New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-21
Labor's Opposition to Copyright.

To the Editor OF Inc lrlDuhe'
Sir: committee of the Authors League
of America has, in a recent report formally
recommended to the members Of the league
that il will be desirable for the Authors
League TO come into affiliation with the
American Federation Of Labor.
II specifies as one of the more important of
the advantages which, in the opinion of the
committee, will be secured through such
utilization. the service that the Federation OF
Labor will be able to give to the league in
it's negotiations for contracts in the publish
ing the magazine and the theatrical business.
The committee states that the adjustment
of any differences that might arise with NOV
ing picture producers, theatrical managers,
publishers and others would be very much
furthered by the active support of the unions,
comprising $500 members in all, consti-
tuting the Federation. The report goes on
to say "the particular union whose coopera-
ton was desired could then aid us in any way
it might see fit, even TO the extent Of a
strike" That is to say, the authors, who
should be the intellectual leaders of the
community, are, it seems, prepared to follow
the example of organized labor. They pro-
pose that issues in which they are concerned
shall be adjusted not on the merits Of the
case, but under the pressure Of outside in
fuences, and, when convenient, by the use Of
outside violence.
The principal charge against the labor
unions Of this country is that, in place Of
endeavoring to bring about an adjustment Of
the issues based upon the conditions OF the
market and the possibilities of the market,
and arrived at through an unrestricted in
terchange Of views, they insist upon bringing
in the element of force. They take the
ground that unless their views shall be &C
cepted no other laborers shall be permitted
to carry on the work. The authors, in look
ing forward to adjusting by these means
issues connected with literary property, are
giving their practical approval to the princi
Piles and the methods which have governed
the actions Of the labor unions in the coun-
try.
A second possible advantage specified by
the committee is that its utilization with or
ganized labor will "help the League in its
endeavor TO secure universal copyright and
TO put the United States in the International
securing worldwide copyright protection for
any matter copyrighted in America" II the
members of this special committee had taken
the pains to consult the chairman of its own
copyright committee, who has direct knowl-
edge of the history of copyright legislation
in this country, they would have been in
formed that the only obstacle that stood in
the way of the acceptance by the United
States of the Berne Convention was the op-
position of the organized unions. IL is the
policy of the Federation of Labor that each
union should work in behalf of any under
taking that the other unions have in train,
and il was in this way that when the Amer-
can typographical unions took the position
that the United States must accept not
worldwide but a restricted copyright. with
conditions which were connected with the
law Of no other country, It was
able, through the cooperation of the affil-
lated unions, to bring sufficient pressure to
bear upon Congress to secure the acceptance
of its views against the contentious sub
mitted on behalf of the authors, artists, COM
posers and publishers.
In the face Of this history, it is, to say the
least, rather absurd TO assume that the Fed
Grafton of Labor could be made serviceable in
securing for the United States civilized
system and the acceptance of a
worldwide copyright.
GEORGE HAVEN PUTNAM,
Chairman, Copyright Committee, Authors
League of America.
Nau Work. Julv 10 1914