the sort which would listen to argument, reason, and common-sense, as was shown by Mr. Welch's statement to the Secretary, that a fair Copyright bill, which provided for manufacture in this country, would receive the support of his people. After some discussion relating mainly to the question of ways and means, plans were then discussed for the extension and strengthening of the League, and the Executive Committee were, on motion of R. U. Johnson, instructed to strive to secure a full discussion of the subject in the coming Congress.

Before adjourning, the following were elected to act as Council for the League: Hon. John Bigelow, Professor H. H. Boyesen, Robert Collyer, D.D., Howard Crosby, D.D., R. W. Gilder, Lawrence Hutton, Brander Matthews, Rt. Rev. H. C. Potter, D.D., Arthur G. Sedgwick, Edmund Clarence Stedman, Charles Dudley Warner, S. L. Clemens, Poultney Bigelow, R. U. Johnson, E. P. Roe, Charles Barnard, Titus M. Coan, Col. Thomas W. Knox, Hamilton W. Mabie, Professor E. Munroe Smith, Joseph B. Gilder,. Bayard Tuckerman, Professor E. L. Youmans, Morgan Dix, D.D., Henry M. Alden, W. H. Bishop, H. C. Bunner, Bronson Howard, George W. Folsom, and George Walton Green.

In December, 1886, the League issued a circular in which were set forth the merits of the Hawley and Chace bills.

THIRD ANNUAL MEETING.

On November 3. 1887, the Council of the American Copyright League met at the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. and was called to order at 3 o'clock, P.M., Mr. A. G. Sedgwick in the chair. After reading the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. Crosby offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

"That having accepted and adopted the report of the Executive Committee for the past year, we advise the continuance of the same policy for the future, the upholding of the copyright principle pure and simple, leaving all details of operation as regards legislation with the Council that shall be elected, and suggest that the Council confer these powers upon its Executive Committee."

A motion was offered and adopted that the foregoing resolution of Dr. Crosby be presented to the League.

At 4 o'clock the Annual Meeting of the League was called to order, Mr. A. G. Sedgwick in the chair. The Secretary presented a report, which, upon motion, was adopted. The following members were then elected to act as Council for the League for the ensuing year: Dr. Howard Crosby, A. G. Sedgwick, Geo. Walton Green, R. U. Johnson, E. P. Roe, James Russell Lowell, Chas. Dudley Warner, Brander Matthews, E. C. Stedman, Rev. Robert Collyer, Laurence Hutton, Samuel L. Clemens, R. W. Gilder, Bronson Howard, Prof. H. H. Boyesen, Edward Eggles

ton, William H. Bishop, Geo. W. Curtis, W. D. Howells, Frank R. Stockton, Geo. W. Cable, H. C. Bunner, H. M. Alden, Col. Thomas W. Knox, Dr. Titus M. Coan and Prof. Munroe Smith. Mr. Johnson offered the following resolution for adoption :

"The American Copyright League, assembled for the third time in annual convention, declares its unaltered conviction that the bill for the esin the Senate in 1885, on behalf of the League, by tablishment of international copyright, introduced Senator Hawley, of Connecticut, and known as the Hawley Bill (herewith appended) is not only a measure of long-deferred justice and of national expediency, but also the most direct and simple means of accomplishing the desired reform. Modelled as it is upon reciprocal legislation concerning trade-marks, the negotiation of a convention with foreign countries under its provisions would be a mere formality of affixing signatures. And the League earnestly appeals to Senators and Representatives to place the rights of authors without delay upon the same plane as the analogous right of inventors, by admitting foreign authors to the full protection of the law."

In the debate upon Mr. Johnson's resolution, which was participated in by Messrs. Estes, Boyesen, Johnson, Roe, Stedman, Pearsall-Smith, and Green, the latter offered as a substitute for Mr. Johnson's resolution the following:

Resolved, That, having accepted and adopted the report of the Executive Committee for the past year, and strongly advising the continuance of the same policy for the future and the upholding of the copyright principle pure and simple, we urge our Council and Executive Committe to use every effort to secure some acceptable and and Committee full discretion to deal with such equitable copyright bill, vesting in such Council limitations upon copyright as may be proposed, and the acceptance of which may by them be deemed advisable."

Mr. Stedman moved to insert, as an amendment, after the words "copyright pure and simple," the words as it was expressed in the Hawley Bill."

Mr. Johnson withdrew his resolution and seconded the adoption of that presented by Mr.

Green.

The resolution of Mr. Green as amended was adopted, reading as follows:

"Resolved, That, having accepted and adopted the Report of the Executive Committee for the past year, and strongly advising the continuance of the same policy for the future, and the upholding of the copyright principle pure and simple

as it was expressed in the Hawley Bill, we urge our Council and Executive Committee to use every effort to secure some acceptable and equitable copyright bill, vesting in such Council and Committee full discretion to deal with such limitations upon copyright as may be proposed, and the acceptance of which may by them be deemed advisable."

Mr. Estes said:

lieve would be for the interest of the League "I want to suggest a measure which I beand cause, when once the League has decided upon its ultimate measure. That there

Resolu

The motion was seconded and adopted, and then the meeting adjourned.

The second series of Authors' Readings took place at Chickering Hall on November 28 and 29, 1887. There were present a large number of authors, publishers, and others interested in international copyright. Hon. James Russell Lowell was in the chair, and delivered an address of considerable length and importance. "Mark Twain" recited “The Fatal Anecdote ;" Dr. E. Eggleston, a new humorous sketch entitled "A Prophetic Retrospect;" Mr. R. H. Stoddard, two of his lyrics; Mr. H. C. Bunner, a selection from "The Zadoc Pine Labor Union in the Christmas Scribner's; Mr. George W. Cable, a selection from "Grande Point," and Mr. James Whitcombe Riley concluded with wonderfully droll recitations of "When the Frost is on the Punkin" and "The Educator."

The second afternoon was even more of a success than the first. Mr. Lowell himself led off by reading three of his own poems: “The Finding of the Lyre," "Aladdin," and "After the Burial." To these he added, by request, "The Courtin'." Col. Richard M. Johnston read "The Early Majority of Mr. Thomas Watts;" Charles Dudley Warner, "The Hunting of the Bear;" Thomas Nelson Page, the Christmas scene from "Unc' Edinburgh's Drowndin';" Mr. Howells, a scene from "April Hopes;" Mr. George William Curtis, "The New Livery," from "The Potiphar Papers," and Mr. Riley concluded with his pathetic little poem, "Nothin' to Say."

Letters of sympathy and regret were received from George Bancroft, John G. Whittier, George H. Boker, Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Hay, Henry James, E. C. Stedman, Gen. Lew Wallace, and Robert Louis Stevenson, but Mr. Lowell did not read them.

After the readings, the "Memorial of American Authors," containing fac-simile signatures to an appeal for international copyright, originally prepared by the office of THE Publishers' WEEKLY, was distributed to the audience.

A meeting of the Council of the American Copyright League was held November 30, 1887, in Dr. Crosby's study, Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York. Edmund Clarence Stedman, Vice-President of the League, was chair

“Resolved, That we regard the proposition recently made for a stamp system of copyright as unwise, impracticable, and a virtual surrender of the property rights of the author; and that we consider it an unfortunate diversion at the present time.

Mr. R. R. Bowker was added to the Council and to the Executive Committee, which now consists of the following members: Edward Eggleston, Chairman; George Walton Green, Secretary, II Pine St., N. Y.; Robert Underwood Johnson, Treasurer, 33 E. 17th St., N. Y.; Thos. W. Knox, and R. R. Bowker. The Publication Committee is composed of the following: Brander Matthews, 121 E. 18th St.; Titus Munson Coan, 110 E. 56th E. C. Stedman the Vice-President of the League. St. Hon. J. R. Lowell remains the President and

AN OPEN LETTER TO READERS OF
BOOKS.

ADDRESS OF THE AMERICAN COPYRIGHT LEAGUE,
JANUARY, 1887.

THE AMERICAN COPYRIGHT LEAGUE, which includes among its members the authors of America, asks from all good citizens who desire the development of American literature and regard the good name of the American people, their personal and active aid in securing international copyright.

The United States is at present the only nation, itself possessing a literature of importance and making a large use of the literature of the world, which has done nothing to recognize and protect by law the rights, international as well as national, of authors of whose production it enjoys the benefit. In declining to assure compensation to foreign authors whose books are read here, it has debarred itself from claiming for its own authors recognition and protection abroad, and it has placed them at a disadvantage at home suffered by no other American craftsmen.

International copyright is needful :

1. To raise our own country to the standard of national morality and of international fair play maintained by all other civilized nations, now united in the International Copyright Union.

2. For the wholesome development of our national literature, now hampered by the fact that those who must earn their living by their pen cannot devote themselves to producing books if their products must compete with books on which no payment is made to the producer.

3. In justice to American authors, who ask for their products no government "bounty" and no "protection" in the sense of the privilege of taxing the products of foreign writers, but only a fair field for their own in this country and

abroad, and a fair chance to make authorship in America a self-supporting profession, instead of a by-calling at the end of a day's toil in other fields. 4. In justice to foreign authors, who are entitled to receive from Americans who read and benefit by their books the same fair payment an American would expect to make on any other article, as clothes or pictures, which he buys from foreign producers.

5. In order to widen the circulation of the best new literature, American and international, by the lessening of price which would ensue, in the case of original American books, from distributing the first cost among the greater number of copies for which sale would be secured among American readers if they were not diverted by the cheap reprints of poor English novels; and in the case of books of international importance, | whether from American, English, or continental writers, by giving a basis of law to business arrangements for sharing the expense of production among the several nations interested.

We have been told that the American people will not grant this justice lest it might prevent "cheap books." We believe, on the contrary, that the American people are willing to pay for what they get, and will agree that "there is one thing better than a cheap book, and that is a book honestly come by." But the example of France and Germany, countries whose literature is fully protected by international copyright, and whose books are the cheapest in the world, shows that the price of books depends not upon the copyright but upon the nature of the public demand. American readers want cheap books adapted to their special requirements. This demand will be met. Authors and publishers will profit by wider sales, though at smaller prices for the individual book. Any increase of price because of international copyright will be almost exclusively in the cheapest issues of foreign fiction, un-American and in many cases undesirable for American readers, while no copyright law can in any degree affect the prices of past or future editions of books already published. Translations of Zola's future novels may cost 50 cents instead of 25 cents, but as an offset for this misfortune, more American fiction will be sold, and cheap reprints of ephemeral English fiction will make way for decently printed editions, at a fair price, of American and the better class of new English novels.

We submit also that the term "monopoly," as used against copyright, is wrongly used. A monopoly, in the current sense of the word, is the setting apart by law of certain natural products or facilities, or of certain property of the commonwealth, which, in the absence of such a law, would be open to all. This does not apply to an author's control of his productions any more than to a shoemaker's control of the pair of shoes

which he makes. The man who earns his living by his brain asks only the same fair play that is given to the man who earns his living by his hands. A domestic copyright to the writer of a history of the United States or an international copyright to the writer of a history of England, debars no other author from writing a history of either country; it does not grant a "monopoly." The author asks only payment for the service he has done, and not for any restriction of the work of others; in fact, one reason for paying him is that it encourages others to write.

Every American citizen has a practical interest in this reform. We desire to impress upon Congress the fact that the public opinion of intelligent readers is in its favor. We ask each reader to do his part, either by joining the League, which welcomes readers as well as writers of books, or by signifying to its Secretary his willingness to sign the memorial for international copyright, or still better by writing at once to his Senators and Representative in Congress urging them to vote for such a measure. The League appeals to the honor, the patriotism, and the business common-sense of American readers in behalf of international copyright, and it believes that such an appeal will not be heard in vain by the American people.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL, President.
E. C. STEDMAN, Vice-President,
EDWARD EGGLESTON, Chairman,
G. W. GREEN, Secretary,

(11 Pine St., New York),
R. U. JOHNSON, Treasurer,
THOS. W. KNOX,

R. R. BOWKER,

Executive Committee.

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND ON INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.

From President Cleveland's Message, Dec. 6, 1886. THE drift of sentiment in civilized communities toward full recognition of the rights of property in the creations of the human intellect has brought about the adoption, by many important nations, of an International Copyright Convention, which was signed at Berne on the 18th of September, 1885.

Inasmuch as the Constitution gives to Congress the power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries," this Government did not feel warranted in becoming a signatory pending the action of Congress upon measures of international copyright now before it, but the right of adhesion to the Berne Convention hereafter has been reserved. I trust the subject will receive at your hands the attention it deserves, and that the just claims of authors, so urgently pressed, will be duly heeded.

THE AMERICAN PUBLISHERS' COPYRIGHT LEAGUE.

ORIGIN AND ORGANIZATION.

THE last week in December, 1887, will long be remembered in the annals of the book-trade, in that it witnessed for the first time in a decade a coalition in body as well as in spirit of the representatives of all the leading publishing-houses of the United States. The heads of the publishinghouses gathered together to discuss what action could be taken in forwarding some measure that should procure a satisfactory international copyright law, and in what manner they might best cooperate with the authors and their Copyright League. Some action had been contemplated for a long time by the leading publishing-houses

in New York as well as in other cities, and a call for a meeting would doubtless have been issued some time before the beginning of another year; but the present movement was stimulated, if not occasioned, by the following letter addressed to a number of publishers by the Secretary of the American [authors'] Copyright League :

"No. 11 PINE ST., NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 1887. "GENTLEMEN: We beg to suggest respectfully that at the present juncture it would be a great advantage to have an organization of the publishers at as early a day as possible, in order that we may have a conference regarding an International Copyright Bill and coöperate regarding its passage. Yours truly,

"GEORGE WALTON GREEN, Secretary." A call was accordingly signed by all the leading publishers of New York and Boston, and by

a few in other cities as follows:

"We approve of the above suggestion from Mr. George Walton Green, in behalf of the Authors' Copyright League, and would name Thursday, December 29, for a meeting of publishers at Delmonico's, Madison Square, at 4 P.M.

"E. P. Dutton & Co., A. D. F. Randolph & Co., G. W. Dillingham, Robert Carter & Bros., J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia: Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati; Cushings & Bailey, Baltimore; A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago; Little, Brown & Co., Boston; Lee & Shepard, Boston; Ticknor & Co., Boston; A. S. Barnes & Co., The Century Co.. by Roswell Smith, president; F. A. Stokes & Brother, Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., Thomas Whittaker, Ivison, Blakeman & Co., Phillips & Hunt, George R. Lockwood & Son, The Baker & Taylor Co., Harper & Brothers, D. Appleton & Co., Charles Scribner's Sons. Dodd, Mead & Co., A. C. Armstrong & Son, G. P. Putnam's Sons, Henry Holt & Co., William Wood & Co., Estes & Lauriat, Boston; Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston; Roberts Bros., Boston; Charles L. Webster & Co.,

John Wiley & Sons, James Pott & Co., E. & J. B. Young & Co., Clark & Maynard, Sheldon & Co., Taintor Brothers & Co., estate of D. Van Nostrand, and Fords, Howard & Hulbert."

On December 27 publishers and others of Boston held a meeting, an account of which is given elsewhere.

On the afternoon of the 29th the publishers of

New York City met in one of the parlors of Delmonico's, the following being present: J. W. Harper, W. H. Appleton, Charles Scribner, G. H. Putnam, Craige Lippincott and Henry Kimball of the J. B. Lippincott Co., Roswell Smith and Frank H. Scott of the Century Co., A. C. Armstrong, A. D. F. Randolph, Peter Carter, Wm. Wood, John Wiley, Gen. A. C. Barnes, Mr. Young of E. & J. B. Young & Co., C. A. Clapp of E. P. Dutton & Co., F. H. Dodd, S. Stokes, Mr. Baker of the Baker & Taylor Co., and Mr. Hulbert of Fords, Howard & Hulbert.

Mr. J. W. Harper Jr., called the meeting to order and stated the object for which the call had been

promulgated. Congratulating Mr. W. H. Appleton upon the recovery of his health, he nominated him as chairman, which action was heartily approved. On motion of Mr. G. H. Putnam the D. F. Randolph, and Craige Lippincott as a Comchairman appointed Messrs. G. H. Putnam, A. mittee of Organization, which reported the following articles of organization:

1. The name of this Association shall be "THE AMERICAN PUBLISHERS' COPYRIGHT LEAGUE."

II. The object of this Association shall be to coöperate with American authors in securing international copyright.

III.-The officers shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, to be elected annually on the last Thursday in December.

IV.-Membership shall be limited to American publishers who favor international copyright.

V.—Each member shall pay twenty-five dollars entrance fee and twenty-five dollars for annual dues on or before the monthly meeting on the last Thursday in February.

VI. Regular meetings shall be held on the last Thursday in each month. Members shall be notified of the meeting by the Secretary. Nine members shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings may be called by the President on the written request of seven members.

Mr. Putnam explained that the term "publishers," as used in the article on membership. was understood by the committee to stand for publishing firms, and that while it would, of course, 'be desirable to secure the attendance, counsel, and coöperation of as large a number as possible of the members of the trade, in all decisions affecting the policy or actions of the League each firm would be entitled to but one

vote.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers.

By motion of Mr. J. W. Harper, seconded by Mr. Randolph, Mr. William H. Appleton was elected President of the League.

By motion of Mr. Kimball, seconded by Mr. Harper, Mr. G. H. Putnam was elected Secretary.

By motion of Mr. Harper, seconded by Mr. Dodd, Mr. Charles Scribner was elected Treas

urer.

Mr. J. W. Harper moved that "a committee of five be appointed by the President, who, together with the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, shall be an Executive Committee, with power to cooperate with a corresponding committee of the Authors' Copyright League to secure international copyright. The committee shall report to the League on the last Thursday in May, 1888, and before that time or thereafter as often as it may deem expedient. It shall have power to fill its own vacancies. It shall have charge of the funds of the League, and may employ counsel and such other assistance as may be necessary to attain the object of the League."

Mr. Wood moved the following addition to Mr. Harper's resolution :

"Before any action is taken by said committee by which the League could be committed to the support of any particular copyright measure, the provisions of said measure shall be reported by the committee to the League, either at a regular meeting or at special meeting called for the purpose."

The amendment was accepted by Mr. Harper, and the resolution was then adopted.

The Chair appointed as such committee: Messrs. Joseph W. Harper, H. O. Houghton, Craige Lippincott, A. D. F. Randolph, and Dana Estes.

A general discussion then ensued, participated in by Messrs. Roswell Smith, Scribner, Clapp, Dodd, Kimball, Wood, Randolph, and others, concerning the advisable form for an international copyright law. This discussion made it apparent that, while there was some diversity of opinion as to the best provisions for an ideal measure there was a very general readiness to waive personal preferences in order to bring about concerted action in behalf of any bill through which might be secured the essential principles of the desired reform.

The meeting adjourned, subject to call.

The following letters, expressing adhesion on the part of some who had inadvertently been omitted from the list of invitations to the meeting, will be read with interest. Mr. J. B. Alden has also expressed his adhesion to the movement and joined the League.

18 & 20 ASTOR PLACE, NEW YORK, December 30, 1887. Mr. George Walton Green, Secretary of the Authors' Copyright League.

DEAR SIR: Through some oversight we were not notified of the meeting of publishers at Delmonico's yesterday to consider the copyright question. As our absence may be misunderstood by the public, permit us to say that we most heartily favor international copyright, believing that an author should have protection at least equal to that granted to the ordinary inventor. No policy could be more hurtful in the end to the American public than the one which would make American authorship unprofitable. The ultimate

prosperity of the American publishing trade is inseparably identified with the development of best authors, and our publishing-houses will have American authorship. Give us, in this country, the the best trade, no matter what the copyright law is. While we have our own preferences as to the kind of bill that should be drafted, we shall heartily favor any bill that your Authors' League may

agree upon. Our confidence in the near future of American authorship is great enough to cause us to dismiss all anxiety at the removal of any special protection for the publishing trade in this FUNK & WAGNALLS.

country.

NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 1887. George Walton Green, Esq., Secretary of the Authors' Copyright League.

DEAR SIR: We are happy to see that the Pub lishers of this city are taking steps to coöperate with the Authors' Copyright League in promoting international copyright. Although we have not been invited to join in the movement, we desire to say that we are heartily in favor of an international copyright law, and desirous of doing all that lies in our power to forward any measure that will secure recognition of authors' rights, and compensation to them for the use of their property at home and abroad. Very truly, etc..

GEORGE MUNRO. NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 10, 1888. To the Editor of The Publishers' Weekly.

DEAR SIR: I wish it understood that I most emphatically favor international copyright. We are all brothers and sisters, and one's right in the work of his brain is as good as another's. Faithfully yours, H. S. ALLEN.

SECOND MEETING.

Several meetings of the Executive Committee of the League were held at the house of W. II. Appleton, Esq., 3 Madison Avenue, one of them being a formal conference with the Executive Committee of the Authors' League, and a deputation consisting of Mr. G. H. Putnam, Secretary, and Mr. A. T. Gurlitz, counsel for the Publishers' League, and Dr. Eggleston, Chairman, and G. W. Ginn, Secretary and counsel for the Authors' League, had an interview with Senator Chace in Washington. To report progress and receive further instructions, the Committee convened a second meeting of the League at Delmonico's, New York, Saturday, January 21, 1888.

At this time the following publishers were en-
rolled as members of the League:
Amer. Publishing Co., Frank E. Bliss, Pres.,
Hartford, Conn.

Armstrong, A. C., & Son, 714 Broadway, N.Y.
Alden, John B., 393 Pearl St., N. Y.
Appleton, D., & Co., 1 and 3 Bond St., N. Y.
Barnes, A. S., & Co., III William St., N. Y.
Baker & Taylor Co., The, 9 Bond St., N. Y.
Bowker, R. R., 330 Pearl St., N. Y.
Carter, Robert, & Bros., 530 Broadway, N. Y.
Cushings & Bailey, Baltimore, Md.
Century Co., 33 E. 17th St., N. Y.
Clarke, Robert, & Co., Cincinnati, O.
Crowell, T. Y., & Co., 13 Astor Place, N. Y.
Clark & Maynard, 771 Broadway, N. Y.
Dutton, E. P., & Co., 31 W. 23d St., N. Y.
Ditson, Oliver, & Co., Boston, Mass.