New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-16
FOR REFORM IN BOOKS
Percy MaCkaye Says Publishers
Can Change Literary Taste.
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Association Decides to Con
tinue in Effect the Main
tanned Price Principle.

Tie Christian religion can never grip
the conscience of the American people,
according to DR. Charles Fleischer, Of
Boston. who spoke on THE American
Faith" at the thirteenth annual dinner of
the American Booksellers Association
held al the Astor last night.
"The greater part Of the American peo-
pie have no afiiliation with Christianity
said DR.. Fleischer "and | for my part
am glad of it. We have outgrown i'm
ported forms of faith, and must evolve
a faith and an idealism of our own. ] am
a bull on America. believe in the future
of the country; but in no country is the
gap between profession and practice so
wide"
Percy Mackaye declared that book pub
fishers had 1t in their power to reform
the literary taste OF the country in part
at least and II they were supported ny
reading leagues such reform, he thought,
might be complete.
"ln drama, managers are the dictators
of what shall reach the public" he said,
and dramatic leagues whet public APP
probation of good plays. These two
forces set standard below which 1t is
almost impossible for drama TO fall.
Couldn't We have reading leagues. ana
couldn't publishers do for books what
managers do for plays?'
Other speakers were Irwin s. Cobb. Dr.
S. Edward Young. pastor of the Bedford
Presbyterian Church. Brooklyn, ana
Thomas Augustin DAILY.
The guests included W. l.. Butler
George McAneny, Dr. Charles Fleischer'
DR.. S. Edward Young. Percy Mackaye'
Irwin Cobb. Thomas A. DAILY, +. A.
Stokes, II. c. cambridge. c. e. Shoe-
maker, Simon Brentano. c. K. Wolcott,
F. n. Doubleday. George II. Doran, V.
NJ Schenck ard Ward Macauley.
Others present were T. Irving Crowell.
c. c. Kendrick. John II. Scribner, l.. h.
Turk, |. w. Harper. b. w. Hueosch'
George Batchford. Hldegarde Haw-
thorne, Mrs Fred Hawthorne, Roy Col
lier. Professor =. f. Robinson, Walter
c. Everett, A. Grossett, G. I. Dunlap
Russell Doubleday. S. A. Everitt, A. w.
Page. Harry Gould. Thomas b. Preston
Lowell Brentano, Philip Grossett, j. W.
Lippincott and F.. b. Ogilvie.
At an executive session held yesterday
morning a resolution was adopted to the
effect that the maintained price principe
had worked out satisfactorily to every
one connected with the trade and should
be continued. Steps were taken toward
forming a board OF trade. The following
officers were elected:
w. l.. Butler, Of Wilmington, Del,
president: Walter 8. Lewis. Philadelphia,
secretary; Eugene l.. Herr, Lancaster
Penn. treasurer; V. NJ Schenck, Spring
field. Mass: Ward Macauley, Detroit. ana
John J. Wood. Cleveland vice-presidents,
and W. g. Clark, Boston. was reelected
chairman of the executive committee.
resolution was also adopted express
ing appreciation OF the courtesies ex-
tended by The Tribune and other New
York newspapers.
After the session the association ad-
iourned TO Charles Scribner's Sons new
place on upper Fifth avenue, where a
buffet lunch was served by that firm. ana
an inspection was made by the members
of the firms new surroundings