New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-19
AUTHORS FORM A SOCIETY
r, STORM AT THEIR FIRST MEETING.
,,prRs OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION PROTEST
AIMS OF THE NEW ASSOCIATION.

=, Yesterday at the Berkeley Lyceum, IN lhc
,nat,on of the Association Of American Authors
% circular calling the meeting was sent out several
Ids AGO. signed by W. ID. IIoweS, Thomas W. llig
-, charles d. Warner. Moncure ID. Conway. George
=. f,oh,e Juan Hawthorne, James Grant Wilson ana
charles Burr Todd. As many OF the writer's inVlea
A. take part in the formation OF the association i've
Tow from the city, 1t impossible for them to attend
,bo meeting. Colonel Thomas W. IIigginson, General
,,res Grant Wilson, Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox. MIS-.
rnnia Edgar Thomas, Mrs. G. Hudson, Moncue d.
conuav Miss Cynthia Eloiss Cleveland, Edward F.
Az Lancy Frank Dempster sherman. and Dr. Titus
wrrson Coan, however, were present. Letters We're
ccved from many other writer's. iNclhding Dr. olver
uorde, Holmes and Joel Chandler Harris. plnsng the
objects OF the association and expressing the deS're
,hst their names be added TO the membership hs'.
colonel Hggnson presided at the meeting lhc
oncers OF the association elected yesterday a'c
President. Colonel Thomas W. Iiiggnson; Wce-preSF
dcnts Moncure D. Conway Mrs. Julia Ward Howe
and Maurice Thompson; secretary, Charles Burr iou
treasurer General James Grant Wilson; managers
Charles Dudley Warner, William ID. Iowelis' Nosce
Colt Tyler Louise Chandler Moulton DIR. Titns
Nunson Coan, W. ii. smith, OF the Associated fiesS
asorace White, Cynthia Elose Cleveland W. u
hudson and Frank Dempster sherman. The mem
hers I'm addition TO those already mentioned Include
John Albee, Edward Bethany, James L. BiXby' Mar
shall H. Bright. George W. Cable, A. j. Conant' George
" Cook Berthod Fernow, Henry I. Finck' Chahdos
Wilton, Robert Grant, W. li"l'o '"H""
hawthorne benjamin Hathaway, william t. Horna
dav George Parsons Lathrop Eugene Lawrence NJ C.
Iockwood Mary o. Martin, Nora Perry. Wallace T.
Reid General T. Il. Rodcnburgh, the Rev. NJ j. savage
H. E. scuddcr. Professor " :. shaler, Frank l.. stan
ION Dr. Henry : stiles, william l.. stone, B wendell
Mary $ wilkins Charles f. Wingate Edward Everett
Hale j. J. Roche w. j. Role. Ada j. Todd, the Rev.
Joseph Cook Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Edward W. Box
Colonel A. X McKlure, President y. r. Gilman Mrs
GAVIN Enfch L..
II IL expected that many other will be added
soon to the list OF members.
The objects of the society are set forth as follows:
To promote sociality and professional spirit among
authors ,
. To settle disputes between authors and publishers
bv arbitration or by an appeal the courts.
To advise authors to the various nethous OF puo
fishing and see that their contracts are so drawn "a 70
protect them in their legal rights.
To cooperate publishers in bringing about pet
ter business methods between author and publi'her.
j. To secure certain minor reforms such extension
Of copyright, carriage of literary properly thfough inc %
at the same rate merchandise, and in general 10
advance the interest American authors and literature
g. To foster frendler spirit and greater confidence
between authors publishers and to dev some pr1c
cal means securing the accurate returns oi safes by
the publishers.
All persons engaged in recognized literary pursuits
are eligible TO membership in the society. The III
itiaion fee is only So, and the annual dues are to
lie only SO. Members may become life members
without dues by the payment of $50 Any one VINO
gives $500 TO the society is TO be numbered among
lis patrons. Persons authors. who lave performed
some signal service TO literature may be elected hOho
rary members. All surplus money in the treasury
Of the society whether coming from requests, initiation
fees or dues, is to be invested and held as fund
The interest on the fund Is 10 be expended In aiding
sick aged or infrm members, Or where necessary. in
paying the funeral expenses OF members who die
The founders Of the society said yesterday that they
looked upon the establishment of the pension fund ana
The plans TO secure proper returns of sales from pub
fishers rs the most important objects OF the new
organization. Mr. Conway said that authors had been
the greatest idiots, the wisest fools in the world.
until 10 the present day, and it high time that
they be protected. The society hoped 10 accomplish
those ends In the course Of time.
The harmony OF the meeting yesterday was broken
BY an unexpected and unpleasant incident Shortly
after Colonel Hgglnson had called the meeting to
order Mrs. Mary Frost Ormsby exdtedly asked per
mission to protest against the formation OF the new
association in the name of the American Society OF
Authors OF which VIII Carlton l. president. mo-
lion was adopted allowing Mrs. Ormsby to address the
society after the constitution had been passed upon
When The time for her address came, she complained
bitterly OF an alleged injustice 10 the society 10
which she belonged She declared among other things
that the American society Of Authors had been Formed
more than year ago. and had more than 700 mem
bers Walter Eesant given his advice in It's forma
ton and had furnished the plans of the English Ger
man and French societies of authors The general pi-
cples stated In the circular OF the new organization
we're substantially and almost literally the same as
those Of the older society Mr. Todd she declared the
secretary of the new organization had obtained copies
of the bylaws and constitution of the older SOcieN
from It's secretary MTs. Katharine Hodges, without
letting her know that his object was TO form new
society," several letters passed between them before
that object came 10 light lie had pagaiizcd from
the old society. she wished 10 protest theicIoTN'
against Mr.. Todd's actions.
I'VE do not object the speaker added. ito the
forming of another society, but to the appropriation
Of matter which has cost 50 much 10 produce ana
elaborate, and the appropriation OF our society
nsme7
Mrs Hodges the secretary. who was also present.
said later that she had letters from men enrolled as
members Of the new society saying that they would
not have consented TO the use Of their names by Mr.
Todd had they known Of the existence OF the othcr
society.
Mr.. Todd did not seem in the least perturbed wheh
he arose TO reply 10 Mrs. Ormsby and Mrs Hodges
lie said that he had asked for the constitution ana
the BY lnws Of the American society OF Authors whoh
making plans for the new organization, Just as ne
had gotten the plans OF the German. fIehch an
English societies II might be true ,at ", .neI eos oi
the foreign societies had formed the basis Tor Doli
He had made no secret whatever OF ms pan 10 l3r
society, and several months ago had pnDisineIu i
article in well-knOwn monthly, cunning NE
plans. lie had made inquiries ana han ldieu 10 III
any well known authors, with the exception % MT
Carlton who even knew Of the existence or the
American society Of Authors. .
Colonel lligginson also said that he was unable 10
thai the new organization had plaglaized" from
the old that was responsible to other sociees
il was an extremely common thing FOR men In lh'
same business and profession TO form different so
ceos, and there could be certainly no objection 70
such az course. lie hoped that the two organizations
would i've in harmony and not In antagon,m. WIN
tho Colonels remarks the controversy ended &,
II was learned later that the older society ~
eludcs among lis members Mrs. II. W. Beechcr, NJ
s.al,ns Finley Alice Fletcher, Isabella If1Oaer. the
Rev. Daniel Van Pelt Judge Daniel Lucas Of Virginia
H. II. Van Dyke, the Rev Edward b. lngersoii ana
Lillian Whiting, OF Boston.
The society will hold It's next meeting on ne
first Friday i'm June at the Berkeley Lyceum. The
annual meeting will be held the frs, Tuesday in
October. After that there will be monthly meet
ings throughout the year. excepting In The month,
Of June July August and September The head
quarters OF the society 10 be In this city.