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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
AFFAIRS IN CHICAGO.
NO
RESULT FROM ARBITRATION, AND
CHANGE IN THE LABOR SITUATION.
NO
[Special to The Review].
Chicago, 111., Dec. 13, T899.
After finishing its session in Chicago the
State Board of Arbitration has made its
report on the labor troubles. No official
action was taken by the Board owing to
the fact that all of the names on the pe-
tition had been signed in the same hand-
writing; this rendered the action of the
Board illegal and all they could do was to
make a recommendation.
Business agent Dold was aware of this
irregularity, but failed to fill out his papers
according to law.
The findings of the Board may be inter-
preted as a blow to the union. It recom-
mends individual action, and thus the af-
fairs are brought back to the same place
they were in September, when the strike
and lock-out became effective.
Last Saturday the Piano and Organ
Workers Union all met in joint session in
Convention Hall on Washington street.
The object of the meeting was to form a
stronger union for the present fight against
the Manufacturers Association, and to
adopt plans for the further continuance of
the strike. Dold as usual was charged
with abuse against the manufacturers.
In speaking of the arbitration board, he
said: " A t best it is only a political in-
stitution. One of the members, while the
board was in session, called me aside and
said: ' If we are able to make a satisfactory
settlement of this matter we want you to
see that we get a boost through the press.'
I do not wish to reflect any credit on any
of the members of the board, but in my
opinion we can best get along without
them."
He urges the men to still hold out. A
complete reversion of his statement made
previous to the meeting of the Arbitration
Board, when he remarked that he would
abide by the decision of the Board, what-
ever it be. A committee of ten men was
appointed at the meeting to assist Dold
in his work. This staff will receive in-
structions from Dold. Pickets will be es-
tablished among the men and guards will
be on duty day and night, in order to pre-
vent desertion from the union.
When the Arbitration report was read
it was received with derision, and it was
voted to throw it into the waste basket and
to continue the strike. Business Agent
Dold stated that it would have no effect
other than to make the men the more de-
termined to stand out.
The support of the Chicago Federation
of Labor was pledged to the locked-out
piano-workers at the regular meeting of
the federation held yesterday. The Ex-
ecutive board was instructed to aid the
men financially. The support of various
local unions has been pledged, even the
Woodworkers' union, former antagonists
of the pianoworkers, passing resolutions of
sympathy. With the additional financial
assistance the men will be able, so Dele-
gate Dold says, to prolong the fight in-
definitely.
The Executive Board of the Federation
of Labor will call on retail dealers and pro-
prietors of music halls where pianos are
rented and ask that they decline to handle
pianos made by manufacturers in thisfight.
Briefly, the situation in Chicago up to
date remains unchanged. The manufac-
turers are still as determined as ever, and
they realize that it is simply a struggle to
determine whether they shall run their
business on lines which they deem con-
sistent or whether they shall delegate that
authority to outside cigar men and hod-
carriers.
The entire trade should understand that
it is not a question of wages at all. There
is a deep and vital question involved which
affects the entire industry and which will de-
termine in the end whether the men who pay
the bills shall also have the right to run
their business, or whether they must bend
to the union. There is not the slightest
belief that they will weaken, and it is gen-
erally known that individual workmen
would be mighty glad to get back in their
old positions, but at present the union
dominates them. They have listened to
Dold's promises now for a number of
weeks, and promises do not keep them
warm,neither do they feed them. The ex-
treme cold which we are having here may
have an effect and bring them quickly to
their senses.
As a result of the recent visit of Super-
intendent Nelson and Secretary Van
Matre, of the Smith & Barnes Piano Com-
pany, to Springfield, O., last week, the
company has entered into negotiations
with Senator Fairbanks, of Indiana, owner
of the East street shops, for the purchase
of the north wing of the building.
Senator Fairbanks' son has gone to
Washington to see his father and get the
lowest figure on that portion of the build-
ing.
It is said that the price first asked was
about half of that the entire plant sold for,
which was $150,000, and this was consid-
ered entirely too much by the company.
Henry Detmer, whose establishment was
destroyed by fire as he was about to enter
into the manufacture of pianos six months
ago, has now ready for inspection the first
two Detmer pianos turned out. The de-
signs are neat and attractive, the tone is
pleasing, and they possess every requisite
to make their way as favorites in the trade
world. A few weeks from now two other
styles on the Colonial order will be added.
Mr. Detmer's factory is under the man-
agement of Edward H. Crell, and the scale
and general construction of these instru-
ments do him credit. There should be lit-
tle trouble in finding a large market for
the Detmer piano. An illustrated musical
merchandise catalogue of 144 pages has
just been issued by Mr. Detmer. It is a
very complete production and embraces
everything in the musical line and should
interest dealers.
The International Piano Makers' Union,
of New York, has adopted a resolution to the
effect that members of other unions work-
ing in piano factories must join the piano
makers' organization.
Frank Scribner's New Quarters,
New York, Dec. 13, 1899.
Music Trade Review, City.
Gentlemen:—Please note that I will
move my place of business on the last of
this week to the Brandreth Building, No.
415 Broadway, corner Canal street, direct-
ly opposite where I am now located. I
have leased offices on the second floor,
with all of the up-to-date improvements
and expect to be settled in my new quart-
ers by Monday next.
Yours very truly, Frank Scribner.
Calendars for 1900.
The New Year's calendars which started
to make their appearance last week, con-
tinue to multiply. The Krell Piano Co.
have sent out a strikingly attractive calen-
dar in colors. Newcombe & Co., of Toron-
to, have selected a large vase of flowers to
which is appended the different months, as
a New Year offering, while the Briggs
Piano Co. have sent out a novelty in the
form of a piano hammer fastened to a card-
board, with the remarks: "No hammering
is required to make people appreciate the
good qualities of the Briggs piano."
A Christmas Attraction.
The American Theatre will be closed
during the week of Dec. 18, in order to
make the necessary preparations for the
series of operatic novelties scheduled for
early production and, which combined with
the standard comic, light and grand operas,
will form an attractive and interesting
repertoire for the latter half of the Castle
Square Opera Company's third year of
opera in English. Milloecker's tuneful
opera "The Beggar Student " will be the
Christmas week attraction. The produc-
tion will be mounted on a spectacular
scale, employing all the latest devices in
stage mechanism, and electrical effects.
It will be given with a cast of light opera
favorites, which will include Miss D.
Eloise Morgan, Miss Gertrude (Juinlan,
Bessie^Tannehill, Belle D'Arcy, Reginald
Roberts. Wm. G. Stewart. Frank Moulan,
Louis Cassavant, and Charles Myers, all
of whom will make their first appearance
at the American Theatre this season. At
the Christmas matinee souvenirs commem-
orative of the Castle Square Opera Com-
pany's anniversary will be distributed.
Exposition in Cincinnati.
[Special to The Review.]
Cinncinnati, O., Dec. 13, 1899.
Probably the most important topic dis-
cussed at the monthly dinner of the man-
ufacturers' club at the Queen City club
was the subject of the advisability of an
industrial exposition in Cincinnati next
year. It was the opinion of many others
that a local manufacturers' exposition would
prove a good thing for business. Mr. Lucien
Wulsin gave Cincinnati's rank in the man-
ufacture of small musical instruments as
second among the large manufacturers
in the country.
Ambuhl Bros., of Pittsburg, have dis-
continued their stores in Altoona and
Johnstown.