Variety (March 1916)

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VARIETY STATEMENT OF EDWARD ESMONDE When I accepted the nomination from my old friends, Fred Niblo and Junie McCree, for the office of Inter- national President of the White Rats Actors' Union of America, it was with mixed feelings; first, a feeling of satis- faction that I was thought worthy of so great an honor and, second, I did not quite know whether I should be capable of following in the footsteps of Golden, Kendall, Niblo, McCree and Fogarty. But when I recollected that I had joined the organization in 1900, the first year of its existence, and that I had attended meetings presided over by all the giants of the past, and when I remembered that I had been an of- ficer of this organization for ten years, I felt that, by following in their foot- steps and observing the best traditions of the organization, I might be able to do some little good for the order as its president and big chief. I believe I have had more experi- ence in presiding at the meetings of the White Rats Actors* Union of America than any other individual, with the exception of the past presi- dent, Junie McCree. I am in favor of the protection of the actor, his material and his liveli- hood at any cost. I favor negotiation first, arbitration, if possible, but when these fail I believe the actor should stand up and fight for his rights and his liberties, and, whether elected or not. I shall always pursue this policy. It is a great honor to be the Inter- national President of the only actors' organization in America, and, if I am elected, the honor of that position will be safeguarded by me. I have been an actor in the legitimate and in vaudeville for 35 years, and I am sure I am thoroughly conversant with their needs, their requirements and their troubles. As becomes the president of this organization I shall never insist upon my personal views overpowering the wishes of the order, but shall always remember my obligation to obey the will of the majority, whether that will is distasteful to me or not. If elected I shall carry out the policy, constitution and by-laws of the organ- ization to the best of my ability, and, though I may be president I shall never forget that I am an actor and that my office will compel me to be the friend, advisor and counsellor of all members of this organization. Edward Esmonde. RATS' BALL NEARING. Plans for the forthcoming masque and civic ball to be given ?. k the Am- sterdam opera house or. March 16 by the White Rats are vapidly progress- ing. This week tiie entertainment committee had secured the promise of a majority of the legitimate and screen stars to appear and participate in the activities. Jack Mason is devising some origin- al ideas for the grand march which will be led by a quartet of baton swing- ers with electrically lighted torches. Aurelia Coccio is rehearsing novel bal- let effects. Tlu Elks, Screen Club and each lo- cal of the White Rats will occupy boxes. (If you fail to rocoiv* a copy of this ballot, this form may bo usod) For the Election of International Officers and 21 Members of the International Board of tho WHITE RATS ACTORS' UNION OF AMERICA INC. ASSOCIATED ACTRESSES OF AMERICA February 28ยป 1916 Place a cross (X) opposite the names of the candidates for whom you wish to vote. Sign your name and number in the space provided. Fold the paper so that only your name and number shows and then place it in an envelope addressed: OFFICIAL BALLOT White Rats Actors 9 Union of 227 West 46th Street New York Gty and mail it so as to reach that office not later than 12 midnight of tho 31st of March. All ballots arriving after that time and date will be destroyed. Make no other marks on the en- velope. Either pen or pencil will do. Ink is preferable. INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT (One to be elected) ESMONDE, EDWARD | FITZPATRICK, JAMES WILLIAM I INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT (One to be elected) CLARKE, EDWARD I CRONIN, TIM I INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE AND SECRETARY-TREASURER (One to be elected) MOUNTFORD, HARRY INTERNATIONAL BOARD (21 to be elected) (You can vote for less than 21 but must not vote for more than 21) ARCHER, EDWARD BABCOCK, THEODORE I FOYER, EDDIE REFERENDUM VOTE Place a cross (X) in space under YES or NO as you wish to vote. Are you in favor of an offensive and defensive al- liance, wherever and when- ever possible, with the or- ganized musicians, organized stage hands and all other organized bodies of the the- atrical employees? Do you grant the Interna- tional Board, in case of ne- cessity, power to order a levy of 5% upon all actors' salaries, who may be work- ing in other theatWs during a strike or lock-outf NAME REGISTER NO (Which will be found on the bottom left hand corner of your card) STATEMENT OF J. W. FITZPATRICK. I have been asked to be a candidate for the office of Big Chief and Presi- dent of the International Board, and have accepted. In view of that I deem it both necessary and becoming that I should define my attitude on the principles of the organization as enunciated in its constitution. Members of the order who vote for we will do so without solicitation on my part. If they have faith in my sincerity of purpose, confidence in my willingness to give any ability I pos- sess to the honest administration of the affairs of the office whatever they may be, and if they are convinced of my absolute trustworthiness they may vote for me or not, as they judge best. But if they believe that I am deficient in these qualities they are bound in conscience and their oath as members to vote against me. The standard of fitness by which I ask to be judged is the same which should be applied to every candidate for every office. Attempts on the part of the White Rats to secure a respectful hearing on its grievances by managers have been greeted with studious and contemptu- ous indifference because the organiza- tion was in no position with a dwind- ling membership to demand at least civility of treatment. It is to be hoped that the present vigilance of the order and its steady and healthy growth will result in the removal of that unpleas- ant and unworthy attitude in the man- agerial mind. The remedy for the situation lies in the hands of the men who pay the commission and since they cannot act successfully as individuals they must act in concert through an organiza- tion. Personally, I stand for the develop- ment of the White Rats' Actors' Union of America into a body that will be respected because it deserves respect as well as demands it; one that has no double standard of business moral- ity; one that will see that the rights of others are considered as well as its own guarded, and one that will seek to encourage in its members that creative spirit whose discouragement by managers is the greatest evil in present-day variety. These are the principles for which I stand. I enunci- ate them so that no one will be under any false impression as to my at- titude. Because I believe all these things I have consented to be a candidate for office. James William PitsPatrick. FEDERATION SETTLES MATTER. At another conference held last Saturday -in Organizer Frayne's office in New York, the matter between the American Federation of Labor and the White Rats Actors' Union was finally disposed of. The Tuesday previously Harry Mountford is said to have visited Samuel Gompers, the A. F. of L. presi- dent in Washington, and the final ad- justment is believed to have been satis- factory to the Rats. Attending the Saturday conference were Messrs. Holland, Bohm, De Veaux, Esmonde, Lorella and Mount- ford.