The Washington times., 1908-03-26
Rally Round the Copyright,
Or Genius Guards It's Sons

Enter tourist from Texas who has
rushed to Washington TO ask the Presi-
dents advice on the momentous ques-
ton as to whether a man who raises
cane is a farmer or an undesirable citi-
zen.
Tourist (to little man with a small
mustache and infinite hauteur)-What
buIldin' i5 this. stranger?
Little Man calling uniformed at
| tendant)-Teu this person what he
wishes 10 know. CExit J.. NJ, with
grace and dignity.
Uniformed attendant-Dis is dc New
Willard Hotl an~dat gay you wuz 'ryin'
ter brace Is de manager Of de joint It's
de big beanery Of de Nations Cap tai.
am wen it comes ter reclusiveness he s
next ter de President.
Tourist-So's everybody out my way.
Say, what's that crowd of funny lookln
| felleTs situn' over there?
Attendant-Sssh, dat's a bunch OF de
SWEETEST musicianers an book writers
in de country. Come over here behind
dis pillar an hear 'em talk. Dat little
ones de guy wot writ open Yer Heart
Ter Me, Nellie, / Want ter See De
Works"
eve Came Not Here to Bury, Etc"
Tourist and Attendant hide behind a
pillar and hear the follOwingD
Gus Observation-Disclosures, can't we
cease this airy badinage and get down
to business. We are here TO demand
from these Representatives and Sen
ators our Just deserts
Voice observation-disclosures not put 1t
that way 10 them.
G. T. ignoring interruption)-We must
have better copyright laws ;or our pro-
lection. Now. if l had had better pro-
lection when / wrote The Girl 1 Left
Behind Me-
Voice-Why didn't you register the
letter?
Ct. T.-Cut it out. As I was saying, II
I had had better protection my 2riend
David 3. here could not have
David B-l-s-o-NeVer mind about that
Gus, ! never used anyone alse.s Ideas
when ! had some Of my own. What ]
want in the copyright law is something
that will give the producer OF atmOs-
phere a sole right 10 the use OF that
kind of atmosphere. Ia like 10 have
the copyright on Southern California.
Charles X H-rr-s-Say, YOU fellows
are on the wrong tack NOW IN my
business, ballad writing the whole idea
is 10 copyright the gag line and that
meditation 10 the minor key Ia the mid
die OF the chorus. II / could have got
the sole right 70 that shift from te-de-
de 10 JUm-Ji-tum, nobody would have
! written any popular songs but little
, Charlie. After the Bali was my
George C-h-n-AW. fade, fade. Chass
/ your summit is weat lerbeateu. just
| because you get under the public pel'
| with some fierce home and mother
pathos. you think you're the origina
| boulevard TO Successburg. I guess the
/ fall I've taken out of the dear citizen,
/ through exercising my love for the fag
/ in public was q poor stunt. I want
| 10 get a copyright on the fiag
] and the words. Song and Starry
Dear old Glory" Red, White and
( Blue" Hearts SO True" Yankee
Doodle" and 'Oh. Say Can You See?"
| Dave Re-d-What I want is a law tina
will prevent the street pianos from
playing my Love Ne. and The WorIC
| is Mine" in waltz time That's a grand
/ thing and I hate 10 have it murdered.
| Victor H-r-b-r-t-Fortunate I have
! never suffered through the street
| pianos. Ny music is not that bad
! Manuel Kl-in-By the way, Vic. did
/ you compose IL Trovatore?
/ George C-h-n-Not yet.
/ Victor H.-YOU fellows may shout al
/ the juba you want, but that little
waltz song of mine sung by the divine