Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-11-09
MUSIC PUBLISHING HOUSES
(By Lester A. WaltOn)

tional 81 with the request that he be for
warded songs written by members of the
race | now have before me second letter
from Mr.. Holland asking that he be advised
where he can secure musical numbers fea-
tured this season by our representative col
ored shows.
Colored composers one and all, should
doff their hats to Mr.. Holland. He is
doer, not talker. Neither would it be amiss
for our advocates of race cooperation to
point out Mr. Holland as a shining example
of one who practices what he breaches.
If there were just 100000 more William
R. Hollands out of the twelve million COL
ored Americans it would not be very long
time before the race could boast of music
publishing houses in New York where tai
ented young men and women might find an
avenue for the exploitation of their musical
compositions.
In the United States today there are hun
dreds of young colored song writer's of
PROMISE but they find little encouragement,
if any, in the music publishing world. This
unfavorable condition is due largely to the
inability of these ambitious writer's to Sc
cure the serious consideration of the white
publisher But the latter, it must be re-
membered, first must give willing ear to
the compositions Of young white writer's.
The need Of the establishment Of music
publishing houses conducted mainly to ex-
plot the musical numbers Of colored writer's
is not new subject. Two years ago Alex
Rogers and l not only discussed it at length
but spent much valuable time in a futile
effort to enlist white and colored people of
means who bear the reputation of being
aytpa thotio
Our experience was none too pleasant, and
after numerous personal interviews and ex-
change of correspondence on the wholesale
we finally reached the conclusion that if a
colored publishing house was to be formed
it would be without the financial aid of
philanthropists. We also found out that
philanthropists, as a general rule, do not
care to further race projects, even ii there
is a roseate opportunity to combine philan-
thropy with business to their financial adj
vantage, unless the aims and objects strike
their particular fancy. Giving with many
Of them seems to be fad.
One Of the philanthropists, while think
ing well Of the plan, was inclined to think
that the publishing house should devote
much Of it's efforts toward getting out songs
for colored churches. Of course, we felt
that our field of endeavor ought not to be
restricted nor did care to confne our
selves to publishing religious numbers only.
Another philanthropist of note was asked
to look at the proposition as one in which
he would get back his original investment.
We assured him that we did not want a
cent for services, which would be gratis
until the business became we'll established.
We ikened the present situation existing
among colored writer's to an orchard where
the fruit was falling to the ground and
rotting, due to neglect and failure to gather
it.
This philanthropist in question admitted
that an outlet should be provided for our
promising colored writer's, but frankly stated
that helping the Negro in the realm of
music was distinctly out Of his line Before
the conference was over he asked me to help
him in the furtherance of pet idea of his
which meant the expenditure of more money
and was far less practical However, his
plan of DrOmOtinr the interest Of the race