The morning call., 1894-10-10
CAUTIONS ISSUED BY EACH.
Contest Over the Use of the
Familiar Name.
BEWARE OF THE OTHER ONE"
Legal Complications in the Painter
Estate Cause Split and Intro
duce Competition.

There are two Richmonds in the field
two determined, sanguine Richmonds, ac-
cording to modern vernacular. in the fight
to stay.
San Francisco has shnffied along con-
tentediy for forty years without such
spectacle to engage her attention,
but now since there are two Richmonds
her rest must be broken.
Langley's Directory-an institution of
the city that has become part of San Fran
cisco's life-has vigorous rival. And
that Is why her peace of mind is doomed.
She will have to exist in a state of unrest
over the dreadful possibility of having her
name misspelled twice in one season. How
ever, competition will have the effect Of
lowering the price of directories and intro
ducing new features into their general for
nation.
The innovation is due to an old legal
dispute in the Painter family, which
owned Langley's Directory, and presents
the spectacle of a house divided against it
self. One side claims the right to the
familiar name of Langley. while the rivals
as steadfastly hold that theirs Is the only
genuine San Francisco directory. The
public are cautioned by both to beware of
the other fellow.
The fight began in earnest yesterday
when the newly organized company began
operations On its rival directory stimuli
taneously with the distributing of can
vassers by representatives of the old book.
So two directories Of San Francisco are
now in active preparation.
Something like twenty years ago Lang
L., %,o fnra hi hn sf tn patn ~
Co. Francis & Valentine. believing it was
an appropriate time to start rival drec-
tory, entered into compet ition, with the re-
suit that a COMPROMISE was effected,
Painter continuing the publication and
giving a royalty to his business competi-
tor. About five years ago the business
passed into the hands of receiver. George
B. Wilbur, and legal complications in the
Painter family began. The directory con-
tinued to appear as usual, though under
the new management of Edward NJ.
Adams.
This year the receiver found he had not
sufficient capital TO continue publication.
So he appealed to the couIts for permits
sion to ID ortgage real estate belonging 10
the firm of Painter Sc Co. to raise the
necessary funds. The matter was post
poned until next Friday, when 1t will be
decided in the Superior Court
Meanwhile dssensions arose, and three
of the Painter boys organized a comrany
to carry on the business independently of
| the receiver.
The CORPORATION Is known as "The San
Francisco Directory, The j. B. Painter
Company publishers" Edgar. Jerome B.
and Arthur Painter are stockh Olders,
while their brother Walter remains with
the old house. The directors are: A. ID.
Harrison Cation, Bell & Coz. John A.
Russell CLERK Board Of Supervisory, ]. P.
LIE Count de Count Brns.), DR.. E. A.
Younger dentisD, Edward NJ. Adams
| Raveley Printing Company, Edgar Pain
ter and Jerome B. Painter. The capital
stock is $50. 600. of which about half is
paid up.
Manager Adams severed his connection
with the old concern Monday and assumed
control of the new directory yesterday
1--WE found that somebody had put can.
vassers in the field, representing that they
were collecting for 'Langley's Directory"
said he. 1--WE inquired from Mr.. Wilbur
the receiver. IL they were his men, or II he
had authorized them to use the name Of
! Langley on which he claims sole righ
10 ownership. His reply was he HAD no
authorized any one to use the name. II,
copyrig hted the book last year, but the
name is not 'trade-marked.' However, ht
has a legal claim to sole possession of TIL
name and no other house can use it with
out his consent 1t appeared as if Mr.
Wilbur could not continue publication
and consequently Edgar, Jerome an,
Arthur Painter resolved to do it with
new company.
1--WE began work to-day and shall g
ahead as usual. All the book is printed fres
every issue, that is, there are no plates
no standing type. except in the informa
ton pages and classified business directory
1t Is a case Of publishing an entirely ney
book each year, and for that reason W
have as fair start as even Mr.. Wilbn
could have. Ii there be competition 1t viii
be case of the longest purse holding ou
and winning out in the end. While hav
not given the matter any attention pre-
sumo the public will have the benefit o
this competition, as competition geneIall
makes changes in their favor"
Walter Painter, who remains with tn
receiver of his fathers business. said tina
Langley's Directory will be published b
him as formerly il the court grants pei
mission to mortgage property to get none
for that purpose.
Francis & Valentine claim the right t
continue the publication OF Langley
Directory, and indeed have made all prep
arations toward that end. 1--WE hold
royalty on the book" said Mr.. Valentine
land we are perpetuatng it to protect on
interest in it. So far affairs appear m
favorable to its publication by the receiver
and In that case we have right to tax
ND the work where he leaves off to protet
ourselves. Our directory of San Francisc
is the only genuine Langley's, and such W
intend it to be in future"
He went into the history Of the diret
tory, ana added that bis firm would prir
the "only genuine Langley's."