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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
If Mr. Blumenberg's intention aside
from trying 1 to capture the convention was
to overawe the trade, he failed signally,
and he has only weakened his position by
attempting to square himself.
It is a display of bad taste on the part of
anyone tocriticise the actions of individuals
who did not invite them to be present
while certain affairs were being discussed.
It shows not only execrable taste, but
qualities which are not in keeping with
those usually possessed by a gentleman, to
criticise the actions of one's host. t|!
Mr. Blumenberg perhaps best explains
how the thorn pricked when he said at the
banquet at the close of his remarks: " I
look upon it in a general sense as an effort
and a desire on the part of the piano manu-
facturers to make up for the great indignity
that was heaped upon us all during the
day."
In this expression Mr. Blumenberg with-
outauthority assumed to act asa mouthpiece
for the other newspaper men, and after such
an expression it is difficult to understand
how he could claim that he was the only-
trade editor who did not insist that there
was a certain relation between the trade
press and the trade itself which entitled
the editors to a position on a plane equiva-
lent to co-operative rights.
Again Mr. Blumenberg is unjust when
he criticises the utterances of Mr. Thorns.
It would be far more honorable to criticise
the men who were instrumental in creating
the ludicrous music trade press procession
of last Wednesday night than to criticise
the utterances of individuals who came as
guests and not to discuss the right of news-
paper men at business conventions.
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Last week in my report of the conven-
tion I stated that The Review had received
an invitation to attend the banquet. I
considered that did not grant the right to
gain entrance into a gathering of gentle-
men where I was not asked and who were
holding an exclusive meeting, therefore I
had no grievances emanating from what
Mr. Blumenberg terms " the great in-
dignity that was heaped upon the press
during all the day." It comes to me as
the natural heritage of a gentleman never
to attempt to force myself upon any com-
pany where my presence is not agreeable.
Neither have I the slightest criticism to
make regarding the Music Trade Associa-
tion in excluding newspaper men from
its discussions. The editors of the daily
papers might as well demand admittance to
the private sessions of the directors of the
New York Central road, and then because
admission was denied turn around and in-
sult the Vanderbilts and Depews.
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As I stated in The Review last week, the
meeting was largely sectional, the great
West being represented by only one im-
portant member of the industry.
Just how much Mr. Blumenberg may
have figured in contributing to this state
of affairs can best be answered by himself.
It is believed by some that he has been
instrumental in belittling the organization
in the important points of Boston and
Chicago.
Surely he cannot claim that it is fair to
criticise the choice of an association presi-
dent, unless he admits that his opinion is
largely governed by personal antipathy
against Henry F. Miller.
Mr. Miller is a manufacturer of repute.
He was selected by the convention unani-
mously. For the Courier to state that
when it became known in Boston that Mr.
Miller was to attend others stayed away is
not only an insult to the intelligence of the
Boston trade, but it is an insult to every
member who attended the convention and
voted for Mr. Miller.
Anent the remarks of H. Paul Mehlin the
Courier's statement that the way to pu-
rify the trade press is to patronize it is per-
fectly correct from the Blumenberg stand-
point. Mr. Mehlin claims the right, the
same as every other independent manufac-
turer, to place his advertising patronage,
whether it be great or small, wheresoever
he wishes.
It would have been much better had he
stated the names of the paper or papers to
to which he specially alluded as needing
the purification process. Because there
has been among piano manufacturers one
Beatty it is hardly fair to class the entire
line as frauds, and because there is to-day
one Blumenberg it is manifestly tmfair for
anyone to place the brand of infamy upon
the entire trade press.
The day of terrorism and the day of
stand-and-deliver methods have gone by,
and I for one propose to stand firmly
on my little vantage ground and explode a
rocket now and then warning the trespass-
ers to keep off the grass.
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Confucius, who in his day was reckon-
ed clever, said among other things to his
disciples, the worst part of wiping your
cheek silently and politely when a man
spits in your face is that it tempts him to
forget himself and spit in your face once
more. I hold if we permit this insult to
dry on instead of wiping away the result
of Mr. Blumenberg's bad manners, he might
be tempted to do it again.
ir
editor's strong point was neither to talk nor
explain but rather to criticise in his paper.
Consistency, thou art a jewel whose
scintillations were never appreciated by
Mr. Blumenberg.
Strich & Zeidler.
A VISIT TO THE WORKSHOPS—SOME REASONS
FOR THEIR PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.
During a brief visit to the Strich &
Zeidler establishment on Wednesday, a
visit was paid to the workshops. It is
some time since the last visit, and in the
interval many improvements have been
carried out with reference to space and
general arrangements. The stock, in all
departments, has been enlarged. There is
now on view a reserve of instruments and
material sufficient to meet any sudden call
for large shipments. These include up-
rights in three sizes and the famous S. &
Z. baby grand.
In the case making department the
variety of cases and rich veneers is doubt-
less one of the best in this section of the
country. The sounding-board department
contains some wonderfully perfect ex-
amples. Each of the other departments is
conspicuous for special work and special
equipments.
When The Review asked Mr. Strich to
give some specific reasons for the phe-
nomenal success enjoyed by the firm since
its inception, and particularly within the
past two years, he said:
" We employ modern scientific methods
and the most advanced labor-saving ap-
pliances; and as a result produce first-class
work and the highest grade of instruments,
noted for the scientific evenness and per-
fection of their scales; their full, round,
powerful and resonant tone; the ease,
elasticity and responsiveness of their
touch; unsurpassed excellence of materials
and workmanship, and the artistic design
and finish of our cases. There are other
reasons, and good ones too, but those I have
just stated are among the most important."
Modern Business.
Nothing requires a more delicate com-
bination of qualities than the creation and
conduct of a great business, says E. L.
The strong contrast between John C. Godkin. The conditions of success are
Freund and Marc A. Blumenberg was per- often too minute for observation. The life
haps never more noticeable than at the is full of terrible anxieties, especially in
trade banquet last Wednesday night. Mr. what is called "hard times," when money
Freund delivered his remarks in a smooth, is difficult to get. The penalty of failure
well poised and correct manner. His is tremendous, and yet the number of us
gestures were made in perfect harmony who are ready to tell the capitalist how to
with his remarks, showing the polished carry on his business, how to pay his men,
talker. Mr. Blumenberg emphasized his whom to employ, and on what terms, is
remarks by a nervous clutching and sweep- very large. If those who can carry on
ing of his hands which somehow suggested business themselves were only one-thou-
the impression that he was trying to scoop sandth part as numerous as those who can
tell how it ought to be carried on by others,
everything in sight.
Again his bad taste was emphasized when the happiness of man would be well as-
he interrupted Mr. Widenmann in his sured.
Callers at the Staib warerooms are fre-
remarks, requesting that he, Blumenberg,
make an explanation. This obtruding him- quent. The Twentieth Century action has
self upon the assembly did not emphasize created great interest among the piano
the breeding of a gentleman and was hardly manufacturers. Several orders have been
in harmony with his remarks delivered a received within the past three weeks from
few minutes previous when he said that an firms of great prestige in the trade.