New-York tribune., 1874-07-22
THE BOOK TR4DE.

OPENING OF TIE MEETING AT PUT-TN-BAY-ABoUr
ONE HUNDRED DELEGATES PREsESr-soME OF
THE LEADING HOUSES IN THE COUNTRY REPRE-
sESTED-THE OBJECTS OF THE CONVENTION.
PUT-IN-BAY, July 21.-About one hundred
book publishers and booksellers met at this place to-day
to discuss the affairs OF the trade and devise means, IL
possible, to rid it Of certain evils which, 1t Is claimed
keep it from being in as vigorous and healthy cond
ton other lines OF business large majority OF those
who delegates TO the Convention are Western re-
tailers and obbers Ohio furnishing the greatest num-
ber The original design Of the meeting was to make 10
the third regular Convention Of the American
Book Trade Union, an organization formed In
Cincinnati in October, 1SI3 1t was found'
however, that the efforts Of the President OF the Unon
Mr. Orton OF Columbus, to secure the attendance OF
Eastern publishers had succeeded beyond expectation
and order to obtain the cordial cooperation OF those
gentlemen It was determined to hold open conven
tion Of all publishers, jobbers, and retailers
whether members OF the Union or not Inc
leading object OF the assembly was to get
the publishers together 10 mako certain re-
forms, which the dealers are convinced Will Dc
advantageous to all concerned in tho making or
selling of books Some publishers here already favor
these propositions. Others object and few agree to
then while still others waiting for the leading
houses before giving in their decision. III the
convention does not harmonze all conflicting opin-
and concert OF action 1t promises to give 10
the proposed reforms such an impetus that, In the
end, they will be fully accomplished. The public as
well as the book men, have interest IN the move
ment because it contempates a considerable reduction
in the retail prices of books.
The proceedings to-day were entirely preliminary. A
pleasant address OF welcome was delivered by Gen. B
Brown, a Toledo bookseller. President Aston gave
humorous of the difficulties which he encoun-
tered endeavOrng TO gain the cooperation OF the East
ern publisher. in the programme laid down at Cncn-
nat dol nh nd New persuaded
Boston publishers, who appeared to be more open
to conviction than their brethren, to sign q paper
stating that the trade suffering from causes not be-
yond their control and .agree to take part In the Putin
Bay Convention and consult there with the booksellers
on matters affecting their mutual interests After the
Boston men made tho break, the NewYork and Phila-
dcipha houses fell at with the movement, and
with very few exceptions gave their signatures to the
paper The result OF the labOrs OF M Aston Is seen III
the presence here Of the following publishers
b. II. Ticknor OF Osgood 81 Co.. Boston, VIM. Lee OF
& O.. NewYork; Howard Challeu, OF Walter Lppincott
n Co.. Philadelphia; A s. Barnes Of AS Barnes ~ o.
Robert Clark of Robert Clark Co.. Cincinnati; W. s.
Appleton OF D. Appleton Co: Ne%.1 1orH !; f. n0ge
Claxton, Remsen & Hafelhnger, Philadelphia Howard
Hncke and c. g. Bragg OF Wilson, Hncke Co. .Clncin'
McClurg 4 Co. Chicago Thomas Deano OF Little, Brown
4 CO.. Boston; j. W. Diughaday OF PhiIadelphia A. W.
Nelch Of Harding * CO., philadelphia; B. Weayer; James
New-York; o. j. Victor Of Victor IL Co., New-fork.
The Convention chose A. d. +. Randolph Of New York
to preside aud taking the chair he said the meeting
had greater signhcatOn shan was apparent TO the
casual observer. Tue occupation Of the delegates was
not mere trade and they counted it as an honor that
they were doing something the tendency OF which was
TO make the world better by lifting their eow-men to
higher places Of nte Speaking of the objects or
the Convention, he said he hoped 1t would result in
such an improvement IN the business that book
sellers would be brought back 10 their legitimate
occupation OF selling books and would cease dealing in
gmcracks. In Cleveland the other day he saw the
bookstore windows filed with whati Not books; but
Crandls acrobats. In Rochester no observed every
Thing else displayed in the bookstore window but books
was possible tnat III this intelligent country the sell
ing books gave such poor results that the dealers had
anything and everything To exc out lYlnRf
Ii this were true the fault OF the public, but
Of the dealers themselves, who gave away TO- 90 and
even per their profits TO induce people to take
their books.
A committee Of thirty was appointed on affairs or the
trade. After II announced, delegate complained
that the retail dealers not represented IN 10, and
inmated that the publishers and jtbbers had cut and
dried everything The report 10 the President proved
the fairness OF his appointments by reading the names
the committee retailers and the fanlt-nnd-
ing delegate greeted with bOsterous laughter aud
dcrislve applause The committee hope 10 mature
plan which will agreed 10 by the three classes repre-
seuted in the Convention-Jhe publishers, wholesale
dealers, and retail dealers.