New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-23
THE EDITORIAL DECISION.
Maurice Thompson in America.

Maurice Thompson III America.
Hewcen the editor and the author there Is Done 10
pick and there bone with more or tougher
meat it. Usually it has been thought that me ie
| author must work al great disadvantage III ulis
gnawing contest, and In many regards d0uOue,s th9
thought is sound the editor necessarily has the final
,rTeconc,iale c5nii5t Tcwcen The parties. for which
neither most 10 blame any Pas aiae e 3 S
who writes. LAY story. which he works over ana
magazine editor. The editor in need OF lust such a
story far a. its main purpose ana de@t sU pas
a certain change be made in il. The author considers
The matter OF initiating his work, and finally for
Herr il. a strictly business" transaction. out Of
which arises the question Which IS the true msAsI OF
deal a. If the editor has assumed the attitude Of
architect, and has forced The author TO be mere artisan
self respecting author would submit 10 such thing
but little consideration Will greatly modify this nasty
judgment. Duty ana conscience are as dear 10 Inc
editor a. is the sense of art TO the author
The publisher has hand, and It IS not light ore
magazine popular" The editor knows Wha' TINS means
s s9 n9 ss Tnce ' Give me what the publisher
wants he Kisses, or will danb your clean Ms. with
You'll have to rewre il do you hearls Now If there
anything an author despises more than a Ni9, hat
comes bach ~ him looking as If It had been run tiOusn
a mud mill, # Is the accompanying letter requiring
him 10 spoil his story utterly ~ GIeT 40 MAKE J. a5'
ceptable. Doubtless the editorial Judgment Is good
but WHY should tale II as better than that OF an
experienced and well.elupped author VINO ma,
/
equal capacity and acumcn. and equally honest and
view hut the. have one ans wer. then. comes from
the authors point Of view. the other fiom that OF the
scentous author But l. says the editor choose what
will suit the tastes OF the people Ny cChsClemoe
Is all times and days, insists the author answer
the contemporary call. responds the quiet editor.
What does the editor mean by the contemporary cali
Mos, editors are also authors, and thew are authors
in limbo. II does not look well tot men ,, ~ f
much for their own magazines ana II ule{ wlo ioI
other magazines. II LAYS them nnder oDhgauOns 20
accept whatever the other editors Offer them. a
Young woman who. suspect has ieit VIVA, IL g. 70 De
declined said that IL seemed ridiculous 70 her TOT one
man 10 Sc himself up against all the AUTHORSHIP TIE
country. Whom suggested that we have a lnage OF
each court who decides not only questions concern
Ing our property bni those OF life aud death well
She merely said Oh but that's different, 20 It
viii be seen that editorial decisions are hedged about
with very long and very sharp thoIns nor alWays
visible To the assaulng author n ~, long ago a
along with the declined Ms. received The following
My Dear Mr.. --: You should not have sent
his 10 me You know do not'like political stories.
I've told you this before Sincerely yours etc,
Dear MIR -; Why you should edit literary ar,
magazine merely to suit your personal AAs Tor ana tr q
yours - -
Nv pear Mr. 80: How a person who preends 70
Ne author Of high mark eau spell scrutiny WIN an
Yours very truly ETC.
Indeed the editor always comes out best man a. w"
end OF such a struggle .,o,oa
my friend, the author in question, SAYS =, ,r..
took the politics out of the story ana wa
promptly accepted and paid for. Afuf all, VIh'Ps
The editor was right-abou the spelling
Let some g7mblng author go through "a, hn AZ
just done geat heap OF promiscno9s MoS Oh o. sst
FL rs hesd and wonder how ever least
respect t9r authors In tho hrss place. wn s1,,na what
punctuation. what defiance Of cleanliness ana oraer