New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-17
AUTHORS HAVE A SAY
Talk Trade Discounts and Best
Sellers to the Bookmen.
GUESTS AT FINAL DINNER
Owen Johnson, Unable To Be
Present, Writes Defending
His College Criticism.


up its annual convention last night with
dinner at the Hotel Astor. at which the
members listened to the views Of authors.
The authors. however. discussed trade dis
counts and best sellers only to the limited
extent of hoping that the former would not
increase too greatly nor the latter disdp-
pear
owen Johnson, who has been the target
recently of several large and cOngealed
masses OF criticism, talked of criticism as
applied to colleges and applied the same
thereto W Morgan Shuster. modcstly dis
claiming place In the ranks OF writers.
told Of his Persian experiences. 1t was
made known at the dinner that Mr.. sinus
| ter had read yesterday the last proof sheet
on his forthcoming book, THE Strangnng
of Persia" Meredith Nicholson talked OF
the field of American literature, and I'd
ward Howard Griggs discussed the proto-
plasm. the dodo. the trilobite and the nut
ure OF man.
owen johnson is credited with speaking
AS matter Of fact. he Was sick ana uh'
able to attend the dinner. and tn" speech
lie had prepared was read by Samuel Is
Mcrwin. Mr.. Johnson said that he was
under suspicion of attempting 10 ins'ill III
the gullible public mind the impression
that the colleges Of tins country did not
educate. He knew that certain Suggestions
Of his as to the application Of scholarship
test for admission To the social organlZa-
ton. such as is applied to athletic teams
had placed him in peril Of being regarded
as one OF the distinguished hlghtcrs Il
youthful existence. lie continued:
There are a great many good things w.
be said in fairness To the colleges. NV
there are a great many points III WIZ"
have criticised them for raining pd'h "''
the unworthy excuse that they are no p't-
ter or no worse than the RUSHING, slrut
CLING outer world. To-day IN" prlNIiebcr
classes In this country arc inscnSipIe I"
what education ought to mean. IN" great
labor unions are educating themselves 10
their power, TO their opportunity 10 NV
crude. Irresistible fore" that .eS III 'Um
bination. to the realization OF IN" eh"i,
NOUS power an unrestricted ballot can
WELD against property. 3d., 800,
Meanwhile. the colleges. that Sh""d W"
duCe no simply intellectual leaders. bGt
great, Intelligent bodies devoted 10 puDilc
service. are subimely INDIFFERENT 10 tn'
fact that their role IN great ndtI"h u Wv
a pleasant gymnasium or taiTiy "eui"-
cratic social clearing house, but 10 De IN,
inspiration to public service ana the vital
cruCible Of the nation. I'll, nit,
In what | nave written and Will WrI,'
have hit hard and may hit harder, nut II
Is never for a moment To- destroy the nycoS-
sity of the colleges, because 90 p'u'N'
with enthusiasm that the colleS" ShouIh pr
the greatest single force for democracy anu
national unity. \ hundred books or a thpI-
sand attacks will never harm IN" cv''ehefs.
Tho best thing that can happ"h 10 mn -
criticism to wake them up ana max" ii'lu
ask themselves what they should Stahd 'oi'
Mr.. johnson and W Morgan Shuster were
the only speakers who failed t" take ad-
vantage Of tn. opportunity given them by
". H. Cathcart, the postmaster. III cA-
planning why pr. Harvey W. Wiley was
not there 10 address tn" diners.
Or Wiley became to-day IL" pr"Hd
father Of a nine pound boy" said Mr.. 'ath-
cart. reading from dispatch.
Numerous were tho references 10 osl"r-
ism by the speakers. Will" Mr.. Griggs a'ly
linked Socrates and tho stork. Mr. Shust"r
however. WAS too seriously concerned with
his subject to- bring Dr. Wiley into IT,
The Persian people sad Mr.. Shuster. SIX
years ago showed their belief in Western
ethical codes. political institutions ana
business ideals hv throwing OF the yoke or
tyranny and grinding oppression they had
worn for J. s0 years and demanding som"
measure ~ constitutional government Kat
m. Americans who were In Persia I'm 1911
had seen these f"w rights and liberties
akcn away one by one In political game.
This downfall. hc said. had been hastened
by the belief in TIA" good faith and solemn
sincerity OF treaties made by two so-callcd
Christian nations.
Mr. Shustcr declared that hc did not
believe the English people were with their
government in IN" imhroglio which had de-
strOyed constitutional government In Per
STA and established a protcctoratr over that
country by England and Russia. ON the
contrary. he thought the hearts of tn"
English people were with the people who
faced political and economic slavery. and
the Russians. II they knew the facts. would
rise against the barbarous atrocities per
petrated by their bureaucratic government
I'm Persia
Arthur Sturgeon, the last speaker. who
was not called on until after Mr.. Shustcr
had left the room. said that he believed
the English people agreed with Mr. Shus-
ter and he thought time would see the SLOW
course Of diplomacy bring about the con
ditions In Persia that Mr.. Shuster 50 ear
nestly desired should prevail there.
This Is the first visit Mr.. Sturgeon has
Maid 10 this country in nineteen years. and
he was asked what were the things that
sence. When he was here nineteen years
ago he replied, he had ridden In the ele-
waited trains and noticed the signs asking
the. passengers not to spit into the streets.
ON his return this time he had ridden in
the subway and seen the signs saying that
those who spit at all would he liable To
fine Of $500 or a year in prison. The sec
ond thing that impressed him. he said. was
- Ia. "a a.
President Of the country hurting cpthcts
az each other.
Mr.. Grirgs. who was much in fear Of tho
tyranny 81 tho multitude. asked II the
RAMPANT apothcosis Of the mob. going NJ
and down the country. procla Inning to the
peope not what he believed. but what he
thinks he is wanted to think, Is not n sign
Of the danger Of tho tyranny Of the multi
tudc.
(, was Meredith Nicholson who. with tho
least embarrassment. acknowledge that
the author was interested in tho profits
made by the bookseller. The quality Of
It's book shops speaks best for the city"
ne said The names of the best book
stores carry a meaning and give character
to the city"
Fiction writer's Mr. Nicholson said. want
American fiction to represent the aspira-
lions and ideals OF the people but this did
not mean, he added that all novels should
be purpose novels. Authors had to remem-
Der that charming young person who goes
into book shop and wants story with
love in it-this heart interest and that sort
OF thing.
She goes home and lies In her hammock
with her book and displays a dainty length
nf hn.ior,. sald nanl ali want In