Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
association work. I have felt that it repre-
sented in a large degree a sectional body;
and composed, as I believed it to be, al-
most entirely of the Eastern makers, I
could not look upon it as being of
TWENTY-FIRST YEAR.
any particular assistance to me. I
•EDWARD LYMAN BILL-
joined, however, because I thought if they
Editor and Proprietor
were to meet in Chicago it was only cour-
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
tesy that I should, for at least no harm
3 East 14th St., New York
could come from it. But now I have at-
SUBSCRIPTION (Including postage), United States, tended every session, and I am not only
Mexico and Canada, Sajoo per year; all other countries,
$4«o.
ADVERTISEnENTS, $2.00 per Inch, single column, per charmed with the Eastern men, but I am
Insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $5<>.<-*v opposite read* in love with the Association idea. I am
ing matter I7S .00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should impressed more than I can tell with the
b« made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
(
principles for which this organization
EnUrid at tha XTem York Post Office at Second Clou JCaUw.
stands,
and I am sure every other manu-
NEW YORK, MAY 26, 1900.
"~"
facturer who has remained aloof from par-
TELBPHONE NUMBER, 1743—EIGHTEENTH STREET.
THE KEYNOTE.
ticipation in this work, and who is afforded
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary now an opportunity to see, as I have seen,
and musical features which have heretofore will become just as enthusiastic." A chat
appeared In The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing with Mr. Jones, of the Schiller Piano Co.,
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a and some other members who have recent-
trade paper.
ly joined elicited practically the same senti-
ment as expressed by Mr. Story.
ASSOCIATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
The Manufacturers' Association has elim-
IN last week's Review a complete repor-
inated sectionalism, if ever it existed, and
torial account of the Convention doings
there is every desire now evident to stand
was recorded, and at this time it may be
shoulder to shoulder for the promotion of
well to sum up briefly some of the import-
trade rights and the welfare of the indus-
ant matters discussed, what advance the
try.
association has made during the year, and
what reasons it affords by its accomplish- HP H E RE has been a belief existing in some
quarters that the Piano Manufacturers'
ments for its existence as an organiza-
tion. It certainly must have been ap- National Association is antagonistic to the
parent to all who attended the Chicago trade press. It must have been clear to
meeting that the manufacturers gathered all who were present and were enabled to
there were impressed with the importance obtain the boiled down essence of the man-
and necessity of bettering the conditions ufacturers' opinion regarding the trade
which exist within the trade. There were papers that there was not a scintilla of evi-
no iconoclastic measures proposed, nor dence on which to build the antagonistic
were there revolutionary methods adopted. theory. On the contrary, there was indis-
The entire Convention was conducted putable proof that the Association recog-
along enthusiastic, thoughtful and impres- nizes that the trade papers constitute an
sive lines, and on every side was evidenced indispensable accessory to the trade. The
a spirit of camaraderie and a desire to Association does not hesitate to condemn
promote the mutual interests of the trade. unequivocally the unjust and malicious
That there has been serious thinking attacks made by certain sections of the
along lines of trade betterment is eloquent- trade press upon members of the industry.
ly evidenced in the matters threshed over The resolutions show too that the manufac-
at the various meetings and which were turers themselves admit that they have been
largely to blame for much of that which has
finally passed in forms of resolutions.
There has been a substantial increase of appeared in the past detrimental to in-
membership during the year, and it may dividual members. The strength of the
be truthfully said that the Piano Manufac- Association is considered one of the best
turerers National Association as a trade safeguards against individual attacks. The
body stands more compact, stronger and up-building of the Association means the
possessing a greater element of usefulness up-rooting of that class of journalism
•than ever before since its formation. Men which has fattened for years upon the
who met for the first time, and who previ- weaknesses of piano manufacturers. The
ously have been lukewarm regarding associ- Association to-day stands for that which is
ation accomplishments became enthusiastic right in business and will exert an aid in
converts at the Chicago convention.
support of journalism which is clean and
progressive,
and papers of that character
Talking with Edward H. S ory, of the
Story & Clark Co., he said: " I have been have a brighter future than ever before.
to a certain extent indifferent regarding After all, trade journalism should be run
upon the same general lines and principles
which are operative in other branches
of industry, for it is an industry. A
paper should be patronized for what
it is worth and what it represents, not
through fear of attack or a desire of a
manufacturer to appease the whining en-
treaties, or to patronize some particular
fellow because he has pleasing address
and would make a good agent for a wine
house. The whole matter should be re-
solved purely to a business basis, and The
Review, for one paper, would prefer to be
patronized for its position, influence, cir-
culation and general features which are in-
cluded in the ma 1 e-up of a paper which is
desirous of representing, not misrepresent-
ing, the industry in which its particular
interests lie.
HP HE suggestion that one session during
next year shall be set apart for the
dealers to discuss such matters as shall be
of mutual benefit for the whole trade means
the injection of a broader spirit in conven-
tion work, and will do much to remove
the apathy which exists in certain quarters
relative to association accomplishments.
The dealers' interests and the manufac-
turers' are identical. The manufacturer
has his avenues of outlay through the deal-
er, and it is the good dealer whom he is
seeking and suggestions from him will add
materially to the interest engendered at
next year's meeting. The results embody-
ing the fact that manufacturers are too fre-
quently sufferers by the personal attacks of
one dealer upon another opens up thought
along lines which should be productive of
rich results.
There have been many personal con-
troversies among rival dealers which in the
main have ended by the product which
they have represented being dragged into
disrepute, hence this is a part of Associa-
tion work which will interest.
HP HE stencil report created considerable
more discussion than any one topic
brought before the Convention, and many
points were brought out during the line of
argument that followed the introduction
of the stencil topic in the assembly. The
resolutions which were printed in The Re-
view of last week show that some ad-
vance has been made along lines which
portend, if not the practical elimination,
the steady diminution of stencil traffic.
As we interpret the stencil report it means
a recognition of the legitimacy of the so-
called stencilled pianos, that is pianos which
have a definite origin, and adopting meas-
ures whereby instruments may easily be
traceable to their parents. In other words,
by the system which is proposed by the