New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-03
mr.. CONWAY SETS HIMSELF RIGHT.

HIS VIEWS UPON THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION AND
THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE PRESENT LAW
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir I have tust seen in The Tribune OF FEBRUARY
. and IA dispatch from your London correspondent
ga .ev.r., American interviews relating 10 an IN
cident which occurred at meeting OF the oocies
Of British Authors assembled to listen 10 MI nan
Gaines account of his mission to Cahaua III '
interests Of Just international copyright Although
II is rather late for a reclamation you WILL ""''
allow me to make one in your columns
On the evening of the meeting Mr.. ia" Na.'e
wrote me a letter Of apology for the tone OF MS
reply to my brief speech. for which ne hau oeen
proved by his friends: and soon AFTER 1 le0e''.'
from him a still longer letter, in winch a.'ei
beating his apologies he stated that ne hau oe."
ace the correspondent Of The Tribune VINO "ou'u
set us right in America. / presume 'heieio'.' -
your correspondents account was reahy ma
Mr Hall Game whose confused reply tome. k'holy
suppressed in the report in The Authoi ~
plainly that he had not caught my ihea'''e OF 49,
In YOUR London dispatch am not SET ris"'' ''
wrong I did not say that the Copyrsh' az -
1901 was a "death-knell TO American h'e'"''
nor use any such phrase; and it is very misieau'"s
IN mako me say that I represent 800 authors
Mr. Hall Game having in conveying the inforiha''on
ne received In NewYork. ignored the f'"e'
Authors Guild undertook to call atteh.'on u ina"
guild and stated the time OF its orgah'%a"o' "''N
that OF Its Incorporation, auuihs '."' ooo
purely literary guild. and had membership Oh 'V
authors. -, a
Re,np an honorary member of that guiid, anu
holding certain instructions from Its CHIEF ohiceis
It appeared TO me right to express III '"e
society (of which also am MEMBER coiua'
IGNITION Of Ny. Hall Gaines fulhlineh, oi HIS ms
.on IN Canada This done. But his susses
lions Of enormous value to us all In America vi '
(,onvr,eht act and our dread lest something OF
cher in Cana la might affect the said act moVeu
me to declare my conviction that the ac' was
most disastrous blow to America that ever pa
into law" inasmuch it for the first time iesai~eu
n,racv-au foreign books whose authors cannot Sc
euro simultaneous publication In America VI VIZ"
.anrot afford TO manufacture editions there' DC
,ng now lawful prey. BY this means American S"-
thors are brought into competition WIN d.. i"o.
ing mass of unpaid or underpaid foreign l'eias"''
And as Mr.. Hall Gaines statements rehec'eu, as
thought. the very natural opinion o. the puohsi.
Inc Typographical and other trade interests or OF
authors connected with these ASSERTED ina, rsiv
was in the American Authors GS nn wronp that
Literary he.n dome kny one in doubt this need only
Il Of the s"
the proceedings Of meeting h nero discussed
and the Injustice unanimously condemned. Iea
was assertion in my speech tnat the mn he nre
v,ous lawiessness, still less did intimate that any
guild are aT cost 50 urge But as MT Hail
Gaines report rendered il probable that ne and
IN Canada must be settled by COMPROMISE.
that these would involve interests in the uno,e
and negotiations OF that kind American authoIs
should be consulted well as the pupishers. ..
Mr. Robert Underwood Johnson, VINO seems "
have foamed at the mouth while taking OF III!
DOWNRIGHT ''yagaries." may not be aware or me eA
istence of an American Authors Guild WIN 80, SoV
after a considerable sojourn In New-fork, mas con-
fessed to me that he ignored our gud throHSn
s9rnorance" But there other things mat MI.
Johnson does not know. He says was the ofly
author who preferred the previous absence or any
international copyright to the present law HAD ne
said that / was the only author who publicly pro-
tested against piratlcal provision in the present
law he would be nearer the mark Hau it"
other authors also protested Zee! certain tndt 'e
wrong would have been included IN tht Ict'
Put as such protests not heard. ana IL De-
came finally necessary TO decide between the pres
emit la and none at all / visited Washington for
the express purpose of representing this 10 certain
congressman Of my acquaintance. ana urseo tnenl
TO vote for the act which passed. Whether was
right or wrong in doing this. such are the iacts.
Before doing this I was assured by some gehtiee,
unite in redressng the wrong when the oppor-
tunity should occur. -.
Mr. johnson Is also In error in singing me out
for his contempt in connection with the EFFORT 10
check publishers accounts by the sure means or
placing in each volume sold the authors stamp
Some eminent men in Authors Guild favor this
plan and II has been carried SO far as to gain the
APPROVAL of one OF the greatest houses In New
York or in America, which has willingly consented
10 publish books this system for any author de-
string II. .,.
tor!.y placed on both sides OF the Atlantic. with
publishers against whom ! have no compliant
Paris. Feb. Is 1896