Variety (Mar 1907)

VARIETY LONDON STRIKE ENDED; ARTISTS BACK TO WORK In Arbitration Over Disputed Points, V. A, F. Expects to Secure Important Concessions.—Modification of Barring Clause, No Shifting of Dates And No Commission to be Deducted Where Artists are Booked Direct (Special Cable. Despatch to VAlUKTi.) By C. C. BARTRAM. (Editor "The Performer.") London, Feb. 28. By a temporary decision of the Board of Trade arbitrators, handed down Mon- day last (25), the great London strike of vaudeville artists was halted and the dead- lock between artists and managers raised. The peace conditions provide for the re- instatement of all striking artists to the business standing they held with the man- agers before the opening of hostilities. The employes come in under identical terms. The proceedings are dragging ow- ing to consideration of employes. The old conditions which obtained be- fore the trouble, governing barring, play- ing of extra performers, etc., have been accepted by the artists pending the final award of the arbitrators. A most important sitting of that body is scheduled for March 8. The act of the managers in leaving the dispute to be settled by a third party is accepted by the alliance members as a signal victory and a confession by the enemy of defeat When the announcement was made Mon- day everybody abandoned his business and joined in a big celebration. There were street decorations at night and a whooping big reception at headquarters. The Music Hall War is over, and, now, II your great Grant put it "Let us have l>eace." We are told the effects will last for a long time. One of the biggest the- atrical men in London said, "not neces- sarily for publication", that he for one was glad to see this strike, as the music hall managers had been having their own way too long. The strike proper ran 25 days, from •Ian. 21 to Feb. 14, inclusive, but barrels of money were lost in this span of days. f he public being in sympathy with the urtists, and their patronage nil. Curiously enough, the beginning of the end was Mr. Stoll's rather presumptuous circular sent to all on his circuit, asking them : "V. A. F. or not, do you believe in strikes?" Some artist.s ignored it; some wrote declining to answer; some were equivocal and said they only believed in s trikes as a last resort: some referred Mr. Stoll to the V. A. F. Executive Com- mittee ; and a few tried to get themselves *"li<l with Stoll by "conning him along," "ml saying they thought strikes were ter- rible thing*. However, the big lights of la bur made instant objection, charging "in- timidation," and requesting a conference on the matter. Mr. Stoll was at first evasive in a diplomatic way, but took sudden fright when he learned that immediate action might be the result of dilatory tac- tics. In the finish he showed sound sense by gracefully descending from his high horse, and meeting the labor top-liners in a frank and manly conference. Among the questions asked by Mr. Stoll was whv the V. A. F. had not attacked IF him. The Member of Parliament to whom he addressed the question said there was no use beating around the bush, and he might as well inform him that he was next on the list. Now the astute Mr. Stoll had sent miles of cinematograph films into the provinces, besides engaging substitute companies and extra musicians, who stood in the background awaiting for the first deal in the Federation's game. He had tried to "make assurance doubly sure," and they do say his jaw fell suddenly when plainly told of the way he might be attacked. Neither artists, stage hands nor musicians would be called out, but the audience would go on strike. Now the English Trade Unions control about two and a half million people, while these in turn control many others, the countless sympathizers with the toiler. Moreover some of Stoll's most prosperous halls are in great trade-union centres, such towns as Cardiff, Swansea, Nottingham, Leicester, Manchester, Liverpool, etc., where great mines, whirling wheels and chimneys crowned with fire show labor reigns su- preme. He had never thought of being attacked in this way. No wonder his face paled when he thought of running tre- mendous bills to "a beggarly account of empty seats." So Mr. Stoll concluded to l>e sensible, and the fact that a certain very fine establishment not involved in the -trikc was nevertheless losing about $300 each day, may have had some effect in making him face the music. The next step was an intervening Con- ciliation Board, composed of Arthur Rob- erts on the part of the artists, .supple- mented by the men who had met Mr. Stoll on the charge of an intimidating canvass; Messrs. W. C. Steadmau, Member of Parliament and the Ixnidon County Coun- cil, and Edmund Rrown and Alderman Mitchell (both London County Council men). (in the manager's side were Os- wald Stoll, Henry Tozer, Henri (Jros and Attorney Walter Payne. Wal Pink was also called into consultation to give expert information on the barring clause. This committee conferred three days altogether, not even going out for tea and luncheon, and recommended the following conces- sions : 1. Matinees. In existing contracts Artists shull tie called upon only to perform at such Matinees .is were the usual weekly practice at the time the contract was made. In future, contracts payment for more than one weekly Matinee to be Hjieclflcally provided for at the rate of one-seventh salary in the one-show-11-night house. In two-shows-a- night houses all Matinees to be paid for at the rate of one-twelfth salary. The same rate of pay to apply to extra Matinees in existing contracts. This does not apply to contracts which specifically state 12 performances in the week—viz., one each afternoon and one each evening. 2. Transfers. - In accordance with the present practice, no Artist or Artists shall be trans- ferred from one hall to another in London or the Provinces without his, her, or their con- sent; but such consent shall not unreasonably he withheld; and if transferred in the Provinces, agreed expenses shall be allowed. 3. Time Alterations.—In accordance with the present practice, the "time" of any Artist or Artists working turns in London and suburbs shall not be altered after the Mon- day of each week if such alteration inter- feres with any other engagement. 4. Barring Clause (Existing Contracts, $25 Turns and Under in London).—In London, under existing coutracts, where the weekly salary is not more tbau $25 per turn, if artists caii show that barring conditions bear hardly upon them, a relaxation of the barring clause will, upon application, be granted In favor of places outside a radius of one mile and two months. 5. Barring Clause (Future Contracts, $25 and Un- der in London).—In future contracts the bar- ring clause will be omitted where the weekly salary does not exceed $25 per turn, and In cases of turns of $<»0 and under, where a Troupe or Company of more than one person Is- engaged, the average salary of the prin- cipals of which does not exceed $1B for each person. Barring Clause: Provinces.—Turns of $50 and un- der, consisting of one or two human per- formers, to be barred for five miles for six months; this has also to apply to trans- fers and c >mpanics of more than two per- sons, and not receiving more than $75 per turn, or averaging more than $17.50 each per principal. Barring Clause: Greater London.—So far as re- lates to music halls now existing within a radius of one mile from Charing Cross, the bar to be one mile for three months. Out- side the one-mile radius ami wjtliln greutcr London the bar to be two miles during the time the contract lasts. 6. No Commission.—No commission In future con- tracts is to be stopped where artists are booked dtrect- 7. Settlement.—No bias or prejudice is to be shown by proprietors to any Artist who has taken part in this movement, and no bias or prejudice Is to be shown by any Artist to any other fellow Artist who did not Join In the strike. option riausc withdrawn from future contracts. N011 Liability (Manse withdrawn from future con tracts. Spectacular Uule Clause withdrawn from future contract!. Arbitration. In the event of terms offered no! be Ing agreed upon. »tib committee to l»e formed with ('. Askwlth. Boarlfl of Trade Arbitrator. as Referee. The concessions to the Stage Employe** and Musician* were drawn up on a *imilai hasis of compromise, and, as may well have been expected, the entire document wax refused., <// bloc by the Secretaries of the three Societies, with the single exceptiou ol the last <lnuse: "In the event of the term* offered not being agreed upon, sub- committee to be formed, with Mr. Askwith. Hoard of Trade Arbitrator, as Referee." This, on the advice of the trinity of Trade Union Leaders, was agreed to, and steps were immediately taken to secure confirmation from the Managers' Associa- tion. After getting this the condition re- mained one of armed truce, the twenty-two strike halls still picketed, though it \\a> understood the boycott would have no fur- ther extension pending the decision of the Hoard of Arbitrators. Later it was agreed that if the managers would withdraw all legal actions and reinstate employees, pickets would be withdrawn and the strike declared at an end. pending the decision of the arbitrators. This was finally agreed to, and motor cars rapidly rounded the halls calling off the pickets. While this was a much appreciated con- cession on the part of the managers, no doubt they were heartily glad to get rid of the pickets even at that price, for it is a common saying that these hard working outposts won the strike. There were about a dozen pickets to each hall, some little soubrettes with sugar plum eyes, whose da inly apjM'als not to enter were quite irresistible. As a rule they kept on the move and were conservative in their bearing, but the moral effect of their senti- nel work was strong, and many people felt absolutely ashamed to go in. When the strike was called off at the Duchess, lialham, after the first show, E. V. Ilanegan, the American captain of the pickets, had the nerve to ask the manager lo pass in all his army to see the second show. As to picketing, it was once illegal here, but the labor leaders got a law through I hat made it permissible in the caxe of a strike. A.s to arbitration, the Board of Trade arbitrator, George K. Askwith, has settled some pretty big disputes between capital and labor, and the way contestants were deadlocked this was possibly the best way out. %\ special committee will now be very busy collecting testimony as to Crooked contract clauses, the evils of bar ring. etc 'There is no doubt that artists will be granted materia] concessions, as tiiev nave too strong .1 ease to. get the Worst of it. Those who advised arbitra- tion are pretty shrewd.