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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
94
UNION!
Formation of the Protective Union
of Piano and Organ Makers.
A THOROUGHLY REPRESENTATIVE AND MOST
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING IN 6LAREND0N
HALL, NEW YORK 6ITY.
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Appointment of a Committee to Formulate
Plans for the Management and Practical
Work of the New Association.
IMPORTANCE OF THE MOVEMENT RECOGNIZED
RY THE MUSIC TRADE PRESS.
Indorsement by Eminent Firms.
MANY NEEDED REFORMS WILL NOW
BE ACCOMPLISHED.
TRIUMPHANT VINDICATION OF THE
EFFORTS OF
Jack Haynes, manager of Newman Brothers, Chicago,
111.; Chas. Bourne, of Wm. Bourne & Sons, Boston,
Mass.; Alex. S.Williams, Astoria Veneer Mills, New
York city and Louisville, Ky.; A. J.Fischer, of J.& C.
Fischer, New York; S. H. Rosenberg, representing the
B. Shoninger Co., New Haven, Conn., New York and
Chicago, 111.; F. A. North, of the Lester Piano Co.,
Philadelphia, Pa.; J. W. Vose, of Vose & Sons,
Boston, Mass.; J. Howard Foote, representing the
E. P. Carpenter Co.. Brattleboro, Vt.; Frederick
Paillard. of M. J. Paillard & Co., New York city;
Frank Conover, of Conover Bros. Co., New York;
R. M. Walters, New York; Peter Kellmer of the Kell-
mer Piano & Organ Works, Hazelton, Pa.; J. J.
Hassart, representing F. Connor, N.Y.; B.H.Jans-
sen, of the Estey Piano Co.,New York and Brattleboro,
Vt.; Edmund G. Jardine. of George Jardine & Son,
New York ; H. L. Mason, of the Mason & Hamlin
Organ & Piano Co., Boston ; John W. Shetter, of the
Weaver Organ & Piano Co., York, Pa.; C. M. Loomis,
New Haven, Conn., Loomis Temple of Music and
proprietor of Loomis' Musical Journal; S. A. Gould, of
Philadelphia Musical Journal, Philadelphia. Pa.; Marc
A. Blumenberg and Harry O. Brown, of The Musical
Courier, New York ; Harry E. Freund, of Freitnd's
Music and Drama, New York.
After some informal preliminary conversation and
the interchange of friendly greetings among the gentle-
men assembled, Mr. Edward Lyman Bill, junior Editor
A
MK. HENRY BEHNING, JR., was accordingly appointed
Secretary pro tern.
Mr. A. J. FISCHER, New York, thought that the or-
introducing the business of the meeting.
Mr. Bill, who was received with applause, said that ganization should be strictly confined to the piano and
organ houses of the country. Undoubtedly such a
during many months past THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
had advocated the formation of a Protective Union of union as that under discussion would operate to the
American Piano and Organ Manufacturers. That trade eradication of many evils. He was of opinion that the
journal had adopted this course believing that such an meeting should appoint a committee of ten or a dozen
association would be in accordance with the ^commer- piano firms, whose duty it should be to formulate a
cial conditions and necessities of the present age. The definite plan of organization, and to set forth the ob-
trade had grown and expanded to such an extent as to jects to be aimed at, the result of such committee's de-
render some such organization of great benefit both to liberations to be published in all the trade papers. He
the manufacturer and the dealer. All other important thought that trades which were simply "feeders"
trades had their unions. In this connection might be would not legitimately come within the union. It
mentioned the furniture trade, which had been produc- would be well to make their objects as few as possible
tive of a vast amount of good to makers and venders of at the beginning. Later on they might see the pro-
furniture; the grocers' and shoemakers' unions, and so priety of adding to their functions. He moved that
such a committee as he had indicated be apppointed.
forth.
"
After persistently advocating some such organization
MR. ROSENBERG, of the B. Shoninger Co., seconded
for the piano and organ makers fora considerable time, Mr. Fischer's motion, which was unanimously agreed to.
of THK MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, rose for the purpose of
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW received many letters of
commendation from the trade for the stand it had taken
•in the matter. Further, during many personal inter-
with prominent piano and organ manufacturers
The Strength of Unity is Now Put Forth views
in New York and elsewhere, he (Mr. E. L. Bill) and his
partner Mr. Jeff. Davis Bill were urged to push the
MOST harmonious and successful meeting of rep- matter to a practical stage—to a point at which the ad-
resentative piano and organ manufacturers of hesion of a number of manufacturers sufficient to justify
the United States was held on Tuesday after- the calling of a meeting would be gained. Such a point
noon last, the 17th inst., at Clarendon Hall, East Thir- had now been reached. Those present had doubtless
teenth street, New York city.
seen the long list of names of important members of
The distinguished company who gathered together the music trade—names of men high in financial and
upon this auspicious occasion assembled in response to commercial circles—who had expressed their hearty
invitations issued by the proprietors of THE MUSIC concurrence in the movement through the medium of
TRADE REVIEW; and the object of their meeting was the publication mentioned. Such list, however, by no
the organization of a Protective Union of American means indicated the whole of those who had desired to
Piano and Organ Manufacturers.
take part in the formation of the proposed union. Some
This desirable object has now been achieved, and we did not wish their names to appear at present.
are more than repaid for the prolonged and arduous
The main object of the meeting, then, was to elimin-
efforts which we have made in its accomplishment, and ate from the music trade of America certain evils con-
for the not inconsiderable expense which such efforts nected therewith. First, the manufacturers of pianos
have entailed.
and organs desired a reform of the present credit sys-
At two o'clock, the hour appointed for the opening of tem. Let there be established bureaus of information
the meeting, a goodly number of manufacturers had in the large cities—Boston, Chicago and New York—
arrived, and shortly afterwards proceedings were com- national bureaus where manufacturers could gain in-
menced in the presence of Augustus Baus, of Baus & formation relative to the financial standing of firms and
Co., New York; Henry Behr, of Behr Brothers & Co., individuals, information which he (the speaker) was in-
New York; C. H. O. Houghlon, New York; John A. formed could not readily be acquired under present cir-
McLaughlin, New England Organ Co., Boston, Mass.; cumstances. Frequently a dealer ran up an account
^A. P. Roth, of Roth & Engelhardt, St. Johnsville, with a manufacturer, failed to meet his obligations, and
*N. Y.; W. J. Weirbach and L. Cavalli, representing transferred his custom to some other house which had
Alfred Dolge, New York; George A. Steinway, of no adequate means of informing itself as to his bona
Steinway & Sons, New York; Henry Behning, Jr., of fides. Other objects of the suggested Union might be
Behning & Son, New York; Theo. P. Brown, repre- an adjustment of ireight charges and of the duties upon
senting Brown & Simpson and Worcester Organ Co., imported musical instruments. Yet another desideratum,
Worcester, Mass.; Otto Kroeger, of Kroeger & Son, perhaps, was the establishment of head-quarters, to be
New York; Fred. J. Brand, representing A. B. Crocker fitted up after the manner of clubs, where dealers and
& Co., felt makers, Boston, Mass.; Wm. Tonk, of Wm. manufacturers could meet or otherwise communicate
Tonk & Brother, New York; Geo. D. B. Prescott. of with each other to advantage. Many other matters in
the Prescott Piano & Organ Co., Concord, N. H.; Benj. regard to which a Protective Union would benefit the
Starr, of J. M. Starr & Co., Richmond, Ind.; W. A. Kim- trade would probably occur to those present. It was
berly, of the New England Piano Co., New York; David not for THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW to propose these
..H. Dunham, of the Dunham Piano Co., New York; things, but merely to respectfully suggest them for con-
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
sideration. Anything that the firm of Bill & Bill could
do to promote the welfare of the trade would be cheer-
fully done. Mr. Bill concluded by suggesting that a
chairman of that meeting be appointed.
Mr. Geo. A. Steinway moved that Mr. R. M. Walters
act as chairman pro tern. The motion was seconded by
Mr. W. A. Kimberly and carried mem. con.
MR. R. M. WALTERS expressed his pleasure at the
good will shown towards him by his election as tem-
porary chairman. He perceived that there existed in
the New York piano trade a great necessity for organ-
ization, but whether or not for the purpose of carrying
out all that had been suggested by Mr. Bill, to whom
they were indebted for that meeting, he could not say.
Some of Mr. Bill's suggestions probably tould not be
carried out. If they aimed to do too much in the be-
ginning they would be liable to fail; but if they started
out by making the objects of the organization as simple
and as definite as possible, they would make it a thor-
oughly successful and very valuable organization. He
(Mr. Walters) believed that, for the present at least,
their operations should be confined to New York city
and its vicinity, and if they so limited the scope of the
union at the beginning it would be a greater success
than if they tried to cover the entire country. Before
going further it would be well to secure the services of
some gentleman who would act as secretary of the
meeting.
At this point MR. JEFFKRSON DAVIS BILL brought
up letters recently received by THK MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW from Boardman & Gray, Albany, N. Y.;
The Farrand & Votey Organ Co., Detroit, Mich.;
The Hallet & Davis Co., Boston, Mas 1 .; The Henry
F. Miller & Sons' Piano Co., Boston, Mass.; W. H.
Jevvett & Co., Leominsler, Mass,; The E. P. Carpenter
Co., Brattleboro, Vt.; Ferris & Rand, Geneva, O.; Geo.
P. Bent, Chicago, 111.; Goddard & Manning, Athol,
Mass.; The Miller Organ Co., Lebanon, Pa.; Weg-
man & Co., Auburn, N. Y.; The Clough & Warren
Organ Co., Detroit, Mich., and the Guild Piano Manu-
facturing Co., Boston, Mass. All of these firms ex-
pressed their regret at being unable to attend the meet-
ing, and their hearty approval of its purposes.
THE CHAIRMAN then remarked that he thought there
was no doubt that a permanent organization would be
formed, and that good would come of it to the trade.
He did nut wish to detain the meeting, and would gladly
listen to any gentleman desiring to be heard.
MR. HARRY E. FRKUND, Editor of freund's Music
and Drama, was thoroughly in accord with what was
being done.
MR. MARC A. BLUMENBERG, of The Musical Courier,
desired to tender a vote of thanks to Messrs. Bill & Bill
for their indefatigable efforts in bringing the meeting
together.
Motion seconded by MR. HENRY E. FREUND, and
carried.
A motion by MR. JANSSEN that the chair appoint
a committee to formulate the plan and objects of the
organization was seconded by Mr. Augustus Baus.
THE CHAIRMAN would rather receive suggestions.
MR. EDWARD L. BILL reminded the meeting that
everything he had said was in the nature of sugges-
tions, to be confirmed, amended, or rejected according
to the judgment of the gentlemen present.
MR. BAUS said that if the committee were appointed
he would like that they see those members of the trade
who were not represented at that meeting. It would
be unwise to have the permanent organization formed
that evening, as some of the largest houses were not
represented. If the sense of the committee were in