The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 20, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 259 purpose of the original resolution establishing 'Independents' Week' that exhibitors should use only independent pictures because if they did they would have committed financial suicide. I don't know what Walker means by making such statements, because we know, too, that certain independents have asked more for their pictures than Famous Players at times. "About the statement that I conspired to throw Dr. Holley. That is not so. In the Christmas issue of Exhibitors' Herald there was an attack on Holley. And Mr. Burford will back me when I say that I told him that I would go through to the end of the road for Dr. Holley. And we did go through with him. He has done wonderful work." This statement drew much applause. Spoke of Contract Then he continued : "About that contract the Senator talks about. On our way back from Milwaukee he called me into the smoking car and said he wanted a contract. I told him that the organization was in no positon to give him one. He replied that he wanted it because the money didn't look good. To this I said that if it was a question purely of money I personally would guarantee it to him if the organization did not pay." Late in March, Cohen said, Edward Fay came to him with the report that Senator Walker was displeased. "I was very much surprised by this statement of Jimmy's displeasure," said the president. That was the first he heard of any such feeling, he said. He called on Walker, he said, and found Berman and O'Reilly with him. A mild demonstration was started in the New York faction, but it was quickly quelled by the chairman who reminded the delegates to treat all speakers fairly and squarely. Cohen then said that the organization did not have sufficient funds to push the uniform contract issue. Regarding the Hallmark and United statements Cohen said the Senator was correct in everything that he said he did in his investigation of cases brought to his attention and that the reports were transmitted to the complainants. He said that at that particular time those firms had no money. He added that if the M. P. T. O. A. had been financially in a position to reimburse the members for losses sufifered as a consequence of the doings of those firms it would have been made good by the organization. "Walker referred to dark horses," said Cohen. "Well, any time your organization wants a man who will further your interests I'll be the first one to shake his hands. I love this organization and always welcome the chap who will protect it and labor in its interest and progress." This concluded Cohen's remarks. He was loudly applauded. M. J. O'Toole, of Scranton, then spoke. "I admire Walker as a wonderful speaker and he is a wonderful friend and I hope that nothing that has happened here will alienate those sincere affections." He said that he could sympathize with the Senator, but added that after listening to both sides he found that he had failed to hear "Walker make a single statement that cast any cloud over the great reputation of Cohen." He said that the Walker address was "tantamount to an endorsement of Cohen." He said that the organization was in better shape today than ever before in its history. He said that "Walker was guessing." He praised the M. P. T. O. A. president. He said that a wrong light had been put on "the professional politician allegation." The statement singly referred to a disagreement between Cohen and Walker, he said. He added that it was a fight between Walker and Cohen and not one that should "mar the convention or delay its business, for there are other things of greater importance to the exhibitor than this question. It is not a fight for the M. P. T. O. A. to settle. "And for that reason," he concluded, "I make a motion that this convention give a vote of thanks to Sydney S. Cohen." The motion was quickly seconded and' the excitement referred to above followed and continued through imtil adjournment. N. Y. Delegates Protest Election Methods STEAMROLLER tactics of a nature that astonished even those who had participated in the preceding evening's meeting of the executive committee at which plans for procedure were laid out following consultation with the committee on rules, marred the Wednesday session of the convention. Sydney S. Cohen of New York was reelected president of the M. P. T. O. A. for the third time. No other candidate was named. The New York delegation protested against the procedure and together with the Western Pennsylvania contingent served notice that it would take court action to ascertain the legality of the procedure. New York also protested the election of Cohen and the other national officers and executive committee and passed its voting privilege. Other officers elected follow: First Viae-President — Glenn Harper of Los Angeles. Second Vice-President — Joseph Mogler of St. Louis. Third Vice-President— C. A. Lick of Fort Smith, Ark. Fourth Vice-President — Joseph Rhode of Kenosha, Wis. Recording Secretary — M. Van Praag, Kansas City, Kan. Treasurer— J. T. Collins, Rutherford, N. J. Those re-elected to office were Messrs. Mogler, Lick, and Van Praag. Messrs. Lustig and Rhode succeeded C. C. Griffin of Oakland, Cal., and C. W. Gates of Aberdeen, S. D., respectively. Mr. Collins succeeded J. C. Ritter of Detroit. Elections Come First The convention was called to order at 12.45 o'clock with A. Julian Brylawski in the chair. Mr. Steffes, reporting for the rules committee, announced the rules and order of business for the day. Mr. Burford, for the credentials committee, reported that there were 410 votes in the organization in the hands of 364 accredited delegates. Mr. Steflfes announced that the elections of officers would be the first business of the day. William Brandt of New York, on a point of order, questioned the constitutionality of such a procedure. He asked under what law such a procedure would be taken. Chairman Brylawski replied under the report of the rules committee, whose report the convention accepted. This was the beginning of another boisterous session. Mr. Brandt demanded to have read that portion of the constitution, adopted on Sunday by the executive committee, referring to the functions of the rules committee, to which Mr. Brylawski replied that no such provision was contained in that instrument. Shouts of "sit down" filled the air, and the chair ignored further pleas from Brandt. Shouts of "Steamroller! For shame" came from the New York section. Rumpus Increases Dennis Harris of Pittsburgh protested against such procedure and asked that the delegates be shown the constitution, on which the chairman based his action. This the chairman refused to do. "Then show me the law," demanded Harris. "I refuse to recognize your point of order," replied the chairman. "Stop taking orders from O'Toole," cried out Harris. "Use your own brains, if you have any, and tell O'Toole to sit down." 'Sit down! shut up!" rang the antagonistic forces, and a demonstration making inaudible the cries of officers and delegates for several minutes developed. But Harris stood firm and refused to take his seat. "I now call on Mr. SteflFes of Minneapolis," said Mr. Brylawski wfien quiet was temporarily restored. Steffes Nominates Mr. Stefifes arose and in placing the nomination of Sydney S. Cohen of New York for the presidency of the organization, paid the latter an eloquent tribute. He said Minnesota was proud of thehonor bestowed upon its delegates to submit the nomination of Cohen. Gus Schmidt of Indianapolis, in sec