New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
SYNDICATE OF AUTHORS.
A FRENCH NOvEIxST'S PLAN FOR SUP
PRESSING THE WICKED PUBLISHER

Paris, August 20.
Tn Paris, as in New-York-and, indeed, where
not ?-the great topic Of the day In the literary
world is the publisher and author problem. 1t
is being written about talked over and hotiy
discussed on both sides, and all sorts of solutions
of the difficulty are being offered. That of the
well-nown novelist, VI. Leon Cladel, is brilliant
enough if it were only practical.
~ PROPOSE" he says, the formation OF
syndicate Of authors. This seems to surprise you
but what in reality is q publisher An inter
mediary, and nothing more, who, in the connec-
ton between the author and the public. fur
nishes the capital and takes the lions share OF
the profits. This share was still enormous up to
q recent date. The publisher gave four or five
hundred francs for a book, which became his
exclusive property he even reserved TO himself
the right of reproduction IL the author did not
happen to belong to the Soclete des Gems de
Lettres. For example, / know an author OF
educational works, who has written at least
forty volumes the whole of which has brought
him the beggary sum Of 2,500fr TO 3,OOOfr.
wear. whereas the publisher has made over
million francs out of them Now is not this
monstrous? The plague of the author is, there
fore, the publisher, not only from monetary
but also q literary point of view. I have an
III
who has Just died He was an author of con-
siderable talent, and wrote romances, some OF
which are masterpieces And yet who ever heard
OF him till after his death? Nobody but the
publisher, who prevented his works from receiv-
ing the public recognition they deserved"
The object of this syndicate, NJ. Cladel frankly
declares, is to abolish the publisher, who trades
on the author even more than the manufacturer
trades on his workmen. The latter now possess
syndcates by means Of which they can obtain
q rise in wages or other reforms, but the poor
author is alone and helpless in the hands of his
publisher, and nothing but a syndicate VIII
enable him to claim his just rights l put This
proposal many years ago before some of my con-
freres, and what was the answer? We are tied
down by treaty with our publishers for five or
six years, and can do nothing at present. Alas
it is unfortunately but too true that the majority
of publishers tie our hands for long period by
reserving to themselves the right of producing our
works Happily the period is daily becoming
shorter and take advantage Of this conversation
to advise young authors not to bind themselves
down to any draconian engagement affecting their
future productions
The syndicate, once formed" continues NJ
Cadel, would appoint publisher of its own.
who would be paid an annual salary! His duty
syndicate, and, as the syndicate made progress,
branch syndicates on the same lines might be es-
tablished in the provinces and abroad Naturally
there would be material difficulties to overcome,
but 100000 francs would be quite enough TO
start the movement. What capitalist offered
good interest, would refuse to advance the sum-
Moreover, the fees levied on the works of the
members would soon cover it. A reading com
mittee would he formed TO accept or reject tho
manuscripts placed before it, choice would be
made, and, in acting thus, we should be spared
the spectacle of the publication of works which
have little or nothing Of literature in them. BY
these means the real artists of literature, at pres
ent so badly served by the publisher, would be
able to make themselves known, and their works.
instead of being kept in the background, would
find good market
Would they? Are authors then infallible
critics? Do they know exactly what the reading
public does or does not want any better than the
publishers? Every one knows how many books
have proved successful after having been refused
by publishers and printed at the writer's expense
And could this reading committee be composed OF
authors anyway? How many men of letters have
time to read MSS? How many would consent
to bore themselves, even If they had the time?
posed of competent hirelings, just as at present.
As to the most practical part of the subject
VI. Clade holds out a tempting prospect Under
this syndicate system" he says the increase in
the profits would be considerable. A volume of
3fr 5Oc sold TO the trade OF 2fr. 75c.. costs the
publisher only use: Authors who are known are
paid an average of soc. per copy, and beginners
zoe. The profit of the publisher is therefore
about 1fr. 3Oc. per copy. With these figures
before us how can we feel surprised that pub
fishers should retire on large fortunes And
yet publishers to-day gain less than they did for
merly and no wonder, seeing that the public
declines to pay the exorbitant price of 3fr soc.
for book which by a little waiting it can OBJ
tain secondhand for Coo, or get even cheaper
at the public libraries. Take my word for it. in
less than two years the 3fr SOC volume. will
have disappeared. The publishers will be forced
to change their working apparatus in order TO
sell the book at soc. or zoe. Already one pub
Usher whom I know Is Transforming his arrange
ments, with that object in view. To sum up,
the syndicate will be alike beneficial TO all parties
concerned: TIE author will get higher pay,
the public will obtain cheaper books, and the pub
Usher will recoup himself by the increase In cir
culation, which, instead of being. say, thousands,
will be tens Of thousands"