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IO
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
have been quite busy and have been quite
surprised to see the number of cash sales
we have had.
In regard to free silver, through this
section there seems to be a gold sentiment
and very strong. The collections in our in-
stallment business in the past few months
have been very slow, in fact have fallen off
Rely with confidence upon the ability and intel-
one-half in the last four months, but we
ligence of the people.
suppose that is on account of this being the
F. B. HOLLENBERG, President Hollenberg presidential year, as we remember four
Music Co., Little Rock, Ark.—The pros- years ago our collections were just as hard
Oregon will certainly go for McKinley.
pects for September and October are not as they are at the present time.
flattering; ordinarily our trade from Sep-
WILEY B. ALLEN CO., Portland, Oregon.—
We are in hopes that McKinley will go
Prospects for trade in our line during the tember ist to April ist is quite large; for in flying, and trust if all follow the exam-
months of September and October are not the present season, however, the prospects ple Vermont has set us, we shall be still do-
are not up to the average.
good. Everything is at a standstill.
ing business on the gold basis. We have
I am of the opinion that trade for the always been satisfied with the gold basis,
There is a general upheaval in the piano
trade in our section. Some cash sales are next twelve months or so will be rather fit- but we shall have cause to compain if we
being made to certain ones who have drawn ful and it may be longer before anything should, by mistake, get silver, but we have
their gold out of the bank, fearing a gene- like the steady trade, which our line has to take those things as they come. If we
ral collapse, but there is certainly a great heretofore enjoyed, will prevail.
all do our duty, there is no question but
I am not able to prophesy what is likely that McKinley will be our next President.
lull in the business.
In our State there are arrayed two fac- to happen after the election. In our State
tions; ignorance on one side, favoring free nothing but silver talk "goes," and the few
silver, and intelligence on the other, against of us who believe otherwise are in very The silver craze growing about as a snowfall
free silver. Oregon will certainly go for small minority and can scarcely be noticed
after the sun gets up.
in the crowd.
McKinley.
S. HAMILTON, Pittsburg, Pa.—Hope for
Generally speaking and judging from improved prospects during September and
Yes, sir; there have been more delin-
quents on installment piano paper dur- conversations with dealers in different October. I expect a fitful trade until after
ing the last few months than there has ever parts of the United States, there is probably election—long spells of it.
been in our twenty years' experience, and it more delinquents on piano paper and in all
After election? If McKinley, good; if
seems an utter impossibility for many good, other business of whatever nature during Bryan, bad. The silver craze is growing
honest men, who were formerly in affluent this year than ever before. This is true in this section about as a snowfall after
circumstances, to raise a dollar. No kind with us.
the sun gets up.
of collateral offered will induce any loans
I believe that after a time matters will
Regarding the matter of delinquents on
to be made under the present status of
be righted, but, for the immediate present, piano installment paper, for three years it
affairs, and it has come to the crisis where the prospects in all lines of trade, no matter has been getting worse. Only one opin-
everybody must look out for himself, and in what locality, are not bright to say the ion to offer regarding the political contest:
every tub must stand on its own bottom.
least, and I am of the opinion that it will Silver means repudiation of half your
be a year or so before anything like a good debts; and as a merchant who owes one
healthy volume of business will be done. dollar to every ten owed to him, the outlook
Trade prospects fairly good.
The very fact of so many failures in all would be disastrous if there was the ghost
S. R. LELAND & SON, Worcester, Mass.— lines throughout the country in the last few of a chance for Bryan's election.
The prospects for our trade in September months is indicative of peculiar circum-
and October seem to be fairly good. We stances (no matter from what cause) with
judge of this by our present condition and which the people are now confronted, but Paying more attention to collections than sales.
from what our men bring in while on the I rely with confidence upon the intelligence
JOHN HOYT, Davenport. Iowa.—We do
road. We find very few silver people in and ability of the people at large to right
not expect a large trade either this month
this city, and have no doubt but those matters, but, in the meantime, we have to
or next, as we are paying more attention to
favoring the gold standard are in the ma- endure until it is cured.
collections than sales. We do not expect
jority. We are very glad to say that our
a very satisfactory trade for some time af-
payments on pianos sold on the installment
Look for 25 per cent increase over 05 from Nov. 1 ter the election, for the reason that there is
plan compare favorably with those of seve-
to Jan. 1.
still a large per cent, of last year's crop on
ral years and in fact better than the year
hand, to which add the enormous crop of
JAMES A. GUEST, Burlington, Iowa.—
previous.
this year and no foreign demand, and
The
prospects
for
trade
during
September
We always feel that these political years
prices will remain low and trade necessarily
are bad years for business, and are always and October are not at all satisfactory.
dull. I do not consider the outlook flat-
Trade
until
after
the
presidential
election
glad when political matters are settled, but
tering.
There is a strong sentiment here
of course our band instrument department will be very meagre.
in favor of sound money and we have but
After
McKinley
is
elected
I
look
for
25
is helped for the time being.
per cent increase over 1895 * n trade from few free silver advocates, and they seem to
be growing beautifully less or holding
November 4th to January ist.
Business uncertain until after election.
In my section there is a growing senti- their breath. Collections on installment
ment
in favor of the gold standard. Iowa paper have been the slowest I ever saw
THE LAUTER CO., Newark, N. J. —We
them since July ist. Still I do not think
do not look for much trade during this will go Republican from thirty-five to sixty
we would be in a suffering condition even
month or October, and think that busi- thousand majority.
with the low prices of the present, and a
ness will be fitful and uncertain until after
There have been more delinquents on
national election on our hands; but add
election, and then will be dull for at least piano installment paper during the present
to that the free coinage of silver and repu-
a year.
summer than for several years previous.
diation (or only the fear of it) and we have
My
advice
to
all
those
suffering
from
the
The condition of our installment accounts
a state of affairs that is not pleasant to
is very good and about the* same as in for- free silver lunacy is to go at once to
contemplate. But we hope to do our share
some good doctor and have their heads ex-
mer years.
of snowing Mr. Bryan and his free silver
As this is a large manufacturing town amined.
party under so deep that they will never
In
my
opinion
every
citizen
at
this
time
the sentiment for a gold standard is very
come to the surface again.
advocating sound money is one of the sav-
strong here.
iours of the honor, dignity, and majesty of
the United States of America.
If the gold standard wins, confidence will return.
Collections have been very good.
S. W. RAUDENBUSH & Co., St. Paul,
W. P. VAN WICKLE, Washington Manager
Minn.—Trade is fair with us and we do Better feeling in the trade, generally.
F. G. Smith.—Public schools in Washing-
not anticipate as good trade during this
TAYLOR'S
MUSIC
HOUSE,
Springfield,
ton do not open until the last of September,
month and October as generally, the polit- Mass.—Our trade for the past two months and the people do not get back from their
ical uncertainty being the cause. No mat- has been rather quiet, as July and August vacations until about October ist, so that
ter which way the election goers, trade will are generally very quiet in the piano trade, we do not look for much trade before No-
only be fair for some time to come, as the but we think there is a little better feeling vember, in fact until after the elections,
people have no surplus funds and cannot in the trade generally. We hope to have a then sho'ild McKinlev be elected we look
afford to buy many pianos. If the gold good fall trade, but think it rather doubt- for good business, and if Bryan is success-
standard wins, confidence will begin to re- ful until after election. The past week we full there may be a slump for a time, b u t
President we are fully justified in the faith
of an early improvement in business circles.
I do not teel justified in stating there is a
growing sentiment in favor of that ghost,
free coinage of silver 16 to i. I am satis-
fied that each succeeding day McKinley is
gaining and we earnestly hope to see the
banner of protection and honest money
triumphantly swinging from every flag
pole.
turn and trade will very slowly improve.
We think the "sound money" sentiment
is increasing, though silver will show con-
siderable btrength in the Northwest.
There has been an increase in delinquents
—not a large increase, however.