The Washington herald., 1916-07-27
SEEN AND HEARD
BY GEORGE MINER

New York, July 26.-Is an author laboring
man or what is he? The American authors are
very busy trying to find out and decide whether
they will affiliate with the American Federation
of Labor.
A committee of the Authors League has re-
ported in favor OF CHASING themselves as labor
ing men, Prof. Brandcr Matthews and Maj
Putnam OF the famous publishing house have
both had much to say on the subject. Prof.
Matthews, despite the fact he is one of the
hardest working men in New York, does not
think he is laborer. Maj. George Putnam
thinks that all writers laborers. He should
know He prints their stuff
Winston Churchill is president Of the league
and Col. Theodore Roosevelt is vice president.
In the council of the league are such well known
names Gertrude Athcrton Rex Beach, Ellis
Parker Butler, Robert w. Chambers, Mary E.
Wilkins Freeman and Mary Roberts Rinehart.
Hamlin Garland says he is likely to oppose
the idea that writing is only a trade and adds,
ITO me writing is an art and the idea Of
affiiating with the labor unions Is at first
thought repugnant." George Barr Baker, on the
contrary, is strongly in favor OF affiation and
so is Mrs. Mary T. Wilkins Freeman, who is
charming a combination of author and woman
as can be imagined.
"Afiaton with the federation strikes as
very desirable" said Mrs, Freeman, "f au-
thors can thereby convince people that au-
thorship is labor. | have never been able to
accomplish that. Perhaps affiliation may pro-
tcct authors from being levied upon for unpaid
symposiums, etc. Also from demands to write
ones life history and a truthful confession Of
ones soul aspirations for a paper to be read
at a womans club. Also for an account Of
ones ancestors unto the third and fourth gener-
alton. Also from the possible prefermcnt of
oversee performances to those of their native
land"
Mr.. Leroy Scott who is active in the Au-
thors League affairs, says that the league does
not purpose to insist that all authors be paid
alike, merely that they have a uniform contract.
From the authors viewpoint" said Mr.. Scott,
conditions in the motion picture industry are
most unsatisfactory. The author is at the mercy
OF the dishonest producer. Piracy is rampant
and redress uncertain. Copyright questions are
obscure and contract matters indescribably
chaotic. 1t is charged that plays and novels by
authors so prominent and seemingly we'll pro-
tccted Hall Caine, J. NJ. Barrie and Gilbert
Parker have been stolen for screen production
and thus far redress has been denied. There is
scarcely an American author OF fiction who has
not in some degree suffered from the unsatis-
factory methods and practices in this field
Next to the motion picture business, con-
dtions are worse from the authors standpoint
in the dramatic field. Plays frequently held
| by manager for long as six months and
then returned without comment And after a
play has been accepted contracts vary so widely
and for the most part drawn carefully
in favor OF the manager that the new author
with success is apt to get little compared with
what he should receive.
! Further, when it comes to making a play
into a motion picture the theatrical managers,
| pleading that the motion pictures have cut into
their profits demand a substantial share usually
one-half, Of the motion picture rights. 1t has
been charged in some instances that managers
have paid the author $500 for his share in the
picture rights which rights they have secretly
disposed Of for $4,000 and more
"Afiliation would give us the support Of the
| federation with its 100000 members, almost
| all OF whom voters 1t would give us the
! right to place before the various unions (and
! there are many unions whose interests are
closely identified with the interests of authors) a
statement OF any differences we might have
with motion picture producers, theatrical man
ayers, publishers and others, together with a
request for active support. Such a request
would at least receive serious consideration and
that's what we do not get now.
The pay of the Chicago teachers has not
been raised since 1877. Their efforts to obtain
! more money were laughed at until they formed
a union. Then they got a raise OF 10 per cent
in excess of what they had asked for"
Let US hope that the downtrodden authors
get what's coming to them
FOREIGN Investments