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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
ABSl/RD CRITICISMS.
THE American Musician, in its issue of the 28th ult.,
presents what it describes as "a fair statement" in regard
to the recent meeting of American Organ and Piano
makers convened by THE MUSIC TRADK REVIEW.
This "fair statement" opens as follows: "With
commendable enterprise, but without much brains or
any discretion, and certainly without due preparation,
Messrs. Bill & Bill callei a convention of the trade last
week."
While duly grateful for our contemporary's commen-
dation of our " Enterprise," we shall be able to answer
his other and more careless statements without much
difficulty.
First, as to the " due preparation." Months ago, THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW advocated the desirability and
neccessity of an organization of the piano and organ in-
dustries of America. We continued to advocate this
movement until our remarks drew forth, from many
leading houses in these trades, verbal and epistolary en-
couragement of our efforts, and strong recommenda-
tions to persevere in the course we had taken until a
number of manufacturers sufficient to form the nucleus
of an association should announce themselves as in
favor of that "union" which we advocated. Later we
were urged, both in interviews with and by letters from
representative men of the piano and organ trade, to
call a convention. This we did, but not until we had
communicated with many important piano and organ
firms from Maine to California, asking their opinions
as to the time and place at which such gathering should
occur. These inquiries elicited replies favorable to the
movement from a great number of piano and organ
makers of standing, the majority being of opinion that
the suggested preliminary meeting should be held in
New York city about the middle of September. Further
consultation with the trade followed, the result being
the summoning of the convention at Clarendon Hall on
the 17th ult.
At that convention the position of THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW was clearly denned. Having succeeded in
bringing the trade together to discuss the formation of
an organization, and having at the same meeting taken
part in the actual formation of such body, our duty in
the matter was fully accomplished. The manufacturers
are of course free to take advantage of what has been
done, or otherwise.
That the convention was a thorough success is con-
ceded on all sides. Those who have attempted to
belittle its influence are very few in number—chiefly the
editors of some of our contemporary trade papers whose
motives can be readily understood and whose misrepre-
sentations are cheerfully ignored. The movement has
the emphatic approval of a majority of the first houses
in the trade, very few firms of high repute having ex-
pressed themselves as being averse to it.
So far, then, as " due preparation " is concerned, we
may sum up in this wise:—
1. Months of persistent advocacy of the Union by
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
2. The constant receipt of encouragement in our
efforts, verbally and by letter.
3. Issue made by THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW of en-
quiries addressed to the piano and organ trade of the
country, asking their opinions as to the advisability of
holding a preliminary meeting, and as to time and place
at which to hold same.
4. On receipt of a great number of opinions that a
meeting should be held in New York city about the
middle of September, convening such meeting.
5. Meeting held, resolution creating " The Protective
Union of Piano and Organ Makers of Ameirca" passed
and committee appointed to draw up constitution and
by-laws.
If such a course of procedure is not indelibly stamped
with "due preparation," we would like to ask the Am-
erican Musician what meaning it places on the word
" preparation ?"
" The question of organization " is receiving due at-
tention. A committee composed of such representative
men may be trusted, having set their hands to the
plough, not to look back until they have finished with
credit and ability the labors which, in the interest of the
piano and organ makers of the country, they so
cheerfully and generously undertook to perform.
You are rash, Mr. American Musician; rash and pre-
mature. Probably you are short of topics. Don't
however, try to injure and misrepresent honest men
and beneficial undertakings. The Piano and Organ men's
organization is all right. It will get along without you,
or in spite of you.
*
* *
A WESTERN MIST.
THE Indicator is suffering from a fit of mental obscur-
ation.
Says that sapient and vulpine Western organ, refer-
ring to the recently-founded Piano and Organ manu-
facturers' Union, " When the trade of New York or
of any other city requires an association for its advance-
ment and protection, prominent members of the trade
will call a meeting and will attend to the organization."
Softly, softly, Brother Fox. Are the grapes sour?
Listen to what has happened. The piano and organ
trades did require such an association as you speak of.
Now they have got it. It was promoted with the know-
ledge and sanction of " prominent members of the
trade," and "prominent members of the trade" are
attending to the organization.
The Indicators splenetic efforts to minimise the im-
portance of the newly-formed union amount to nothing.
" Trade paper seeking to attain by illegitimate journal-
ism the position that it cannot legitimately secure."
" Cheap advertising dodge." "Shoddy and shabby bid
for notoriety." All this, and much that follows is mere
balderdash. There is a foundation of spite to it which
is all but hidden in a mass of idiotic verbiage. Both
verbiage and spite may be safely ignored.
Without doubt the Indicator has lately been visited
by one of those peculiar fogs which periodically pene-
trate its offices and confuse the brains of its editors. At
such times the condition of the latter excites much pity
in the bosoms of intelligent and feeling persons.
But, as soon as the Fox has been once more aroused
in his lair, and has had time to shake himself and look
about him, he will be astonished at the headway that
will have been made by " prominent members of the
trade" in perfecting the Piano and Organ Manufac-
turers Association. He will then take back his " shoddy
and shabby " remarks, and hasten to congratulate the
music trade upon their successful efforts to unite.
gether, and otherwise indulging in sociability; that
many young manufacturers are joining the ranks of the
trade, and that it would be an excellent thing for both
the young and the old ones to become acquainted with
each other.
In the same issue of the Musical Courier in which
the above lie appeared, the assertion was made that
Messrs. Sohmer & Co. were not in favor of the Union,
and did not propose to join it. Mr. Hugo Sohmer tells
us that he will adhere to the statement made by him to
us in conversation some time ago, and published by us,
viz., that if a majority of the manufacturers were in
favor of organization he would certainly be with them,
and he believed that much good would come out of such
a movement.
THE following paragraph, which appeared in the
New York Star of a few days ago, is without any foun-
dation whatever,
STEINWAY—Mr. William Steinway of piano fame is
about to colonize 800 acres of land in the Catskills,
recently purchased.
We have Mr. William Steinway's personal authority
for saying that he has not been in the Catskills for the
past three years, and does not expect to go there during
the next three years. He has no land there and does
not intend to buy any. Notwithstanding that he con-
tradicted this falsehood in the month of August, when
it first appeared in the New York Herald, it has gone
the round of certain music trade papers, and he wishes,
once for all, to give it an emphatic denial.
THE " old piano man" is "angry,"—angry because he
realizes that his utterances are utterjy effete, and born
of mere envy. Fie, Marc! Why do you not come out
in your true colors, and sign your articles "An old sten-
ciler ? "
CLARENDON WRITES AGAIN.
NEW YORK, September 30, 1889.
MESSRS. BILL & BILL,
Editors THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
GENTLEMEN : I trust you will pardon my second in-
trusion in reference to the Union of the Piano and Or-
gan Makers of America. The only excuse I can offer is
the intense interest I take in the ultimate success of
the very efficient and popular Committee of Twelve in
effecting a permanent organization.
With the present prospect of improved business,
which will undoubtedly be continued and vastly in-
creased by the establishment of the World's Fair of
1892 (whether in this city or not), the absolute necessity
of such an organization, with permanent head-quarters
as a place of rendezvous for its members for general
information and the exchange of opinion on affairs con-
nected with the music trade, is not only apparent, but
MORE LIES NAILED.
an established fact.
From what I have learned, when in personal commu-
THE following statement relating to the Piano and
nication with many prominent piano and organ manu-
Organ Makers' Association, appeared in the Musical
facturers, there is no doubt of a permanent organization
Courier of Sept. 25th ult.:—
THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
being effected, and many who gave the project little
Mr. William Steinway stated on Monday morning thought and less encouragement heretofore, now see
that in his opinion no organization could be effected at and candidly admit the great benefit such an organiza-
this time; that there seemed no reason or object for
tion must be to all who are interested in the manufac-
such a step at present.
We are authorized by Mr. William Steinway to state ture of pianos and organs, and other musical instru-
that this is absolutely untrue. He said nothing of the ments, and the raw material used in their construction.
I am not surprised that the committee want more
kind. Mr. Steinway further remarks that the Courier is
very careful not to say to whom the above statement time to complete their work. It requires a great
was made. Mr. Steinway informs us that he is heartily amount of calm thought and unhastened judgment to
in favor of a Piano and Organ Manufacturers' organiza- do so in such manner as to cover all points and give
tion, but believes that such an association should be of a general satisfaction.
Let the good work go on.
purely social nature—one that would admit of the manu-
CLARENDON.
facturers meeting together at intervals and dining to-
I