleen upon Mr. True and Mr. Fay . . . who have been incessant workers of our organization." In that statement, too, Mr. Cohen says "he is for harmony," but he proceeds to create discord by making many charges. He also outlined the Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, reiterating his previous statement that he had been advised "to remain away by the executive committee." In the same bulletin Mr. Cohen states that "dignity must feature the Washington meeting," but adds: "bewrare of treachery." Another exhibit that Mr. Mclnerney submitted as evidence was the following letter received from Sydney S. Cohen : "Officers and Members of the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the State of New York: "Gentlemen: I am In receipt of the following letter from Charles L. O'Reilly, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the State of New York and Secretary S. I. Berman: •"April 29, 1922. " 'Mr. Sydney S. Cohen, National President, Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, 1482 Broadway, New York City: " 'Dear Sir: A copy of a certain resolution purporting to have been adopted at a meeting of the Rochester Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association, held in the City of Rochester on the 27th day of April, 1922, sets forth certain charges against the underslgrned, president and secretary, respectively, of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State, one of which purports to be that the undersigned persons have been disloyal to "Our National President, Sydney S. Cohen." " 'Because of the above, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the State of New York has been called for Wednesday, the 3d day of May, 1922, at the Ten Eyck Hotel, in the City of Albany, New York, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. " 'I deem It your duty to be present at the above mentioned meeting in the City of Albany and there submit any and all proof which you may have of any or such disloyal conduct on our part. " 'Very truly yours, " 'CHARLES L. O'RBIULiY, S. I. BERMAN, President. Secretary.' "This letter was delivered to me by a messenger from the State Headquarters this (Monday) morning, although dated Saturday, April 29th. "Notices have been sent out by Chairman W. A. True for a meeting of the National Convention Committee at Washington on Wednesday, May 3d, and a meeting of the National Executive Committee is to be held on Thursday, May 4th, in Washington. The Exhibitors from Eastern Pennsylvania have a meeting in Philadelphia at noon on Wednesday. This meeting was arranged last week and I was requested by President Stevenson, of Philadelphia, to stop over for an hour or so on the way to Washington and attend this meeting. I agreed to do that. So you will readily see that, much to my regret, it will be impossible for me to be In Albany on Wednesday afternoon to attend your meeting. "The Rochester resolution was not of my making. It represents the sentiment of the Rochester Exhibitors, based on the knowl edge they obtained of the situation while in New York City and their own Information of the manner in which affairs are being conducted in the State. I refrained from making any move which would tend to further aggragate the difHculties existing in New York City, at the suggestion of members of the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the State of New York. Your members are entirely familiar with the harmony moves made within the past week by myself. "I have been the subject of vitriolic abuse and vituperative statements which were entirely without warrant. I have given my best efforts to the advancement of our National and State Organizations at great personal and financial sacrifices. These adverse statements I know fell far short of the obvious purpose of those who made the same. I still feel that I have the confidence and esteem of my fellow Exhibitors in the State as evidenced In the many letters and telegrams constantly coming to the National office from New York, all over the country, in fact, yet I am anxious to avoid any move which win tend to further irritate the situation because of the bad effect it might have on our orgranlzatlon. "The last issue of the 'Exhibitors' Bulletin' tells the story of recent maneuvers in a very definite way. A considerable portion of what was ordered done by the delegates to the Albany convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State in February has not been attended to. I might refer you to the matter of Mr. McLean, of Kingston, and United Artists and the demand for lower film rentals. The New York Facts You Should Know About the Third Annual Convention of the M, P, T. O. A. Time — Monday, May 8th to Friday, May 12th. Place — Washington Hotel, Washington, D. C. PROGRAM Monday, May 8th 10 a. m. — Registration at Hotel Washington, Washington, D. C. 2 p. m. — Business session with addresses of welcome by distinguished officials. Tuesday, May 9th 10 a. m. — Business session. 10 a. m. — ^Trip for ladies by special train to Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon. 2 p. m. — Business session. Wednesday, May 10th 10 a.m. — Business session. 10 a. m. — Tour of the capital in automobile for ladies. Seventy sevenpassenger cars will be placed at disposal of guests. 2 p. m. — Business session. 7 p. m. — Third annual banquet in Salon Des Nations, Washington Hotel. Speakers will be President Harding, Vice President Coohdge and other distinguished national and State oflBcials. 8 p. m. — Theatre party for ladies. Thursday, May 11th 10 a. m. — Business session, including annual election of national officers of M. P. T. O. A. 1 p. m. — Visit to the White House, where delegates and their guests will be officially received by President and Mrs. Harding. 2 p.m. — Business session. Remainder of day — Visits to Corcoran Art gaUery and the Pan-American Union Building. Friday, May 12th 10 a. m. — Business session with adjournment sine die. 12 Noon — Luncheon. 2 p. m. — Baseball game at Washington American League Baseball Park for delegates and their guests. 2 p. m. — Visits to places of interest for ladies, accompanied by lecturer. 8 p. m. — Annual grand ball of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America in Salon Des Nations, Washington Hotel. All the popular stars and theatrical headliners, together with leading producers will be on hand.