The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 14, 1925, Page 14

By WM. F. KRUSE HE federal trade commission has spent many months of testimony- taking to find out whether there is such a thing as a “movie trust.” That such a trust exits is certain to the dwindling army of “independent” producers and exhibitors; that such a trust must sooner or later come into being 1s clear to any one who under: gtands the laws of capitalist deyelop- ment. The movies have entered the stage of big business. “Famous Play- ers” earned a profit last year of $5,- $50,000,. more than a million inerease over 1924. “Metro-Goldwyr’ reported net profits of almost half a million for a three months period ending Noy. 30. The little fellows are squirming. The Motion Picture Theatres Owners Association is complaining. The inde- pendent producers and distributors are yelling for help to Will Hays—the trust’s own umpire whose chief reason for existence is his political pull’ with the political representatives of other big trusts, One of the latest of these appeals is made by Murray M. Garsson, one of the most solid of the “independ- ents,” who has turned out some first class pictures. This letter states, in part: “The unfair methods of the big companies (the motion picture trusts) are more throttling to competition to- day than ever before in the history of the industry, with the possible ex- ception of the old General Film Co. Organization Meetings Weinstone to Debate with Socialists at the Church Forum Sunday NEW YORK, Noy. 13—The Church of Ali Natidhs will be the battleground of warting points of view on the sub ject: “Resolved that the Soviet form of government is applicable tc western civilization,” this Sunday evening at 8:30, when a representa- tive of the socialist party and one from the socialist labor party will de- bate with William W. Weinstone, spokesman for the Worxers (Com- munist) Party on this subject. The Church of All Nations runs a forum on New York’s East Side at 9 Second Ave. As this is the heart of a work- ing man’s district, the socialist party, the socialist labor party and the Workers (Communist) Party are ex- pected to be well represented in the audience that night. Admission is free and Workers Party members and sympathizers should be there early to be sure to gain admission and get all the best seats. No clue has as yet been given as to whom the socialist party and the socialist labor party will send, but assurance-has been re- ceived that each of the parties wil! be rerpesented by a good speaker. As this is the first time_in a long time that the socialist party. -has_ been compelled to go on record as to what its attitude is toward the Soviet form of government, not for “oriental peo- ples”. but. for our own precious “western civilization,’ there is a special interest attached to this dis- cussion. The socialist labor party also has been “up in the air” on the question of the applicability of the Soviet form of government to the United States and may be expected to declare that nothing but industrial unions will be accepted by them. Thus; the -whole question of the po- liticat significance of industrial union- ism will also be examined during the discussion. Wrap your lunck in a copy of the DAILY WORKER and give it (the DAILY WORKER, not the lunch) to your shop-mate. That worker next door to you may not have anything to do to- night. Hand him this copy of the DAILY WORKER. AAR NaI AS om As the situation exits, unless an in dependent producer sells his product to one of the Big Three, he is shut out of the opportunity of having his picture gross a revenue sufficient to cover the cost of production. “This is occasioned, first, by the fact that the exhibitors are coerced into. accepting block bookings of the product of the Big Three to. an extent which leaves them with absolutely no open time for independent pictures of merit; second, thru their owner- ship of theaters’ thruout, the country independent producers’are frozen out of an opportunity to dispose of their production, “And unless the exhibitor is given some relief of this same menace, the Big Three will, in a short time, drive every independent motion picture exhibitor out of business, as well a8 the independent producers.” Trust Admits Charges. On the other hand the represent- atives of the trust are becoming more und more frank in admitting the exist- ence of their control of the industry. In the “1925 Film Year Book,” Rich- arch W. Saunders, comptroller for Famous Players, and formerly cashier of the National Bank of Commerce in New York City, states bluntly; “The greatest progress, in my opin- ion, has been along the following lines: ... “2. The strengthening of certain corporations by amalgamation, and the elimination of certain weaker companies will in the end strengthen the industry... Movie Trust Freezes Out Competition “4. The greatly improved attitude of the banking and financial world towards the industry... One consery- ative bank has issued in its magazine an account of the ‘stabilization’ of the industry... “6. ...The benefits of production on a reasonably large scale enabling the exhibitor to contract for a good part of his product at one time, are now recognized, and the dangers mini- mized. For that reason, combines on the part of exhibitors for purchasing pictures, if they transgress the reason- able price return to producers, are likely to do the industry a great deal of harm. “7, The numberof new companies being organized for picture production would seem ‘to be out of proportion. A great number are bound to fail and this brings about a reaction against che industry on the part of financial hackers. “10. Among the numerous. other benefits to the industry in 1924, might be mentioned the advertising, which has gained in beauty and drawing power; the improvement in trade papers, which are more calm and judi- cial in their treatment of pertinent subjects; and in general thruout the industry, there has been an arrange- ment of the whole to the parts, an adjustment of each to suit the needs of another, that cannot but be of great permanent value, “To sum up, the industry during 1924, gained tremendously in STA- BILITY.” 7 What a Movie Trust Will Do The first effect of trust control of any industry is the standardization of method and product. Already this is very evident in the film field where more and more pictures are cut to the pattern of sthe “program picture.” The “improved attitude” of the banks marks"the film as another playground for our dominant finance capital group, and already we see the effect in reduced production budgets. The “conservative bank” article mentioned pointedly that many pictures costing $100,000 made more profit ‘than those eosting $200,000 or more—and the bank wants profit. A third immediate . effect of the trustification of ‘aw in- dustry is its closer integration with other trustified industries thru inter- ‘ocking directorates. with banks and vig corporations. Thus far the movie same has been run by a coterie of specialty capitalistis who became wealthy on the film and who got and had most of their money in movies and theaters only. That golden age is over, now comes the period of “amalgamation” and “elimination,” of a “calm and judicial” trade press, of trust control. The next stage will be workers’ control and toward that end labor or- ganizations are beginning the pro- ducing and showing of labor films:in their. own interests—financial and ideological. A list of labor films can be obtained from the International Workers’ Aid, 19 S. Lincoln St., Chi- cago, Ill. Resolutions Workers (Communist) Party | scare: YOUNG PIONEERS BEGIN DRIVE TO ROOM ANIES INTO SCHOOL NUCLEI ham, Beth toed LALiWAD ca CLARENCE fn Along with the reorganization of the party and league our Pioneers are also in the process of reorganizing on the basis of the school. They, like the party, cannot become a real Bolshevik Pioneer organization without changing their present form of organization. Just like the party. and league cannot become Bolshevik organizations without making every shop their stronghold, so the Pioneers must make very ———— eee school their stronghold. - Ideological Preparation. At present the entire district of our Pioneers are undergoing an ideologic- al preparation for reorganization. In every group there is going on a series of discussions on “What is a Bolshe- vik. (Pioneer),” “How did the Rus- sian Bolsheviks act to bring about the Russian revolution,” “What does a Bolshevik do to make his organization a Bolshevik organization?” The func- tioning of the organization,” “What will the Pioneers have to do to make their organization .a real Bolshevik organization?” These discussion take place at the group meetings, at City Central Committee meetings, at Dis- trict Executive Committee meetings. A special. city membership meeting was held Saturday, Nov. 14, where the problem of reorganization was dis- cussed. The. discussions of the Dis- trict Executive Committee and City Central Committee are such as to pre- pare the more active members to take the initiative in the discussions. The District Convention This ideological campaign in our groups will culminate with the district convention to be held during the week-end of Thanksgiving. The agen- da drawn up by the Pioneer District Executive Committee and City Cen- tral Committee jointly, is rather ela- borate. It contains among other points a discussion on reorganization and bolshevization, school struggle and school work, child labor and the struggle against it, opposition organ- izations (Boy Scouts) ete. All of these topics will be introduced by a mem- ber of their district Executive Com- mittee or City Central Committee. Plans are being made to have as many as possible out-of-town com- rades be present at this convention. This convention will lay down the practical steps to be taken in the re- organization which is to follow short- ly after the convention, Recruit Members During Education Week, Along with reorganization we are starting a membership drive. During education week, a lot of propaganda will have to be carried on to counter act the concentrated propaganda of all capitalist institutions that” are being mobilized ‘by the American le- gion in conjunction with the board of education. We must utilize this for gaining new members. Our Pioneers will have to show whether they are really Bolsheyiks by working hard during this week to get in new mem- bers. The party and league have been mobilized for this purpose also. Dur- ing this week we expect ‘to get at least 200 new members. The juniors will also participate in the Young Workers League mass meeting and in the distribution of leaflets. Special arrangements have been made for dis- tributions in the schools. Other Activities. The question of building the Young Comrade is also being considered. We will try to raise money and sell subs for the Young Comrade. We are also going to issue “wallpapers” in every section, The comrades who will edit these papers’ will have to attend class onee or twice-a month in which the question of editing these bulletins will be discussed. The comrades will then begin to contribute mO¥e to the Young Comrade. A training course for the DISTRICT EIGHT CIRCUIT SCHOOL STARTS IN GARY, NOT MILWAUKEE, NoNDAY| aii “a ‘of ‘the - Sie classes as mentioned in the Friday issue of The DAILY WORKER said that the course would begin in Milwaukee on Monday evening, Nov. 15. This was an error. Classes will be as follows: “Gary, Ind., on Monday evening. South Bend, Ind. on Tuesday evening. Waukegan, Ill. on Wednesday evening. } Milwaukee, Wis., on Thursday evening. . Comrade Oliver Carlson is the instructor. The course will be in the “Elements of Communism” and will continue for eight weeks, ar a a rn ee ee Juniors has been decided upon. It is to start a week after the convention. American History, Fundamentals of Communism and organization work will be taken up. A plan has also been drawn up on the formation of parents’. councils during national education week. The party and league ought to get in on this and help make a success of-it. For Our Sceptics, There are always comrades, “who have what one might consider, a pa- ternal attitude towards our children’s }-movement. They do not consider the children capable of doing things. They will say that the above plan is good for adults but not for children.. To them I want to say,.come down to our meetings and judge for yourself. See the Pioneers respond to their pro- gram of work and you will agree that they are worthy comrades in the struggle, in spite of their youth. French Tire F irms Fail Due to High’ | Raw Rubber Prices es PARIS, Nov. 13—Several sunbllér French automobile tire firms have failed and large firms are finding it difficult to make both ends meet, due to increasing rubber prices caused by the British monopoly of the rubber output. : RN LCN Te ee ee Se ee