Evening star., 1921-01-08
Editorial Digest
Hr. Wilson ON Literary Valuation.

1r. Wilson on Literary Valuation.
When President Wilson turned
down the $4,000 offer for his first
manuscript after he leaves the White
House most Of the newspapers SEEM
ed to think that he showed excellent
taste, but when he gave for his rea-
son that he didn't think any article
of his would be worth what he was
offered the writer's found little praise
for his judgment.
The Milwaukee Journal tndepend-
entirely right in his move. 1t de-
made him the offer thought prices
should be determined by what the
traf1c would bear" and by his atti-
tude Mr.. Wilson refuses to BECOME a
leigh News and Observer 1democrat)
considers that he has done 20 big
thing" The virtue in the Presidents
renunciation lies. in the opinion of
the Springfield Republican (independ-
ize his once" and thus no doubt won
The Nashville Banner (independ.
ent). too, finds Mr.. wilson's act
wholly commendable" and is re-
freshed to know THAT a public man
upholds the old standards IN these res
democrat5 supports the New York
Worlds tdemocrat) approval OF the
Presidents Judgment and sentiment,
in refusing. to "capita1ixe his ONCE.
dependent) praises his sense OF pro
priety and good taste" which was TO
be expected" .
Most writers. however. who consider
worthy Of comment the "high-mino-
ed attitude back Of the refusal, as
ers hardly overestimated the value OF
articles they attempted to buy: The
Times continues: "If Charley Chaplin
gets q sum expressed in six figures
for performing his assinine stunts
before the camera. 1t seems as II the
man who aroused new sense OF Jus,
tice among the peoples Of the world
should be worth as much"
Among those who share this belief
is the Adrian (Mich.) Telegram (fnde-
pendent), which says:
would be worth worth siso, 900 as a purely
commercial proposition, It would
erwise the syndicate would not have
made the offer. Such an article could
be sold to newspapers all over the
almost any price. AS q speculation 1t
ought to have paid at least 100 per
cent to the syndicate. But the whole
Transaction appears in different
light when viewed from the stand
point OF the President himself
events Of the, last six years
not q pot-boiler nor a speculation, but
literary and political will and tes-
lament for posterity."
While the indianapolis News Onde-
pendent) doubts that President Will
article that was really worth $780,
o0O." 1t goes on to say that an article.
like everything else. from the merely
commercial point Of view. "is worth
exactly what some one else Is willing
to pay for It" and "the name Of the
has held, are also elements in the de-
termination Of it's value"
The fact remains. as the News also
points out. that the publishers be-
lieve there is 2 powerful public de-
ltevcs. though It agrees with the
President that the OFFER was too
great. despite the fact that II would
nave doubtless been q good invest
ment for the publisher.
All the people will not agree" with
tHS IIeesoonL1 VaAuatlon or undef-
valuation Of his product, in the opin-
Ion Of the Ohio State Journal (Colum-
bus. republican,. Considering the ex.
perience through which he has gone,
the Journal coneeives that he might
indeed write an article worth consid.
erAbly more than his offer stipulated.
The Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph
!republican). making plain that. in
tts opiniou, the valse Of the article is
passed upon the position the author
has held. thinks that writing folk in
general with regret the suggestion
that no article" could be worth the
amount offered.