New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-24
AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER.
THEIR DIFFERING VIEWS on SOME ETH
CAL QUESTIONABLE. GEORGE MERE
DITH AS SUCCESSOR TO TENNYSON.
London. November 10.


"The Bookseller" and this organ is now engaged
in O controversy with the organ Of the Society Of
Authors, which is edfying, and promises to be
more edfving before orp I'VE do honestly
think says the publishers organ, that the
Society is conducted in spirit Of hostility toward
publishers" Mr.. Bcsant says it is not; that his
hostility is only against certain fraudulent pup
fishers There is an obvious comment TO which
the publishers editor lays himself open. but
refrain from making it, Other points occur out
let come at once to the main point which l.
this I give it In the form of quotation from
"1he Bookseller:
The driving of hard bargains with authors.
or debitng their accounts with excessive charges
are. no doubt. matters of which there are occa-
sonal reasons TO complain; but such practices
are long way short of fraudulent. although we
fulv admit they are not what is expected from
members OF an honorable ealing
Mr.. Besant's reply is that these and other
frauds were common, very common. depioIaoS
common, until the Society Of Authors put stop
TO them in so many cases They would again
flourish, he thinks. if the Society were 10 re!aN
its efofts Then with reference TO the contention
Of the publishers organ that deoltAhg accounts
with excessive charges" is practice a long
vav short of fraudulent" Mr.. Besant says Win
energy: ,o
Wbv what does a common piclSpocket or shop
uf,er do. when he steals anything he can lay MS
bonds on worse than publisher who pays wv
Gov nr,ntinr book and sends in an accoun.
sta.ino that he has paid $50? Not a lr"uu
Then 10 stealing not a fraud; and lying Is r"'"'
and vice is virtue
This is language we'll calculated 70 auo I" VIC
irritation of the publisher who has been auli1N
Of tho fraud which Mr. Besant denouhces' Du'
the question is net whether MI l%S@no Is M
Eating. but whether his description Is a 'rue w
scription. That is a question whlch can oe
answered without much technical Kho"e"gc n"
elementary acquaintance with EXodus Xxx. 20, -
al ,hot is wanted for the outside, non-publishlns
world. ., ox,
W. hove all heard Of that magic phrase. custom
20 the trade" and know how much it has oeeh
,,oda N cover There is. l apprehend. no DOUBT
tbst ,he publishers practice of paying one sum,
ond telling the author he had paid another ana
larger sim. and putting into his own pocket ue
difference expressed by the lie, was at one 'iiho
n custom Of the trade, Of some part OF 'he
trade. II was decently covered up under thc
phrase discounts" and upon the plea tha' "ha'
uassed between the publisher and his printer VI
nanor maker. OF advertising agent, did not con-
Germ the author. 49,.
Ie. us admit. for civilitys sake, that this
narticular custom Of the trade is thing OF inc
mast. What one would like to know Is whether
II Is still upheld and defended even II no lonHer
practised, by any of those who formerly pronueu
bv il. I turreG to the current number OF Inc
pool,se,lern The answer is not there; only
short paragraph explaining that THE Author -
nrhlisb.d on the first ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS out
.o lote 70 be answered in The Bookseller
rublahed on the sth But there is an answer
cxclajms the publishers editor. and II VIII DC
forthcoming We shall have TO wait for IT, ou'
e must be we'll worth waiting for II 1t be some
thinr better than the hoary and tnreadoare anu
;mnudent excuse so often heard before. which |
lraye summarized above 1t Is, in any case
pleasing to know that the sen7lDlllnes OF tne
publishing trade are now become acute. or more
acute than they were, and that public opinion can
he brought to bear even upon the countingTooms
and consciences of eminent and respcctaole noli'-
hers of the profession of publishing.
II would be interesting, also, 10 know whether
This Is one Of the points TO which the attention
and efforts of either or both OF the American d.
cieties of Authors have been directed! Did ple
practice Of fraudulently overcharglng authors LOT
the manufacture Of their books ever exist III
America. or is it purely British practice? IL
il what the irate MI Brander Matthews would
call Criticism ? If il be, which view OF 1t
does the American publisher take? Does nc
aqree with his British colleague that fraud Is
not fraudp Or does he agree with Mr. Bcsah'
that stealing is stealing, even If you call 1t DIS
count? l do hope some competent person VIII
send you an answer TO these questions
The service which Tennyson did TO his brother
authors by accepting the Presidency OF the 30
ciety of Authors was, says Mr.. Besant, simply
enormous He lent the Society his name when 1t
was in it's infancy" when we were doubtful
whether we sholld survive the early storms Of
derision. doubt and disbelief" The Society Is
now nearly thousand strong, and is strong in
other ways as the publishers have discovered
and regre,fully acknowledge. 1t has still
oroater and more useful future before II. Mr.
Peasant tells us that it was Tennyson who made
This possible Ore great name was needed 70 i'm
nress the public, TO convince authors themselves
that here was society which could really 40
something for them
"The material interests Of literature must be
nlaced on an equitable basis and must be pro-
tected for the author, not by the author. 10
effect this reform is render the greatest possible
oervice 70 the Independence and self-rcspect OF
literature. which must needs be degraded Dy
servility and dependence i'll her followers"
Those who accept that statement-and who
excent the publishers, will refuse 70 accept it?-
will arree that the world at large owes deep
Gratitude 10 Tcnnyson for making such reform
nossible His was, moreover dslnterested
service He had no ends Of his own to secure
Tie had no need of The Society 70 enable him 70
obtain fair terms and fair treatment from the
publishers But he knew that Others had ana
that not otherwise than by help of such society
could the general body Of authors hope TO stahd
on even terms with the men OF business VINO
bacauso they were men Of business, dealing with
,.hors ,vbo wore not men Of busincss-had
,,rou,n rich while the authors had remained poor.
An odd apology for the choice Of Mr. George
Meredith as President of the Society OF All
,hors in succession 70 TcnnySon is put