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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From Chicago.
NO CHANGE IN THE LABOR SITUATION—
LOCKOUT MAY BE INDEFINITELY PRO-
LONGED THE ATTITUDE OF THE
PAPERS WILL SMITH & BARNES
MOVE TO SPRINGFIELD?
[Special to The Review.]
Chicago, 111., Dec. 20, 1899.
There is practically nothing to add to
what has already been written concern-
ing the labor troubles in this city. The
ground has been pretty well thrashed over,
and there is but little more that can be
said. The piano-makers' position has been
endorsed by the American Federation of
Labor which has been in session in De-
troit, and which has decided upon organized
assistance.
It looks as if the lockout will be indefi-
nitely prolonged. On the 16th inst. there
was a meeting of the former employees of
the Newman Bros. Co. at Phoenix Hall, to
consider a settlement of the lockout. J.
F. Schwerin, who is one of Dold's assist-
ants, came to attend the meeting, and as
soon as he made his appearance the con-
tractors left. Resolutions were adopted
. not to go to work until a settlement was
made with the union.
The piano manufacturers are willing at
any time to treat with their men, but they
refuse to have anything to do with the
union. It is interesting to state that the
daily papers of Chicago have failed thus
far to express one word of comment re-
garding the findings of the State Board of
Arbitration. In one or two instances they
have printed the findings, prefaced with
the statement that "we publish this at the
request of the piano manufacturers."
The desire to truckle to the labor ele-
ment does not stop even at the courts.
Thus far the reports in the daily papers
regarding the piano labor troubles as well
as others, have been colored to suit the la-
bor class. The manufacturers should re-
member this in making their advertising
appropriations. Take the vast sums of
money expended by the W. W. Kim-
ball Co. I question if there is another
concern in the United States barring
none that has spent as much money
in the advertising columns of the daily
press as has the great Kimball Co. of
this city. Probably when everything gets
adjusted, and things are once more run-
ning smoothly the business managers of
the daily papers will find that piano manu-
facturers possess among other things ex-
cellent memories. There has been no
denying the fact that the business inter-
ests of Chicago are seriously imperilled by
the action of the labor union. That im-
portant trade, the building industry has
been badly crippled and men now are un-
willing to make contracts for buildings in
Chicago, so little can they count upon
labor.
There is no abatement whatsoever of the
inquiries that are going steadily on for
outside factory sites. Down at Springfield,
O., they seem to think that the Smith &
Barnes Piano Co. will be sure to locate in
that city. It is reliably stated that Sen-
ator Fairbanks, who owns the factory which
secretary Van Matre looked over, has been
asked to put a price on his building. This
was entirely too high, and the Smith &
Barnes Co. made him a proposition. This
he declined, but in turn named a price
which was more reasonable than his first
figures. It is said that there are only a
few thousand dollars between them, and
that a compromise may follow.
A. B. Chase Queries.
The A. B. Chase position is very cleverly
summarized in their advertisement else-
where in this issue. They put forth a
number of queries which dealers would do
well to read and ponder over. After due
reflection and consultation with their con-
freres in the industry who have handled
the A. B. Chase pianos with such pleasure
and profit, we opine they will readily
answer these queries in the affirmative.
The A. B. Chase piano has worthily won
its way to the artistic altitude it occupies
in the musical world. It is high grade
and individual in tone, in style, in design,
in construction. It has behind it an hon-
ored reputation based on merit and which
alike insures dealer and purchaser honest
values.
The busy condition of the A. B. Chase
plant at Nor walk to-day is perhaps the
best testimony of the wide appreciation in
which the A. B. Chase products are held.
The demand is unparalleled; meanwhile
every effort, in the way of increased work-
ing force and extension of plant, is being
undertaken to fill orders with promptitude.
Mr. Strauch's Bereavement.
The many friends of Mr. Wm. E.
Strauch will sympathize deeply with him
in his recent sad bereavement. On Wed-
nesday last his little daughter, Eleanore,
aged five, died as the result of a sudden
attack of pneumonia. The child had just
recovered from the measles when she con-
tracted a cold which suddenly developed
into pneumonia, which terminated fatally.
Mehlin and Kroeger in Roanoke.
The piano house recently opened at No.
12 Salem avenue is not a simple retail
store, but is the supply depot of two great
piano manufacturers, Paul G. Mehlin &
Sons and the Kroeger Piano Co., both of
New York, says the Roanoke, Va., World.
The house has already received a num-
ber of pianos of new designs, and will al-
ways have the latest from the factory. Mr.
T. La M. Couch, the secretary of the Kroe-
ger Co. is now in the city, completing the
arrangements for his factory.
Mr. Michael, a well-known and popular
young man of much experience, is the
manager of the new house.
Mr. McKinney Selected.
Edward N. McKinney, secretary and
treasurer of the Raymore Piano Co.,
Albany, N. Y., has been selected as a mem-
ber of the Civil Service Commission. Mr.
McKinney is one of the prominent young
business men of Buffalo, and is connected
with a number of important institutions
outside of the piano industry.
Hardman Change,
M. STEINERT & SONS NO LONGER HAVE THE
HARDMAN PIANO FOR NEW ENGLAND.
An important trade happening this week
is that the M. Steinert & Sons Co., will
no longer have the Hardman agency for
New England. They have controlled the
Hardman pianos in the New England
States for a number of years, and have
sold vast numbers of these instruments
throughout that section. In breaking up
and redistributing this important territory
Hardman, Peck & Co. will no doubt es-
tablish a number of agencies where one
has held the controlling power heretofore.
New England is good territory, and the
Hardman piano is a well-known instru-
ment. There is no doubt but in the near
future we shall chronicle new and im-
portant moves made by the Hardman
concern whereby their entire system of
handling pianos in New England will have
been reorganized. When it becomes known
that the district is open there will be a
steady demand from the dealers for terri-
torial allotment.
Charged with Forgery.
[Special to The Review.l
Canandaigua, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1899.
William C. Haskins, of Geneva, formerly
in the employ of Hiram L. Hutchens, the
well-known local dealer in pianos and
organs, has been arrested on a charge by
Mr. Hutchens of forging the latter's name
to certain notes, payable to Hutchens, and
on being arraigned before Judge J. H.
Hicks, of this place, he pleaded not guilty
and was admitted to $250 bonds to appear
before the same judge for trial, on Decem-
ber 2 2d.
Big Weaver Order from England.
[Special to The Review.]
York, Pa., Dec. 19, 1899.
The Weaver Organ & Piano Co. is com-
pelled to run its plant overtime to keep
pace with the large number of orders which
are received daily. The company yester-
day received a single order for 125 organs
to be shipped to England.
Emii Gabler's Health.
It is indeed gratifying to report that Mr.
Emil Gabler has recovered in a large de-
gree from the effects of his accident last
summer. It is now some fourteen weeks
since he was thrown from his horse result-
ing in a painful knee fracture. He is now
moving about the factory with only the aid
of a light cane. He has also resumed his
favorite exercise, riding. Mr. Gabler is a
remarkable man, and it is seldom we see
one of his years displaying such vitality
and so quickly recovering from a serious
accident.
The youngest son of Prof. Franz Rum-
mel has developed unusual talent as a
pianist. He is twelve years old, and is
now studying composition with Boise and
piano with Moritz Mayer-Mahr of Berlin.