The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-27
PUBLISHERS RULE IGNORED.
Books Sold ut Some stores at Less
Thau Regular Prices.

NEW YORK, May 2L-Despite the most
careful efforts on the part Of the various
members of the American Publishing As
ISOLATION their ironclad rule to the effect
that certain books should not be given
TO the reading public at a price less than
the one stamped upon it by the publisher
has been broken The fact that the rule
has not been observed by at least two
large department stores is frankly ad-
mItted by the association
we know OF two department stores
that are selling books, OF more partieu-
larry, one book at price far below the
price decided upon by its publisher" said
a member Of one OF the allied publishing
firms. But for the most part the new
books advertised by them exist on their
counters only in groups varying from
three or four copies to a possible dozen
If You should so in and ask for a copy
of some book recently published by a firm
in the association, and advertised for sale
by this department store. You wC1Id prob
ably be told, Yes, we had il, but we are
all out Of it now They can. of course,
get hold of . few copies, but no firm in
the association viii sell them any large
amount; they have been formally mott
fed not TO do So For example: a man
might come into our store and say, I am.
lets say, John Doe from CohOe5-I should
Ike you TO send me 100 copies Of such and
such book. I am a publisher and have
4 store at home You may send them up
to the WaIdoria, where I'm stopping
here's the money for them And, Of
course, he might get the books and then
deliver them 10 some New York depart
ment store, fer which ne was working the
game.
we know the usual buyers from these
stores. but can't be expected to be proof
against trickery. Dracticed by unknown
buyers The rule, you know" re con
tinued. did not 20 into effect until the
Ist of May, and books published before
that date can be bought and sold at viii"
do you believe that the action of these
two houses viii be followed by any of the
other houses. OF any of the publishing
firms2'
We'll, III tell you" he replied 1T is
quite possible that if one OF the large
stores went to some one of the little
firms in the association-au oUt-Of-towu
firm. say. and one not doing a great deal
Of business-and said to them: See here.
you're not selling these books of yours;
now Wen take 50 many thousand copies
they might give way and 90 back on the
agreement with the other allied firms, but
l don't think this will happen"
An examination Of the book department
OF one Of the stores and a conversation
with member Of the firm proved rather
startling. coming as it did right upon the
above statement. There were long dis
play tables stretched the length of the
room. and upon them. beneath them and
above them were piled in thick rows the
news publications of the allied firms.
/ Shelves along the sides of the room gIis-
tened with fresh bindings.
You can get ali the books you WiSh2-'
the member of the. firm was asked
You can judge for yourself, he an
sWered-
But haven't YOU broken your agree
meut with the publishing association
We were never q party TO any agree
mentT he replied We do not believe in
J advancing prices. we buy the books and
/ then they become our property TO dispose
I of as We may see ut We do not TeCOg-
/ nize any price established by the publish
I erS-'
can you get all the books you wish2-,
I ne was asked again
Yes" he replied.
Whom do you get them from-sureIy
! not from the publishers direct2"
That is little too direct u question, ~
he replied, smiling
| Are there any books that you have
/ been unable to get?'
Il do not care to answer that" he said,
| and then continuing We are not acting
/ in opposition TO the publishers. but we
/ shall treat the books as we treat any
/ other kind of northumberland they are
/ once bought they become our property
and we shalI7iN our own price"