The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
INTERNATIONAL coPYR1eHr.
The Meeting OF Authors Gives the Movement
n Decided Impetus.
Enecial to the Indianapolis journal

The Meeting of Authors Gives the Movement
Decided Impetus.
sDecial to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 24-The presence of a
number of the most distinguished authors in
America in Washington lately has given de
cided mpetns to the movement in favor Of in
ternational copyright. Senator Chace. of Rhode
Island, who is the champion of the idea in the
Senate, has succeeded in securing favorable
report from the Senate committee on patents
and the subject of international copyright will
come up for vigorous discussion in the Senate
very shortly. The authors, with other dstin-
Ruisbed men who opposed to literary
piracy, have organized copyright league, tho
object OF which Is TO enlghten the people and the
peoples representatives In Congress upon this
matter. There is scarcely a writer of repute in
America to day who does not believe that the
brains OF himself and his colleagues on the other
side of the water well this side, should
be protected Dy copyright law. There have
been many attempts to secure legislation having
this end IN view In the past. but these attempts
have been desultory efforts, without organIza-
ton to back them, and a result they have
failed. The great trouble seems TO be that
members or Congress fear that their constitu-
EMS may ne deprived of cheap reading matter If
piracy be prohI bited. Similar arguments might
have been advanced against every reform of the
century, and there IS really no reason why the
man whose pen produces the thoughts of his
brnin should not be protected by law equally
with the mechanic whose genius contrives
Among the gen tlemen who were here and who
took active part in the proceedings of the
authors was Frank R. Stockton, whose unique
tales have been read IN almost every household
In the land. Mr. Stockton is the gentleman
whose brain conceived that problem which
still remains uusolved, which came out first,
the lady or the tiger" Mr.. Stocktons writings
in the Century Magazine, we'll in books
published from time time. have made him as
we'll known as any writer before the public in
America to-day. Your correspondent had a chat
with him in his hotel before he left and asked
him if he found any difference between the
treatment received by authors in this country
and in Europe. Mr.. Stockton replied:
"Some of my books have been published in
England and Germany, and have had. in
eral Instances, better returns from the English
and German publications than have had from
the American houses which have produced MY
works"
do you think then. there is more honor
among the publishers Of Europe than among
bheir fellows in Amerca2"
at would seem So" said Mr.. Stockton, Gas
the publishers were not bound by any copy
right law, and their payments to me were, there
Tore. insured solely through the honor OF the
house involved
Mr.. Stockton went on to say that the cheap
trash which has lately filed all the counters of
the book stores and book stands to such great
extent has worked TO the injury of almost every
American author, because these cheap publica-
lions have diverted attention from the more
meritorious works, and the fact of their low
price has induced buyers to overlook the quality
of the production. Mr. Stockton said that the
ODJecb OF Gne ORGANIZATION Wn1ch mas just been
formed here is to educate the people up to the
point of approaching the rights of authors,
and offering them just much protection as Is
afforded by the patent laws to inventors. The
patent laws protect the inventions of the
Englishman or a German equally with the in
ventlon of the American, and there 10 no reason
why the protection of the government should
not be extended equally to the author The
agitation of this subject will certainly have a
beneficial effect some day, although il is hardly
TO be hoped that it will result in the passage of
" viii
to foreign writers during the present Congress,
the House calendars already very crowded
with business. and 1t will be exceedingly diff
cult to get any new measure before the House
for a vote.