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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
the manufacture of cases and actions, and
in one or two instances, even to add found-
ries to their equipment. This move may
be due, firstly, to the matter of economy
in production, and secondly, to the in-
ability to secure prompt deliveries in the
very busy season.
The closing of 1900 will see the factory
capacity of this industry greatly enlarged
"and prepared for an immense output, and
the great consideration of the future will
be to keep these plants busy. The present
degree of prosperity cannot always be
with us, and it would be well to plan for
the future.
The matter of export trade comes up for
consideration under this head. There is
no reason why the music trade industry
should not be successful in exploiting
its wares abroad, as other innumerable in-
dustries are doing. Of course there is an
increasing exportation of pianos and or-
gans each year, but there is still room for
active, earnest work in this particular
field. The present activity at home should
not blind manufacturers to the importance
of cultivating the foreign markets in a
thoroughly up to date and progressive
manner.
TRADE PAPERS AND PROGRESS.
IN a recent issue of the Saturday Even-
ing Post, Wm. H. Maher dwells on the
•importance of employees reading the trade
papers. He says: "A clerk who studies
his trade paper and avails himself of every
hint to gain business will not be a clerk
forever." In illustration of this claim Mr.
Maher quotes the following incident:
A dealer who does a business of a mil-
lion dollars a year and watches every de-
tail himself said to me as he pointed to a
bright young man of twenty: "There is
my future manager; he is the only one of
all that crowd who cares to read our trade
paper or who wants to know where things
come from and how they're made."
Mr. Maher emphasizes a fact in the
opening remark which is borne out by ex-
perience. "Knowledge is power," and
every one, be he wareroom or traveling
salesman, dealer or manufacturer, can be
benefitted in some way by a close study of
trade publications. In this age of special-
ization, the would-be successful man pays
particular attention to the trade paper be-
cause he realizes that it is the exclusive
medium whereby his interests are guarded
and advanced. We are living in a fast-
moving era and it is absolutely necessary
in order to be well informed that one
should keep in touch with the developments
in the music trade field at home and
abroad. This only can be done through
supporting a trade paper which deserves
support. The man of common-place ideas,
who adheres to antiquated methods, who
wonders why his competitors make head-
way, who is complaining about, instead of
meeting, new ideas, is the one who never
reads the trade paper, and who considers
a yearly subscription a wasteful luxury.
A Tribute from A. n . McPhail
TO THE PRESENT HEAD OF THE M'PHAlL COM-
PANY A WELL-MERITED
APPRECIATION.
We have frequently commented on the
enterprise and progressive methods of Geo.
F. Blake, the president, and F. H. Owen,
the treasurer, of the McPhail Piano Co. in
connection with the development of the
business of that institution. Since they
assumed control they have worked on a
high plane of endeavor, having in view at all
times, an appreciation of the qualities of
the instrument which they are manufactur-
ing as well as a certain pride in being
members of a great art industry such as
that of piano making. Success has come
their way. And it is perfectly logical in
view of their tireless labors. That a larger
measure is in store for them is inevitable.
No higher tribute could be paid their efforts
than the following unsolicited communica-
tion which reached them last Saturday
morning from Mr. A. M. McPhail, the
founder of the business. While a personal
letter, yet an expression of this kind, ten-
dered in all sincerity from one of our oldest
piano manufacturers, is of interest to the
trade at large, hence its publication:
TESTING CONSTITUTIONALITY.
PROCEEDINGS to test the constitution-
ality of the National Bankruptcy Law
have been instituted by the Hanover Na-
tional Bank of this city who have filed a
suit, through their attorneys, in the U. S.
Circuit Court, Chattanooga, Tenn., against
Max Moyses. The latter owns large plan-
tation interests in Mississippi, and the
Hanover Bank held his paper for $9,000.
Recently the bank sued on the paper, and
obtained a judgment for the face of the
note, with accrued interest, amounting to
$13,000. In the meantime Moyses was
adjudged a bankrupt, and was discharged
by the Federal Court.
The bank attacks the discharge on the
ground that the bankrupt law is uncon-
stitutional and void. Its attorneys assert
Omaha, Neb., March 13, 1900.
that the act violates the Federal constitu-
Mr. G. F. Blake, Pres.,
tion, in that it is not uniform and equally
and Mr. F. H. Owen, Treas.,
of the A. M. McPhail Piano Co.
applicable to all citizens; that it denies
Gentlemen:—It is with great gratifica-
voluntary bankruptcy to corporations, tion that I hear of your company's very
while permitting all other citizens to go successful business record the past year.
I wish to congratulate you on it, and at
into bankruptcy, and that it also denies the
same time to express my approval of
the right to proceed in involuntary bank- the energetic and efficient way in which
ruptcy against wage-earners, or persons you are upholding the old standard of the
McPhail piano. For over half a century
engaged chiefly in farming or the tillage it was the pride of the house to produce an
of the soil, while allowing involuntary pro- instrument that should be known as the
synonym for all that is thorough and en-
ceedings against all other citizens, wheth- during in construction and artistic in re-
er persons or corporations. It is also al- sult.
Although my present home is somewhat
leged that the act is not uniform because
distant from your field of action, I natural-
it allows exemptions to debtors in varying ly retain a deep interest in the piano which
amounts, according to the law of the State bears my name, and take note, so far as
possible, of everything relating to it and
of the domicile of such debtors; that a its
development.
man by moving his residence from one
From all that I am able to observe, you
State to another can choose his domicile would seem to have availed yourselves of
every facility offered by the progress of
and hence his exemption, and thus preju- the times, a . h should therefore go with-
dice his creditors, even though such cred- out saying il . L the McPhail piano of to-
is quit 1 !;c equal of any of days gone
itors had contracted with such debtor day
by. Your financial success is also a proof
under the laws of the original domicile of that your fidelity to the old ideas of excel-
lence is noticed and appreciated by the
the debtor.
musical public. I am glad to believe that
It is claimed also that the clause which in relinquishing to you, as I did nine years
allows a compromise with a bankrupt by a since, the whole responsibility for the pro-
duction of the piano in question, I made
majority in number of creditors and against no mistake, but that the long established
the will of the creditor of a particular con- standards of the house are, and will be,
tract, takes away a constitutional right of safe in your keeping.
You have my sincere approbation and
such objecting creditor by forcing him to hearty good wishes for the future, which
settle a debt in a manner to which he ob- indeed looks so promising.
Believe me to be, gentlemen,
jects.
Always faithfully yours,
A. M. McPhail.
Every one in any way interested in the
WHAT ADVERTISING DOES.
A N advertisement will not enable you to progress of the McPhail institution will
dispense with a traveler, but it will help cordially agree with the sentiments so well
expressed by Mr. McPhail in this letter—it
your traveler. It will introduce him. It is an appreciation of Messrs. Blake and
will interest a buyer in your goods, and Owen's efforts that is indeed well
consequently in your representative.
merited.