Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-17
TO PROTECT THE AUTHORS.
A branch of the Copyright League
Formed I'm this City.

A number or Washington's literary and scien,
tfic men and women gathered In the parlors OF the
Riggs House yesterday afternoon for the purpose
OF forming an International copyright organi-
Zation TO cooperate with the American Copyright
League to secure legislation Dr. yelling was
called 10 the chair. DIR. Burnett, Prof. Fay and
Mr.. Hackett were appointed TO report a list OF
officers and a constitution. A number OF comnu-
nications from various persons who had been
asked TO attend were read. Twenty-six had sig
niiied their Intentions To Join. Mr.. j. c. Bancroft
Davis. Col Frey, Swiss minister, Mr.. Leigh Robin
son. Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Col. Garrick Mallory III
". SpOfford, J. :. Pratt and Prof. A. g. Bell sent
expressions OF sympathy with the cause. The
committee reported constitution, which Is iden-
teal In form with that adopted by the Boston
Copyright Association. The organization Is to be
termed the International Copyright Association
promoting the progress OF science and the useful
arts by securing an International copyright law
THE oyFICERs-
Officers were nominated by the committee and
elected, as follows: JAS. c. yelling, president:
John Hay, Prof. Powell. Henry Strong and DIR. s.
VI. Burnett, nrst, second, third and fourth vice
presidents; Mr.. Ballantyne, treasurer; John
Savary, corresponding secretary: Thorva Solberg
T rresaen b rrPi hsnsey Prof. G
Fletcher and DIR. Geo. Il. LOring directors; and
President Cleveland, Secretary Bayard George
Bancroft. Chief Justice Waite, senator Chace,
Librarian Sponord, George TIcknor Curtis, Prof. A.
Graham Bell and Senator Evarts, honorary men,
berS.
n.
President yelling introduced Edward Eggleston
the novelist, who said that nowadays the
only difference that exists between an author and
any other man Is that II the other man makes any,
thing it belongs 10 him. but II an author writes
and creates anything he Is told that he has only
statutory right TO It. "Englishmen," he said
''ook at US in scorn, and ask what kind OF q Con,
gress is this OF ours that permits such robbery
ON studying the question in all OF its relations
md that while English writer's suffer great deal
American authors suffer ten times more Our
az
cheap rubbish that Is being ground out OF half a
dozen different mills. With the finest readinp mar
ket in the world, we have but second-rate liter
airy supply. The American novel which sells at
$lO should sell al ST. the first effect OF inter-
national copyright will be 10 lower prices.D
The trouble Ia obtaining legislation he said is
that our course lies between two rocks represenf
Ing different interests. The Typographical L MON
he said appeared before the senate committee at
the hearing the other day, representing 90 600
printers Those VINO live In Washington ought 10
know which Is OF the more imports nce In the eyes
OF Congressnien-ooOoo printers or two or three
tagonism 10 the Ideal copyright, they have had TO
accept an inferior grade OF article rather than get
none at all But they had got the thin edge or the
wedge In, and think that IL Is pretty gooi begin
ming. There are some features about the Chace
bill that Is 10 De Introduced that he did not like
but IL was question OF some copyright or no
copyright ut all III once" he said, '.we can get
the American people TO understand the princfples
OF literary honesty and that the producer Is enti-
tied 70 his work, we Will have q chance TO get a
better copyright"
All OF those who were present were invited to
sign the constitution and become members
THE QUESTION OF CHEAP LITERATURE
Judge strong, having been invited TO speak. said
he did not see how they were going TO convince
Congress that with such law the people could
get literature as cheaply as before and unless
they could do that he was afraid they could not
accomplish much.
Dr. Loring wanted Mr.. Eggleston to tell him
whether OF not the people would get as much and
as cheap literature under International copyright
Mr.. EXgleston said that everything considered
the demand for cheap literature would always be
met, international copyright or not. A gooa book
at n low price will be the maxim Of American pub
fishers he said.
10 was suggested by Dr. F. A. Wood, OF Pitts
burg, that some person rom each state be desi1.
mated 10 talk TO the congressman from such STATE
In order TO instruct them on the rights OF Ameri
can and English authors. and the necessity OF an
International copyright law.
The constitution was signed by o number OF per.
Sous, among them being Judge Strong Dr. Lorin1
Prof Powell, Fred. Douglass. Dr.. Burnett, and
Prof. Gallaudet.