The eighth conference of the Yiddish Artists in Poland has just ended. The meeting lasted three days, with some questions provoking very heated, stormy debates, in which all delegates and guests were involved. We turned to the most prominent, more active members of the union. Upon request, they will give us their opinion on the work of the meeting and on the prospects for the future.

Here's what they said:

Dr. Michael Weichert

I came out to read reports on artist conferences for the third time. The first time I spoke about cultural work, the second time -- about cultural work especially, and about professionals in particular, and at this meeting I referred the two questions together. I was convinced that there does not exist any difference between the two questions.

I have prepared this paper in the span of an entire year, leading the ongoing work of the union and attending every meeting of the management.

To sum it up, we haven't any theatre-capitalists. Member troupes cannot exist due to the inner turmoil among the members. The union must become the regulator and organizer of theatre life. The initiators must be rejected, ... half-entrepreneurs and half-actors, and all agreements must be concluded by the union.

The union must expand its influence: things (taking over all theatre matters in its hands), personal (involving all actors who deal professionally with theatre) and territorial (expand the influence wherever there is Yiddish theatre -- in the country and outside of it).

The fact that the report did not evoke any discussion, is evidence of the general agreement to our plans.

This is also evidence of the voting on our resolutions, which were unanimously accepted by all colleagues; even the interested initiators voted in favor, not wanting to oppose the general mood.

The conference had three prominently positive moments:

1) The acceptance of the report without discussion; 2) The relatively calm and correct treatment of the most pressing issues; 3) The equal participation of the provincial and Warsaw delegates. Until now a general conference had taken place, and for that reason the Warsaw actors became privileged at the expense of the provincial. The conference delegates [now] have better possibilities to participate and accept decisions.

This is very important, considering the great possibilities that the Yiddish theatre has in the provinces.

The conference has given the management an immense power. Now it is dependent on the management, how she will utilize this power.
 

Shmuel Landau

The main earnings of the conference is what was worked out to improve the material conditions of the Yiddish actor and also therefore the artistic level of Yiddish theatre.
 

Itzhak Nozyk

Nothing new was invented at the conference. Old resolutions were repeated often, it did not have any special, positive direction. But one important thing is conceded: the abolition of the initiators, the greatest plague of the Yiddish theatre, and it normalized the earnings system -- the old plan of the Yiddish actor.

 
Herman Fisher

The decisions of our conferences have never been carried out. If they are carried out now, we will have a happy year. This conference has shown that our colleagues are not yet fully mature enough for collective collaboration, and the task of the new administration will be to ensure that they are mature.
 

David Lederman

The conference has so far worked out standards on how to improve the material conditions, because until now we still have to worry about fasting, about bread. He rejected the brokers, the initiators, and the "marks" system. On the artistic side, it has not done anything, so the administration will now have to help  those who work for the artistic elevation of Jews. Theatre. It will have to help Zygmunt Turkow with his artistic work. If it does, it will be counted for her good.
 

Chaim Sandler

The conference has evidence that we are going on a path. This abolition of the initiators ended the battle between brother and brother. The performance of an instructor will connect our very best features. The management will now be able to have an effect, to be able to improve the cultural and material condition of the Yiddish actor.

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