The Moving picture world (May 1923-June 1923)

298 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 26. 1923 Presidential Fight Overshadows Big Problems M. P. T. O. A. Will Solve at Great Convention A CONSTRUCTIVELY effective, financially sound and cooperatively business-like M. P. T. O. A. — that is the motto of the three thousand exhibitors who congregated in Chicago on Monday morning, May 21, to attend the fourth annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. If ever the exhibitors of the country demanded a constructive business national organization of theatre owners they are demanding one today. Instead of internal political wrangles, such as marred the convention in Washingtonlast year, exhibitors in general are focussing their attention on the question of who will be their next leader. Three candidates are being mentioned nationally; two of them are determined to fight it out to the finish, while the third, although allowing his name to be mentioned, is noncommital as to platform or his personal attitude. But— A surprise is in store, according to the political students within the ranks of the M. P. T. O. A. The field for the presidency is replete with candidates representative of virtually every section of the country. All but two of these will probably have withdrawn before the exhibitors convene. These are W. A. Steffes, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Minnesota, and James C. Ritter, president of the M. P. T. O. of Michigan. The other candidate who has telegraphed the trade papers his candidacy, but who is non-committal on his platform, is Martin G. Smith of Toledo, head of the Ohio theatre owners. And yet despite the determinedly systematic campaigns being waged in the interests of Messrs. Steffes and Ritter, Sydney S. Cohen, present head of the exhibitors' organization, will be virtually a dictator at the convention. And there will be no surprise if, despite his personal announcement that he will not be a candidate for reelection, he is induced by his friends to serve the organization for a fourth time. As a matter of fact, exhibitor circles in the East and the Middle West were buzzing with an undenied and unconfirmed, but nevertheless persistent, report that friends of Mr. Cohen were prepared to bring about a situation in Chicago that would make it impossible for the present leader of the national organization to refuse to run again. Mr. Cohen himself points to his statement of declination of another term as his only comment on these reports. However, as the presidential race stands now none of the announced ambitious exhibitors will be able to carry a majority number of votes. Until two weeks ago the presidency seemed a certain thing for Steffes, who had been promised that position last year. He resigned at that time in favor of Cohen because of the fight of the antiCohen faction and the necessity of vindicating the national leader. That the administration is favorably inclined to back Steffes is believed to be a fact, but with the entrance of Messrs. Ritter and Smith into the fight a monkey wrench has been thrown into the machinery so carefully erected by the administration officials. By ROGER FERRI CONVENTION CALENDAR \ \ I) WHAT'S WHAT Convention headquarter* — Sherman Hotel. Meeting place, Coliseum. SATURDAY, MAY 111 — 10 a. in.. M. I\ T. O. A. II. .lid of Directors' meeting at Hotel Sherman. 10 a. m., Convention Committee meeting, Sherman. 2 p. m., .joint session of Boaril of DireetorN anil Convention Committee to draw up convention schedule. During: the <lny the campaign committee of W. A. StelVcs, J. A. Ritter and M. J. Smith Hill be held. SUNDAY, MAI 20 — Lake Michigan sails for exhibitor* who Hill have arrived. MONDAY, MAY 21 — 10 a. m., registrations. 11 a, in., opening session. Mayor William Dever of Chicago and head of Illinois M. I*. T. O.. will greet exhibitors. Introductory address by Sydney S. Cohen, president M. P. T, O. A. 12 noon, lirst business session. Naming of committees. Report of Committee on Motion Picture Palace of Progress. Recess. 3 p. in., addresses by Robert E. Welsh of Moving Picture W orld, W illiaiu A. Johnston of .llotion Picture NflTI and Martin Uuigley of Exhibitors Herald. Others nill also talk; their identity, however, has not been disclosed. Representatives of the Departments of Agriculture, Post Olflce, Labor, Commerce and Interior of the Lnited States Government also nlil talk. TUESDAY, MAY 22 — 10:3O a. m.. business session. Committee reports. Reports by .National Treasurer W. '1'. Collins of Rutherford, V J., and special committees. 2 a. m., Governor J. V. O. Prues of Minnesota Hill talk on "Theatre Insurance.*' Addresses by Bruce Oodson of Kansas City and other theatre experts. Discussion of insurance question and other issues. Including bogus picture stock, with adilress on the subject by a Congressman. Others hIio Hill talk are Peter J. Brady, labor leader of \e« York City ; W illiam J. Uurns of the I nited States Secret Service: W. D. llurford of Chicago, who will report on negotiations between the M. P. T. O. A. and Will Hays; Martin J. O'Toole on "Public Service"; a report on "Code of Business Ethics," by IS, W. Collins of Jonesboro, Ark.; George Eastman of Rochester, adilress. This session is expected to last into the early evening. WEDNESDAY, MAI 23 — 10:3O a. m., business session. 12 noon, recess. 2 p. m., business session. 7 p. m. , annual banquet and ball of M. P. T. O. A., at Sherman Hotel. THURSDAY, MAY 24 — 10:30 a. m., business session, including the annual election of o Ulcers. 2 p. m., business session. FRIDAY, MAY 25—10:30 a. in., business session. 2 p. m., business session. SATURDAY, MAY 2« — 10:30 a. m., final business session. Here are some of the States that aspire to have one of their sons elected to the presidency: Michigan (J. C. Ritter), Ohio (M. G. Smith), Minnesota (Al Steffes), Missouri (Joe Mogler), Wisconsin (F. J. McWilliams), Pennsylvania (M. J. O'Toole), and Illinois (W. D. Burford). This unexpected wholesale invasion of candidates into the field has prompted many well informed exhibitors to draw the following conclusion: Sydney S. Cohen will either be re-elected or he will name his own successor. That a majority of the delegates who will attend the convention and who will have the right to vote for the presidency are Cohen adherents and will follow his dictates. However, the presidential problem is but one of the many questions with which the exhibitors will have to contend once they sit down to business. And this convention, from all indications, will be a strictly business one. While there have been many social functions arranged for the entertainment of the exhibitors, their wives, sweethearts and friends, the schedule is literally choked with items that will command immediate and careful consideration. Here are some of the more important issues that will come up and their present status as observed by unbiased onlookers: "I —The music tax. This will be one of the outstanding problems, for the reason that exhibitors are determined on a showdown. The report that the music publishers' association is prepared to offer a compromise is denied in both exhibitor and music publishers' circles, but insisting on a fight to the finish. The publishers, however, will seek a conference with the exhibitors in Chicago. The exhibitor-distributor project. A complete report on the proposals of this new venture, which was hinted at last year in Washington, will be given by William A. True, its head. It is believed that the committee in charge of this plan have been busy raising $5,000,000 to finance the project. N'othing has been said about this project by the administration. '2 — The shorter feature stand. Exhibitors will pass a resolution demanding shorter feature productions and the elimination of nine and ten-reel pictures as "specials." A —Adverse legislation. Various means of * combating adverse legislation have been taken under consideration by the Administration. One calls for the division of the entire country into twenty-six territories to function co-operatively with State units. This item will be embodied, together with suggestions, which will in all probability be incorporated into resolution form later, in President Cohen's annual report. C— Finance. Five various methods of *J financing the national organization will be selected. Each of the candidates, with the exception of Mr. Smith, who has not made known his stand on this question, will offer some sort of financial plan. That the exhibitors will be called to vote on some form of taxation matter is certain. The financial question promises to be the big business issue. /^-Reorganization. That the M. P. T. 0. A. will be reorganized, irrespective of who is elected, is certain. Mr. Cohen and his administration will suggest a reorganization plan, as will also Messrs. Steffes and Ritter. In the event of the election of the latter, the M. P. T. O. A. will be fashioned strictly after the Michigan unit. j — Insurance plan. All candidates will sub* mit an insurance plan. The insurance question, according to exhibitors, constitutes a problem that positively must be solved at