Evening star., 1908-01-11
BATTLING FOR COPYRIGHTS
VICTOR HERBERT AND GEORGE
ADE CHAMPION THE CAUSE.
Composer Objects to Music Mutila-
tion by Machines and Author
Seconds His Stand.

Victor Herbert the militant composer,
who is in Washington as a member of the
Authors and Composers Copyright League
to protect the interests of the authors and
composers against the mechanical musical
devices, objects to the mutilation of music
by machines.
Take. for example, AN American
Phantasy, says Mr.. Herbert This
piece requires twelve minutes to be
played, yet it is freely reproduced on
phonograph records which only run three.
Think of it. Twelve minutes selection
given in three. Seven minutes of the COM
position torn bodily from the very heart
by these mechanical music murderers
and the poor mutilated body is sent forth
to be scattered broadcast over the coun-
try as a sample of my work.
DO you think the music lover in the
heard my work is going to take kindly to
it after listening TO this distorted repro
duction? Well hardly.
demand Declines
what is the result? The demand for
my music in that particular section sud-
denly declines below par, the bottom drops
out of it. and not only is my reputation
injured, but my profit from the sheet
music publishers (who pay me royalties)
is badly crippled, for as the sales de-
crease SO do the royalties.
George Ade, Will NJ Cressy. 1sidor
Wtmark, and several other we'll Known
authors composers and actors. express
similar views of the copyright situation
Composers and other brain workers all
over the country are watching the fight.
At present there are number in Wash
ington, prominent among whom are VIC
n h.,tlnk i,N-
Isidor Witmark and Mrs. Elinor Glyn-
George Ade was also emphatic in his
protest against the present condition OF
the copyright law.
THE whole purpose of the laws proVld-
ing for patent rights, trade marks ana
copyrights." said Mr. AIDE, lis to reward
and encourage the man who turns OUT
something brand-new. 1t may be an al
tachment to self-binder. II may De
a new name for a soda biscuit 1t may
be a story 1t may be a popular song.
He has invented something and any one
who copies the invention or reproduces
lit must get his consent and pay some
thing. All these propositions are as SIM
pie as A B c, and no one denies them.
And yet for some reason. many persons
including some lawmakers. seem to be-
lieve that whereas it is highly proper for
the inventor of a mechamcal deVlce 10
make a million dollars, an author or COM
poser is being overpaid the moment he
write books and plays simply ask Con-
gress the same protection that is afforded
any other citizen who invents something
that can be sold to the public.
ENTITLED to Reward"
IF the authors and composers get the
protection they ask. if they are guaran-
teed the right to collect royalties on dra-
matte productions. on perforated music
rolls. on sheet music and on discs used in
talking machines; if they get all that they
ask for and all that they dare hope
for-not one in the whole lot will make
as much money during his natural life
time as an ordinarily prosperous manu-
facturer will make out of Il patented car
stake or a catchy name for family soap
I never heard of a millionaire author in
this country Even the most successful
writer or composer has large percent
age of failures. When he does score hit
he is entitled TO his reward. If the pub
lie is ready to buy reproductions of his
play or book song, why should he not
receive some part of the profits accruing
from the sales, since he provides the es-
sential ingredient? 1t seems almost
waste of time to argue such Il self-evident
proposition The trouble is that the COM
posers and authors are not punched into