New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-19
TIE BOOK TRADE.

THE NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION.
BooKsELLISG THREArENFD VIII LCss oP
BgISs-TIrE EVIL TO BE AVOIDED BY MAKING
TIE PUDIrsHFRs' ADVERTISED RETAIL PRICES
THE ACTUAL PRICES.
FROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRrBUNE.l
NIAGARA FALLS, July 14.-Thc Book Trade
Convention has succeeded in combining business with
pleasure 10 unprec, dcnted extent. Dir. Hale com
plains that although when few men IN Switzerland
gather discuss point In science they can right
to work. ten Americans can come together without
wasting whole dss getting ready This Convention.
the contrary reached the main issue today. and -
hours from its time OF meeting it nearly through its
work
An "experieaca meeting" held under President Ran
dOps leadership this morning. would alone have been
sufficient "a prove that II Is now question between
sound business methods and living profit In the book
trade. or bookstores worthy Of the name.
Mru from all parts OF the country told the
same sory-that they must go out Of the business css
some reasonable margin were lc them IN seing DOCKS
There il home which illustrates ms rivalry,
although it was brous before the Convention New
ak il "a city of over hundred thousand Inhabitants;
il has had for many years four god bookstores one OF
tl &c was founded 20 by Betty Tgttc," and
has been ever since The Old corner, which + >ad
10 to-day oldest business stand in the state Of New
Jersey Here In old days rsorted the leaders OF thought
Of that little but vigorous state. Washington Irving used
James X pauding. Cow Pennington. frlinghuy ,sn,
aud their peer-, VINO made II literary eKsaDss Not
long ago an ''undersellcr" appeared IN Newark aud
o'ir red books at "eyerybOdy's price" the pi"otm.
How long business can last under ne ia VIA
ble aws ~ trade Is not mach complex than sim
n long division. bni the effect /. already such that
representative OF this town comes 10 Niagara To sy
that he can't in tho business nor can any Of he
fonr okstores in Newark that have done no little iof
ts cultivation. be kept open ntch LONGER unless some
thing done. lIOoRselng Is tbrateued, IN word, with
the 81 ito brains, for man with brains does MT say
in a business where ne makes nothing.
The ON. thing ncedlul il 10 make the publishers adver
tised retail prices the actual retail prices, and then, II 10
shall possible reduce the price 81 books tine proc
will he reduced fairly and the whole public will gct Tho
benefit it, II is ~ course, OF for members Of
the Association deliberate and resolve and 90 home 10
try carly ont reasonable reform, 80 long - man
opposite IL hc allowed 10 sell books ut mGrein on
witch the Association bOOksc,r cannot live and on
which the OpOSil booksellers own business career is
remarkably certain 10 20 an untimcly end. TO
meet this difficulty Ouni 20 be- the mann work or ihs
years Convention. and Il las been met by resolution
edgng the members Of the Association to stand ny ne
reform movement, and requesting publishers 10 mako
such lin ted discounts IN cffalng houses as will pre-
vent their making abnormal discounts To those outside
trade. This resolution carried with iein~rkaDM
unaHinity AMI called ont long and hearty applause IL
WAS o morally Understood that Ia" publishers w"nh cor.
daily accept the suggestion and indeed the houses OF
Appleton ia mes and others acceied To II On tie spoil
Arothcr resolution provided ihat after the Book F1ir.
which to open week. only members OF the A>fo-
citation sno be admitted 10 the Fair either IA sellers or
buycs This WAS adopted without debate, nut th' tuk-
eS gOt work IN earnest on ii.Td o,Oli nh pioHNiS
met ns ~ dSpOsng of unstable books ~ less ttii ne
ulisbe,I prictS-tc deaf stock, ul sOyrs or " back
logs" as they are called in trade circles.