New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-12
Winston Churchill Pleads
for More Practical
|. Work by League.
IRWIN COBB RECEIVES
TRIBUTE AT PLAZA
John H. Finley Acts as Toastmas-
ter. and Tree. Vance and
Bots Also Speak.

The Plaza Hotel last evening became
the centre Of the writing industry Of
America. For a few hours II was the
worlds greatest fiction factory. Within
its walls were housed the looms which
weave the country's poetry, the mills
which grind out its laughs and the
caldrons in which its tears are brewed.
An unexpected bomb falling on the
hotel between the hours OF and IL
would have dealt fatal blow 10
American literature. art and drama Al
most all of the best known writers,
artists and actors Of America had
gathered i'm the Plaza ballroom for the
third annual dinner Of the Authors
League Of America.
Winston Churchill was there, i'm
maculate and smiling Irwin Cobb
kept the air blue with his cigars Car
olyn Wells. writer Of humorous verse,
only smiled once during the evening,
though she sat next to Ella Wheeler
Wilcox. who wrote Laugh and the
world laughs with you" jules Bots.
announced to make his first speech IN
English, fdgetcd through his dinner
until Amy Lowell. looking as # she
had not the slightest acquaintance
with the muses. who furnish her daily
bread. told him how much more art
was respected and understood in France
than in America.
+. =. \. Writes on Guns.
Montague Glass found material for
a new Birsky and Zapp story IN the
graceful service Of his waiter, and r.
p A." iotted down several days ma
terial for his Coming Tower on his
cuffs Margaret Wycherly and Blanche
Ratos for once had the brilliancy OF
their fame subdued by that or their
respective husbands, Bayard Weller
and George Crecl
The entire Society of Famous hus-
bands attended en- masse and Tor the
most part found their greatest interest
in discussing the foibles of artistic
temperament with the equally well
represented Society OF Famous Wives.
The only writer's conspicuous for their
absence we're Booth Harrington and
Julian Street, and they were probably
of together writing another play to
follow the recently defunct "Ohio
Lady"
Winston Churchill Presides.
Winston Churchill presided. and in
his opening speech spoke OF the prac-
teal work the league had done. Inc
main purpose of the organization OF
the league" he said, was the protec-
ton of all producers Of copyright mate,
rial. and this purpose has been carried
to a point of high efficiency. Inc Au-
thors' League IS already nationwide
organization. It is suggested that we
transform it into a Democracy OF Arts
and Letters. If we can muse INTO TINS
league the spirit of the democracy OF
art, we shall have done something that
has not hitherto been conceived or &C
complished, for the democratic princi-
ples must enter into the realms OF art
itself. Such an organization, though
organized for the protection of eco
nonic rights. would seek 70 elevate by
emulation of the standard of produc-
ton. Il could take its stand against
the prostitution of arts and letters be
fore the profane altar of commercial
ISM" =,
John Il. Finley, Commissioner OF
Education. acted as toastmaster. IL was
his duty. he said. TO teach the children
OF this country TO read and write and
further than that, to read the books
written BY the members of the league.
81 am the source Of royalty he said.
"as well as the school teacher. once
wrote a book myself, but 1t dlcnt
create a big enough stir TO disturb my
reputation as an educator
Irwin Cobb Receives Ovation.
Irwin Cobb, cheered as he rose TO
sneak, announced that he would .alk
about authors because that was ne
only subject in which authors were IN
terested. THE man whom | consider
the greatest writer he said, rs Gage
Tarbell. lie made 100000 year at
his vocation, when was writing insur-
ance."
in writing. There is enough that IS
sordid." he said, without bringing IL
before the public. The age which has
produced Theodore Roosevelt, Henry
Ford, George NJ. Conan, the Kaiser and
Booker T. Washington Is not without
interest and romance"
Amy Lowell, speaking on poetry, said
that only the minor poets were too I'M
practical 70 do anything except write.
She argued for trained criticism OF ut
erature. and declared that the Ameri-
can public was too prone 10 fads and
not serious enough in its reading.
Other speakers were Jules Bots, VINO
brought a greeting from French men
of letters: Mark Sullivan, Louis Joseph
Vance and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree.
Among others present were Irving
Bacheller, Mrs o. II. ?. Belmont,
William A. Brady. Thompson Blu
chanan. Ellis Parker Butler, Holbrook
Bhnn. Harrison Cady, Lucia Chamber
lain. Mary Stewart Cutting, Marjorie
Benton Cooke, Dorothy Dix, George
Doran. Walter Pritchard Eaton, Daniel
Frohman. Hamlin Garland, Ellen Glas-
gov. Daniel Carson Goodman, Louise
Closer Hale. Rupert Hughes. FANNIE
Hurst. Arthur Keller, Florence La
Babe. John Luther Long. George
Barr McCutcheon. Brsnder Matthews,
George Middleton, Cleveland Mofatt'
Gertrude Pahlow. Darlington Phelps,
Ernest Poole. George Haven Putnam.
Paul REYNOLDS. Charles Scribner. Le-
rov Scott. Ernest Thompson Seton,
lanes Speyer. Melville f. Stone, Ida
N Tarbeli. Paul Thompson. Daisy
Thomson. Charles Z. Van Loan. Will
lam English Walling, Onoto Watanna,
Jesso lynch Williams, Mrs. Wilson
Woodrou, and Edward Mott Wooley.