New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-22
A SOCIETY OF AUTHORS.
IN ENGLAND. IN FRANCE-wHY MOI IN
THE UNITED STATES?
London, November III.


oan co,vriuht Act and it's probable ehec' Va
tho;r resnective trades. All the trade Journals
,aIl, about IL. and IL is q standing topic IN i".
Author the organ of the Incorporated SOCIETY "
Authors. conducted by Mr.. Walter Bcsant. l uo
not know why Mr.. Bosant shouid make hini'e'
the mouthp;ece of trade jeaiousies' anu spe"n "
.ho Conyriqht Act as the Printers Protective hc'
That IL a cheap sheer which might DC ieit 10 'he
British Printer and his organs.
In Mr. Besants opinion IT Is no eA"ese ia.'c"
70 saw that the whole writing tribe OF Urea. nr'"
ia making a rush to secure p''oe "
tho new market. But the great majority VI 'n'
whole writing tribe seem doomed 10 a'e"pi
mont - Il be true that the value OF American
H. ;s in all hut a very few cases probably
thirtv AZ most absolutely unascertainable fer-
hans the same thing might be said OF Engnsh
convrioht IL must he ascertained. il at ALL ny
what ia called the biggling OF the marHe'
think | have read at various times various IT,
marks by Mr. Beant, implying that he did no. 10
gard even the English publisher az always the "e.
friend of the author, always in the haoi' u
liz; ,o;rIr wifi, him The lesson. the very
useful lesson, which Mr.. Besnt and the society
of Authors have for some time peen teacnins
that tbe English author must look out for himself
and seek for advice before closing his bargain WIN
tbc English publisher lie must do the same III
America though without the help of the Society
NJ Authors or with such help they can give MN
indirectly.
Already this Society is raising note OF warning
not against the American but against the Ehsiish
nuhlisher in this matter Of American copyright
A clause" says the vigilant MP. besaht'
coming TO he inserted by common form in agree
ments for the purchase of either serial or Dooh
rights which covers all American rights, although
no
understood by the author" The English pup
Usher. after all the missionary efforts bestowed on
him. is still an unegenerate being, and sui
disposed to get all he out OF the authof'
and more than he is entitled 10
lie practiced similar stratagem before there
was an American Copyright Law, when II was MS
custom to induce the unsuspecting author TO con-
vey away, without knowing it and without pay
his right to remuneration for advance sheets
When | asked year ago why the American
authors did not form society on the model of tho
English or on some model was told there were
difficulties. What are the difficulties? Why may
not the writers Of the United States organize them
selves into society for mutual protection? Are
all American publishers honest? We know the
best of them are hope the majority, though the
majority here is the other way. But the fact re-
mains that they are men Of business dealing with
authors who as o rule, are not men OF business
Why, then, should not the American author
have the advantage In his relatlons
with the American publisher which the
British author has, or may have in his relations
with the British publisher?
The Society Of Authors is an institution for the
protection OF literary property Mr.. Besant has
lately been explaining how thoroughly they pro-
tect it when they have the opportunity; when the
author, that is comes to them before he has
p,ant mt -
the authors dilatory habit too often is. Even
then: ave give them what help can
be given We procure for them for nothing
the best legal advice possible. we place at their
disposal the experience Of our office and our six
years OF work we give them oil this. Frequently
il happens that writer in trouble comes to us
and costs the Society ten guineas or more in
getting legal counsel The questions involved
are intricate. and there are few precedents. In
return this member Lays one guinea
Even the unbusiness-likc author might the
advantage Of getting fifty dollars worth of law
for FIVE And there is much more than law. Few
lawyers know much about the business of pub
fishing. There are many, no doubt, who know
something about the law of copyright, but that
is not enough. They must know the tricks Of
the trade well enough to advise their clients how
to keep ont of scrape. as well as how to get
so useful. They have studied the question as
no lawyer can study it, They go to the lawyer
for advice on legal questions; on practical ques
lions they have body Of knowledge and eX-
perience which enables them to cope with the
publisher as no lawyer and no author can. :" II
is no discourtesy," remarks Mr. Besant, s. to
the average solicitor to say that he knows nothing
whatever about literary property or its manage
ment' Nothing whatever" is rather strong.
Ii is sufficient TO suppose that he cannot know
as much about the publishing business as the
publisher does, and is not his match. What is
certain is that the English Society Of Authors
has conferred very great benefits on the English
author, and continues to confer them. He may
now put himself equal footing with his
publisher and, with the help Of the Society, look
after his own end of the bargain. His rights
are preserved TO him as they never were preserved
before.
SO again l ask why should not the American
author have the same protection? lie will
never get it till ne organizes. No individual
effort will suffice. There must be cooperation.
On the other hand there will be cooperation
without individual effort. Have you no Mr..
Besant in America? He has been the life and
soul of the Society here, and done an amount
Of voluntary and wholly unpaid work for his
fellow authors which entities him TO their lasting
gratitude. There are Americans with not less
zeal and intelligence and capacity for business.
If / may mention one, there is Mr.. Stedman, with
! a wide experience in affairs well the most
admirable literary gifts. | do not appeal to
him to take this burden on his shoulders.
only name him as an illustration as proof
that there are men Of letters in America
who can, if they will, start society
and make it as useful as the English society. The
successful author does. to certain extent, take
care Of himef. He may not get all he ought, hut
be gets something. The division of profits be-
tween him and his publisher, If not entirely equi-
table, Is still division the publisher does not take