New-York tribune., 1906-07-18
DRY GOODS.
The Book Trust Fight From The
Readers and Authors
Viewpoint.

Simmered down. the Book Trust attempt maintain
prices on late Books affects nobody so much the
READER of late Books Dealers who maintain Trust
extra profit that ALWAYS COMES OUT OF THE
READERS POCKET.
If consented to sell late Books the Trust price
ST. oS copy-the Trust would gladly supply with all
the Books could handle.
Considering the actual COST of PRODUCING
Book the price the TRUST gets for it and the price the
DEALER pays, SI.o8 seems like an OUTRAGEOUS price
for the READER TO PAY.
1t is pretty generally understood that the Books in
question cost the Trust publishers average OF 2oc each
print and bind The authors royalty it is asserted,
averages 15c copy bringing the total cost up to
3oc or 3sc copy Allow the publishers fair profit and
the retailer fair profit and you must wonder WHY late
Books retail for MORE THAN THREE TIMES THEIR
COST
With everybody concerned getting GENEROUS
PROFIT the Book Trusts fixed price could be HALVED
the reader of late Books could buy them for 5c instead
of $1o8
Grant the publishers profit of their outlay of
2oc allow the author royalty OF I2c copy and the
retailer profit of 12c copy This is liberal allowance
all around yet it totals only SAC But it is evidently NOT
CANNOT SELL MERCHANDISE AS CHEAPLY AS
MACYS.
Publishers ought to wax fat and prosperous on the
profits they derive But dissatisfied with such great
overstep the line, seeking ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF
Book until it is owned by reader.
Banded together Trust, they become detatoTs
AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE TRUST PRICE
S1o8 We are in that agreement; cannot buy books
direct get them and sell them at 98c copy Buying
Books in roundabout way they cost us ORk than other
dealers paw it is true yet sell them for 10 PER CENI
LESS than any other store
For several years the Book Trust has been striving to
drive us out of the business At great expense we have
waged our battle in the courts, and most SUCCESS
FULLY The U. S. Circuit Court OF Appeals rendered
decision favor only few weeks ago There IS one
step ore-the u S. Supreme Cour-then the Book Trust
fight will be over.
The United States Circuit Court of Appeals in its de-
cision, says:
"The constitution grants to Congress power to
It is bv no means clear that free and unrestricted
alienation of the Book at reduced price would not
be more beneficial the author than the higher prices
provided for by the publishers combination Tor the
benefit of a certain class of Dealers
This monopoly therefore, is for the BENEFIT or
THE ROOK PUBLISHER and to the DETRlMENI or
THE AUTHOR The latter gets only his stipulated royalty
ont of Book whatever its sengprice may be; and ne
ots LESS than he is entitled by the exOrbtant profit
exaced by the publishers for it an accepted uIsm tnat
THE LOWER THE PRICE THE GREATER The
CONSUMPTION
With us it is fight for PRINCIPLE-THE RIGHT
TO SELL GOODS AS CHEAPLY AS WE CHOOSE.
Selling for CASH, giving NO DISCOUNTS and
10 UNDERSELL ALL OTHER STORES.
Books serve as a peg which we hang general
s+orv While the saving late Books may not average
more than 10 per cent other lines of merchandise IT
verv much greater. On high class imported gooqS IQr
example-vou frequently find Macy prices Just HALF
,ntat other stores ask for similar merchandise.