The Moving picture world (May 1922)

254 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 20, 1922 he received a telegram requesting his presence, to which he replied that the date selected, Tuesday the 25th was a sacred day with him as it was his custom on that date to take his kiddies and visit his wife's grave. He therefore requested that the meeting be postponed and account of shortness of the time offered to pay the expenses of telegraphing the members of the postponement. The next day, Wednesday the 26th, was then selected. It was then that Leo Brecker came to him and offered to prepare a conciliatory statement which he (Brecker) was sure would mend matters and heal the breech with Walker. Cohen again detailed the amicable relations that had existed between himself and Walker and stated that although he was told that he could not get hold of Walker he called up his home and succeeded in getting him. Cohen added that Walker said to him over the phone that he "was out to get him." Cohen admitted that the letter previously sent out was irregular as claimed by the Walker faction, account of the use of the name of O'Reilly. His Alibi Regarding the Wednesday meeting, Cohen stated that the national officers asked him not to attend on the ground that the whole controversy was a national matter and should not be thrashed out at the meeting of a local body. He, therefore, during the time the meeting was in progress went to a handball court where he saw Buxbaum, and stated, "how do you know who the detective was who saw me playing handball as stated in the trade papers." Cohen then referred to a cartoon in Harrison's Reports showing Walker being stabbed in the back, and stated that if there was ever anybody who was stabbed in the front, in the back, on all sides and cut to pieces by producers and others, it was he (Cohen). This statement was greeted with considerable applause. Cohen Gets FOLLOWING the stormiest and most threatening session ever held at any exhibitor convention, and in the midst of what bordered on a panic, excited exhibitors shouting themselves hoarse, with Chairman Pramer vainly trying to restore order, the theatre owners on Tuesday afternoon gave a vote of confidence to President Sydney S. Cohen, Senator James H. Walker and the members of the national executive committee. The action of the convention was accepted in .n comedy manner by some. Among the many comments overheard hy the writers was one to the effect that the vote of confidence in Cohen and Walker was merely an admission and confession on the part of the exhibitors that both were not confining themselves strictly to the facts, as each accused the He then referred to the fact that he had been accused of cowardice in not meeting his enemies and came back by stating that he was never a coward, particularly in any matters pertaining to the success of the organization, that he had at all times been absolutely on the level and that he had never at any time received a penny. He then brought in Marcus Loew's name by referring to the competition with his own and the Loew houses. "Cootie" Statement Cohen then referred to the fact that the dismissal of Walker was approved by the national executive committee and that he desired this entire matter to be thrashed out in the open. Referring to the celebrated "cootie" statement of Walker, (although he did not repeat this statement the inference was clear) he told of coming back on the train with Walker from the Minneapohs convention and stated that Walker wanted a three years' contract. He (Cohen) called attention to the fact that he was not in position to negotiate such a contract as his term of office was only for one year and Walker then intimated he did not know whether he could trust the others. Cohen stated that he then offered to personally guarantee Walker's salary and stated that he did not make the other statements attributed to him in this connection. Cohen then referred to the occasion in Albany in the controversy with Canon Chase where Walker made the "crack" that he was not being paid. He stated that he felt that there was some justice in Walker's statement, and that as there was no money in the treasury he sent him his personal check for $3,000 and that three days later he was advised that Walker considered the personal check instead of one from the organization to be an insult. "For Harmony" Cohen then reiterated that he had at all times been for harmony, and ended by stating that while this was a matter that Rousing Vote of other of wrongdoing, misrepresentation, misuse of office, negligence and what not. And both received votes of confidence in spite of this fact. The sentiment of this man was characteristic and typical of that generally expressed in the lobby after the session broke up. While one of the most exciting and noisiest sessions ever staged within the confines of the capital city, the meeting so far as the exhibitors at this session were concerned brought to a close the CohenWalker controversy, although after the meeting some of the Walker faction stated that "it was not the end." Developments of the next three days of the convention alone can determine this. But it was a melodramatic affair. The two factions stood bravely by their guns. The Walker crowd, after M. J. O'Toole, of Scranton, Pa., made a mo should be straightened out in the open, the theatre owners should not let anyone drag a "red herring" across the trail, as there were other matters of far greater importance to be considered, such as the reduction of film rentals, deposits, road shows, etc. At the conclusion of his speech, Cohen was greeted with cheers and great applause, someone shouting "we can get another lawyer but not another Cohen." Steffes was then recognized by Cohen and agreed with him that this matter should be threshed out in the open when O'Reilly, Berman, Walker and others could be given a chance to make their charges; and made a motion that the session starting at 1 p. m. Tuesday be set aside for that purpose. Bedlam It was then that bedlam broke loose. Bill Brandt came down the aisle and endeavored to speak. He objected to a remark made by Steffes characterizing the New York delegation and in putting the motion this was omitted. Brandt, feeling the hostile atmosphere of the crowd, upon being recognized by the chair stepped aside in favor of O'Reilly, but before O'Reilly got to the front others had taken up the proposition demanding that the motion be put to a vote and pandemonium reigned. Edelherz then strode down the aisle and despite all objections succeeded in being recognized by the chair when he in a few words demanded fair play, requesting the exhibitors to keep their minds open. Leo Brecker endeavored to get the floor and called attention to the fact that he had been maligned in some of the statements which he was surprised that Cohen had made but which were erroneous. He did not get very far, as the demand was again made that the original motion be put to the body. This was done and carried almost unanimously, the meeting then adjourned at 4 :40 o'clock. Confidence tion extending a vote of confidence to President Cohen, seemingly arose as one man and demanded debate on the question. And this served as a cue for a demonstration that for a time threatened to develop into some more serious than mere verbal discussion. . Chairman Pramer, cool, but determined to restore order, demanded quiet, but in vain. The exhibitors were too excited. The more calm ones were powerless. In the excitement of the occasion, the delegates forgot their wives, their sweethearts and families, jumped to their feet and kept the air literally choked with all sort of demands. And in the disorder, though harmless and confined entirely to a marathon for the attention of the chair, the exhibitors heard threats and what not. But none was serious. It was all said and done on the spur of