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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
- > • t EDWARD LYMAN BILL-i—?
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including: postage). United States,
Mexico and Canada, $2^00 per year ; all other countries,
$3«o.
ADVERTlSEnENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 22, 1898.
TELEPHONE NUMBER,
1745—EIGHTEENTH STREET
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
" THE EDDY AND WHIRL.
I
N the Courier Annex of last Saturday, ap-
peared a double page advertisement, the
heading of which, brought out in bold type,
was, "Unparalleled Testimonial from Piano
Manufacturers of Greater New York to
Haines Bros., referring to an order of the
Supreme Court."
Then followed a quotation alleged to be
from " A Music Trade Paper." In this the
names of leading manufacturers who have
made strong affidavits to support the position
taken by Haines Bros., were mentioned.
Following the quotation the names of the
firms were again repeated, in conjunction
with the following:
"These affidavits (names of firms here in-
serted) constitute the greatest testimonial
ever given to a piano manufacturer."
One would naturally form the impression
upon scanning the advertisement that Haines
Bros, had betrayed the confidence of the
manufacturers who had generously given them
tfieir affidavits to the effect that Haines
Bros, pianos were the original " Haines " and
known as such to the trade. In other words,
the whole matter looked like a cheap ad-
vertising scheme of Haines Bros., hence
the manufacturers who had exhibited their
willingness to support Haines Bros, in their
claims were exceedingly wroth and put out by
such apparent action on their part to distort
their signatures into a piano testimonial.
Any firm who would gain signatures under
such conditions for cheap advertising certain-
ly would not be worthy of the consideration
or of the sympathy of the members of this
trade, and Saturday many readers turned
with disgust from the advertising announce-
ment in the Annex, which, to all intents,
emanated from Haines Bros. Incor. and
had their sanction. It certainly bore the
imprint upon its face of genuineness, and
had a tremendous effect in turning the
tide of sympathy from Haines Bros, to the
defendants in the pending law suit.
In our opinion this was precisely what was
intended.
When Haines Bros, saw this double page
advertisement they were thunderstruck—
amazed, but they quickly saw what the result
of such an unchallenged announcement would
create. They immediately wired every one of
the manufacturers whose signature was
brought into prominence by the Courier ad-
vertisement, denying any connection with the
matter whatsoever. This was followed up by
a letter thoroughly emphasizing their attitude.
Haines Bros, have written to the Annex
stating that if a complete retraction be not
forthcoming, their future course in the matter
will be guided by the advice of their legal
counsel. Never in the history of music trade
journalism has there been such a seemingly
deliberate intent to wreck a business institu-
tion as is deduced from the illicit announce-
ment in the Courier Annex. It has injured
Haines Bros., and there are many to-day who
will still believe that they were the real
authors of the announcement.
It seems to us that not only have Haines
Bros, a strong case against the Annex, but
that every manufacturer whose name was dis-
honestly used has a right to demand legal
satisfaction before the courts. Such high-
handed methods should not be permitted
to pass without being condemned in the
strongest way that the laws of this country
permit.
Q N E of the best means of judging the feel-
ing of prosperity which exists is through
the condition of the large life insurance com-
panies which reach all classes and are affected
by any change in the condition of the people.
The president of the Equitable Co. in an in-
terview this week said:
" A company like the Equitable transacting
business in every town and hamlet of the
United States, has the opportunity of feeling
the pulse of the public, in regard to the com-
mercial and financial status, with comparative
accuracy. For several years business has
progressed with a brake on. Now the brakes
are off,and there is no question whatever of the
difference in feeling. Hopefulness and con-
fidence are more prevalent, and the very ex-
istence of such a feeling is productive of
greater prosperity. The affairs of this com-
pany during 1897 have shown a constant and
increasing change for the better. Invest-
ment securities have been enhanced in value,
and active agents who in recent years have
found it difficult to meet their business ex-
penses are now finding the public ready to in-
vest in insurance contracts. The outlook for
1898 is very bright, and information comes
in every day through the many arteries reach-
ing out to the most distant parts of the coun-
try that a spirit prevails altogether in con-
trast with the gloom of past years. How
much of this is due to the individual prestige
of the company I cannot say. Probably
both influences have their effect."
|-|AS trade journalism reached the level of
thuggery? Has any man, simply because
he has a paper at his back, the right to scatter
broadcast statements which are intended to
ruin the reputation of honest concerns?
Who gave him that right? Who supports
PARLY Monday morning an employee of the thuggery to-day?
Courier Annex appeared at the warerooms of
We hear of men denouncing the methods of
the Haines Bros, factory. He said to Mr. trade papers, and yet when an occasion arises
Wm. P. Haines: "Well, what do you think of whereby a determined stand for trade honor
our card in the paper last Saturday, rather is necessary, what do we find?
clever, was it not?"
Do they stand shoulder to shoulder united
Mr. Haines looked at him aghast. Simply the to free the trade from a journalistic leper?
display of such unmitigated gall and monumen-
What can any fair-minded, self-respecting
tal brass in attempting to turn what appeared man think of a paper that will plot to ruin
to Mr. Haines to be a direct and deliberate men? Such action on the part of an edi-
intent to injure his business, into an effort in tor places him beyond the pale of decency,
its behalf, was beyond his comprehension.
and if in his life he committed no other un-
•'Yes," the representative continued, "Mr. worthy act, it should remove him forever be-
Blumenberg first thought of one page, but yond the recognition of gentlemen and be-
then he decided to make a really good thing yond all claims to respectability. It is sim-
for you and to do so it required two, so he ply incomprehensible that this trade can for
one moment permit rank baseness to pass un-
placed them in the paper."
Is there no limit to the nerve of this man noticed. The actions of a highwayman are
many times more honorable than a journalistic
Blumenberg?
Is it possible he even expected Haines thug, because armed with the bludgeon and
Bros, to make a monetary contribution to mask we look for such onslaughs from
the outcasts of society, but from a pa-
their own ruin?