The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 20, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 261 Brylawsky put the motion to a vote and it passed, but again protests were submitted. These Brylawsky ignored and he appointed Messrs. Griffin and Landau as tellers. A Missouri delegate protested and succeeded in recording this protest. He questioned the legality of the procedure, but the chairman said that he had "the word of Clarence Cannon, the Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives that such procedure was legal." Leo Brecker of New York jumped onto the platform, but nobody heard him for the demonstration by this time had seemingly got beyond control. Brecker quit in disgust. The roll was then called and the voting resulted as follows : Lucas of Georgia asked for the privilege to explain his vote, but the chair, having previously ruled that none of the votes could be explained, denied him. But Lucas insisted. He said he voted for Cohen but at this point he was interrupted by Patterson of Atlanta, who questioned his authority in voting. StefTes said that this was a question for the committee on credentials to decide. Here Chairman Brylawsky said : "We are finished with the State of Georgia." "That is right," cried out Patterson, "You are finished with the State of Georgia." Goldman Protests At this point, Mr. Goldman of Missouri bobbed up to say that it "was the worse demonstration of steamroller I have ever witnessed." "This is a disgrace — a disgrace that men of our standing should resort to such contemptible tactics. Give a man a fair chance." But again the convention broke loose and could not be quieted. Goldman was ordered to sit down, but he refused and then the chair threatened to have him "put out if the order to sit down immediately is not carried out." Theodore Hayes said he had come to the convention to see something constructive transacted and said that the organization can only survive with harmony and unity in its rank. He condemned the "steamroller tactics'* and added that every man who had anything to say should be given the opportunity to be heard. "How are we going to hold our own state organizations together," he asked, "if we cannot conduct the aflFairs of our convention orderly and harmoniously?" Constitutionality Mr. Harris was recognized and'said-that he sought to have the chairman's opinon on the constitutionality of the proceedings so that "we will have something to contest, but not here or now, when we take this matter to the proper place to ascertain whether justice has been done." Mr. Brylawsky evasively replied : "The chairman will not say whether these proceedings are constitutional or unconstitutional. The chair will state, however, that this convention is being conducted under rules of the rules committee. Whether or not they are constitutional I cannot say." Mr. Harris asked for a record of that statement and he was promised that the stenographer would furnish it. Marcus Loew at the request of several was given the floor. He made a strong and eloquent plea for harmony and gave a brief address that won much applause. Loevtfs Talk "There are a lot of things that have taken place here today that I don't like," he said. "There are a lot of things that have been said that were not to my liking. There have been a few things done that I did like. But the fact is that we must have constructive work done here. We should all put our shoulders to the wheel and work together, harmoniously and industriously for the best interests of the exhibitors in general. I'm proud of the progress of your organization. And I'm proud of each and every one of you. This organization has done much for us all. Why, three years ago there were few who would jump out of their seats over such a question as one involving parliamentary law ! Today we all take an interest in every discussion. That shows we have progressed and, boys, I'm proud of you and proud to be one of you. "I want peace at any cost. Certain men came to me as I was walking in the lobby of this hotel yesterday morning and thinking that I was the campaign manager of Senator Walker said: 'Don't be foolish ; it's going to hurt Metro.' Now listen, boys, if producing pictures means the sacrifice of my self-respect, I'm going to stop making pictures. "They have said I was Senator Walk er's campaign manager. Nothing could be further from the truth. Two weeks ago I attended a luncheon in New York at which Walker and Hays were present. I have every confidence in Will Hays because I believe him to be one of the most sincere men I have ever met. At that luncheon, Mr. Hays said that as long as you had an organization, that you needed a man to sit in a discussion of problems and he intimated Walker. But they say I managed Walker's campaign. So far as I was concerned there was no campaign, for I never did mention him as president. I only asked that this organization retain Walker, but I did not say that he should be given the presidency. That was the extent of my support of Walker. If I were his campaign manager, I would have told you all about it. "I wouldn't have named Jimmy Walker for the presidency of this organization, because while that office carries honor, the governorship of the great State of New York is an even greater honor. Cohen "Explained" "Yesterday I made up my mind to go after Cohen for the statements he made in connection with my name. But last night Mr. Cohen met me in the lobby and explained everything satisfactorily to me. But boys, don't let's forget that we have hard work ahead of us. Let's preserve and continue to improve our organization. What this organization lacks today is big theatre owners. Let's make our organization so inviting, so influential and powerful that they can not aflford to remain outside of it." Mr. Loew was accorded an ovation. The roll call completed and quiet re Edward Earle and BilUe Burke Are Crowned King and Queen of Movies MISS BILLIE BURKE, wife of Florenz Zeigfeld, was chosen Queen of the Movies by New Yorkers when the popularity contest for the Association for the Improvement of the Condition of the Poor closed last Tuesday night. Edward Earle became King. Miss Burke won only after a thrilling duel with Mrs. Mary Carr, who played the mother role in "Over the Hill." The duel lasted about an hour before a representative throng that crowded every available inch of the big Hotel Astor ballroom. Two blocks of 50,000 votes decided the issue. Eight times a consistent admirer of Mrs. Carr bought blocks of 10,000 votes. Twice somebody bought 50,000 blocks for her, and the 1,000 blocks were many. But, out of a clear sky, came a bid of 100,000 votes for Miss Burke, then one of 40,000 and several blocks of 10,000 each, bringing her to the front and winning for her. Miss Burke received 472,860 votes, Mrs. Carr, 431,960. The nearest contenders totalled as follows: Constance Binney, 68,500; Madge Kenedy, 58,600, and Marion Davies, 50,170. In the men's division, Tom Mix was second with 9,247 to Earle's 12,280 votes. Those following were: "Will Rogers, 4,100; Larry Semon, 3,293; Charles Chaplin, 2,970. At 3 o'clock, with the bands playing, Earle and Miss Burke were installed as King and Queen of the Movies, with Will H. Hays looking on and approvirig. The affair lasted until the early hours of the morning. It is predicted that fully $100,000 was realized ifor charity.