Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 21

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Association hereafter there will be, if this
plan becomes general, no pianos which will
not be directly traceable to the points of
manufacture, for they must bear the brand
of the maker, not burnt in the back, a la
Bent, but through a source of registration
become completely legitimatized.
T H E re-adjustment of freight rates came
up for a fair amount of attention, and
it is possible in the near future that
through arrangement a number of indus-
trial organizations composed of manufac-
turers may co-operate for national action
in regard to freight adjustment.
T^HE subject of varnish was discussed,
and it was considered advisable to
discover, if possible, some methods which
would reduce the liability of varnish to
check. To this end a prize of $500 was
offered.
TT must be apparent to all who have read
the work of the music trade cenvention
in Chicago that the association has con-
sidered the betterment of conditions in the
trade in a serious way which should win
for it at once hearty endorsement.
IN the vast amount of matter which was
wired to The Review from Chicago last
week it would seem almost impossible not
to have had some slight errors occur. The
errors which crept in, however, were of
trifling importance, and as a whole the
Convention story was told in detail not-
withstanding the immense distance in-
tervening between the Convention hall
and The Review offices. We may say,
however, that there were three telegrams
which were sent in fairly good time from
Chicago which owing to some delay on the
part of the telegraph system failed to be
delivered at The Review headquarters un-
til Saturday morning.
I T is extremely probable that within the
near future the journals worthy of
trade will be enabled by an increase of
patronage to become better papers, where-
as there will be a corresponding decline in
the business patronage of the others.
THE REVIEW AT THE EXPOSITION.
'"THE Review's special correspondent at
the Paris Exposition, Miss Lilian
King, writes that there are still important
exhibits not open to the public, and that
sections remain in the hands of the work-
men. It will probably be another month
before the Exposition is open in its en-
tirety.
While The Review is not burning any
red light anent the Paris Exposition it de-
sires to state that it has a special corre-
spondent in Miss King, who represented
The Review at the Exposition of '89 and
who will also keep us well informed re-
garding trade topics during the present
year. In the publishers' department of
the Exposition bound volumes of The Re-
view are also entered for exhibition pur-
poses.
ers. Notwithstanding the seemingly con-
clusive evidence which was introduced to
prove that these men conspired to injure
the business of Mr. Bent and the assault
upon his men, yet a verdict was rendered
which many will think was not in accor-
dance
with the evidence submitted. More
THE VALUE OF~SHOW WINDOWS.
\17OULD not the piano merchants in the hangs upon the result of this suit than ap-
smaller towns win materially in pa- pears upon the surface.
tronage, if more attention were given to
the matter of interior decorations and I AST Saturday morning every piano
manufacturer upon whom The Re-
window arrangements? The idea seems
to be prevalent in some quarters that view called in Chicago, expressed extreme
money or even time spent in making piano regret at the result of this trial. They feel
stores attractive is wasted. Competition that under the ruling regime in Chicago
is keen even in the smaller towns, and the justice cannot be obtained in the local
piano merchant at the present time needs courts, and that with such illustrations as
to put forth every effort to encourage trade. the Bent vs. Dold case before them, it is
An attractive store and a novel window is not encouraging to invest fresh capital in
one of the strongest advertising mediums manufacturing plants in that city.
Throughout the long-drawn labor trou-
and withal one of the cheapest.
bles
which began last summer inadequate
How many people understand that clean-
liness is the first law of the show window, police protection was afforded the Bush &
and that the illy kept bedraggled looking Gerts factory and later when the strike
window is too frequently the means of de- and lockout was in full blast, it became
terring people from entering an establish- more and more evident that the support of
ment? The window display should be well those in political authority was entirely
arranged, for a show window is too valu- with the disturbing element.
The Bent case has been watched, too,
able an advertising space to be lost. It
should be an index to the store, as it were, with extreme interest by manufacturers
like the scriptural definition of faith—the who are not interested in the piano busi-
substance of things hoped for, the evidence ness. It has been looked upon in many
of things not seen. Blank window space is ways as a test case, and Chicago has offi-
worth nothing at all, but if it is occupied cially pronounced herself as not in favor
by a good, attractive, striking show it will of protecting her manufacturing interests
bring business and make money. In the or the lives and properties of her citizens.
This is a serious arraignment, but never-
arrangements of pianos and musical instru-
ments there is not the variety or latitude theless the situation warrants the expres-
afforded for decorative purposes which ex- sion, and we will make the prediction at
ists in many other lines of retail trade, but this point that ere another twelve months
there is a field for the exercising of intelli- shall have passed there will be more auxil-
gent and inventive minds to arrange and iary piano factories operating outside of
maintain attractive show windows, so that Chicago.
one's establishment may be talked about.
FUNCTIONS OF TRADE PAPERS.
It pays in more ways than one, and the
I N the Association report concerning the
question of utilizing a window to the best
trade press appears the following:
advantage by placing therein something
It is evident that the true function of
attractive should not be overlooked by the the trade paper is to print advertising and
retail piano merchants even in the smallest disseminate legitimate news in the interest
of the industry which it should represent.
towns.
The moment that it adds to this function
and assumes authority or power which does
THE DOLD VERDICT.
not belong to it, that instant it becomes a
C O R more than a week previous to the menace.
We cannot endorse the position assumed
rendering of the verdict, Geo. P.
Bent's time was almost completely ab- by the committee in this matter. If the
sorbed by duties in connection with his legitimate functions of a trade paper cease
suit against Chas Dold, president of the in printing advertising and news, then
Piano and Organ Workers' Union, who, there could be no advance in trade journal-
with others, was charged with conspiracy ism beyond a certain automatic point. It
assuredly does not become a menace to the
to injure Mr. Bent's business.
The case was closed last Friday night industry when it adds to that function. A
and the jury passed only a surprisingly trade paper may indulge in honest criti-
short time in deliberation before they re- cism. A trade paper should be an exponent
turned the verdict of not guilty. Dold's of ideas and principles which are of vital
co-defendants were three other labor lead- importance to the industry and it should be
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
an aider and an abettor of all that which
tends to the promotion of the good and the
dissemination of that which is of manifest
advantage to the industry. It should be a
leader in all that the word implies.
No, the functions of a trade paper do not
end with the mere publication of advertis-
ing and news matter. If all of us viewed
them in precisely that light then the entire
press woiild become as vacuously insipid
as are the papers of to-day which are noto-
rious for stale news and brainless reprints.
There is a distinct line of demarcation
between independent journalism and ser-
vile journalism, between honest journalism
and mercenary journalism, between pro-
gressive journalism and decadent journal-
ism, and that line cannot be too well em-
phasized and too clearly presented for the
intelligent discrimination of the members
of the industry. The trade p^per should
not be an automaton showing the news
and advertising side of the industry, but
it should, in the broadest sense, be a trade
forum.
\ 1 7 E have frequently commented upon
the dignified advertising of John
Wanamaker in connection with his piano
store. It has been of that character which
has been at once attractive and impressive.
Bloomingdale's, however, is of an entirely
different type. This concern is advertis-
ing the "Wilson" piano at $5.00 cash and
$1.00 per week on the piano club plan.
That Dolge Litigation.
(Special to The Review.)
Little Falls, N. Y., May 21, 1900.
The hearing before referee Hadley
Jones in the matter of Dolge claims booked
for Saturday has been adjourned for one
week on application of all of the attorneys.
At the next hearing the claim of Julius
Breckwoldt will come up for consideration,
and this claim is being most vigorously
fought on all sides. The claim of Receiver
Richardson, of the Daniel Green Co.,
amounting to over a half million dollars on
account of accommodation paper given to
Alfred Dolge & Son, has not yet been con-
sidered by the referee.
Hr. Dutton on the Road.
William Dalliba Dutton, with Hardman,
Peck & Co., will leave town next week on
business connected with the firm. He ex-
pects to visit Montreal during his ab-
sence. Mr. Dutton will be on the move
most of the time during the next month or
five weeks, returning occasionally to the
city for a few hours at intervals.
Henderson Arrives.
A cablegram has been received from J.
C. Henderson, manager of the Ann Arbor
Organ Co., that he arrived safely on Euro-
pean shores. Mr. Henderson is one of the
most energetic men of our city, says the
Ann Arbor Democrat, and if reports are
true will probably return with good orders.
Despicable flethods
Benefits of a Bankrupt Law.
USED BY SOME PARTIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO
SELL PIANOS—THOS. LA M. COUCH ILLUS-
TRATES A CASE IN POINT.
A national bankruptcy system based on
honest lines is indispensable to prevent the
unjust discrimination which is permitted
by some local laws against citizens of other
States. In Illinois and some other States
the law protects resident creditors in their
attempts to reach property or funds of a
non-resident debtor even after the making
of an assignment for the equal benefit of
all creditors valid in the State where it is
made. Such legislation can find no justi-
fication, except on the theory of reciprocal
devastation. State lines are obliterated
for the purposes of trade—why should
they be retained for the purpose of the in-
equitable enforcement of the law in cases
of commercial failure?
In the absence of a bankrupt law, trade
is hampered, not only by discriminating
laws, but by the conflict of numerous and
inconsistent State laws, acquaintance with
which is troublesome and expensive, and
which can be availed of only by the keen-
est activity and perpetual legal warfare,
and even then permitted preferences will
in some States defeat the most vigilant.
The fathers realized the necessity for
the concession to the Federal Government
of authority over this subject in order to
avoid the many wrongs and abuses which
have sprung up and nourished in the ab-
sence of the exercise by Congress of the
power conferred. Madison said in the
Federalist: " T h e power of establishing
uniform laws of bankruptcy is so intimate-
ly connected with the regulation of com-
merce and will prevent so many frauds
when the parties or their property may lie
or be removed into different States, that
the expediency seems not likely to be
drawn in question."
A bankrupt law is needed for the re-
pression of fraudulent and dishonest busi-
ness methods. There is nothing which op-
erates so powerfully upon designing rogues
as the certainty of prompt and exhaustive
investigation.
This the bankrupt law
affords as no other system does or can.
A bankrupt law diminishes losses. It
prevents the waste occasioned by the
scramble of creditors to realize each for
himself. Great concerns who are able to
support law departments and who are per-
petually on the watch to rush in upon the
first alarm and secure themselves at all
hazards, may believe that they are bene-
fited by the rough and tumble of legal
conflicts, but even they in the long run
fare in fact better when the property of a
debtor is protected for the common benefit.
The ordinary merchant who is without an
army of attorneys is ill prepared for war
and finds his safest protection in the shel-
ter of the bankrupt law.
Thos. La M. Couch, of the Kroeger Co.,
in the course of a talk with The Review at
the Kroeger factory on Wednesday, drew
attention to a letter just received from the
owner of a Kroeger piano, now resident in
Leipsic, Ohio. The writer of the letter
said in effect that he had moved to Leip-
sic from Chicago, at which latter place he
had purchased from the Kroeger represen-
tative a Kroeger piano, at a standard Kroe-
ger price, and was well pleased in every
respect, considering, and quite rightly, that
he had received excellent value.
The instrument was purchased on the
partial payment system, the dealer hold-
ing a lien on the instrument. When the
purchaser transferred his place of resi-
dence to Leipsic, the lien of course fol-
lowed him in the shape of a chattel mort-
gage and was duly recorded as such among
the official records of that town. A piano
dealer of Leipsic, in scanning the official
record of mortgages found the one in ques-
tion and thereupon called to see the holder
of the piano.
It is understood that the dealer ex-
pressed surprise at the price paid for
the piano and declared that he would
supply the holder of it with a Kroeger,
identical with the one in his possession
for a much lower figure. This led
to questioning which brought out the
real situation, but at the same time put
the holder of the original instrument in
an unpleasant frame of mind. "The deal-
er's object," said Mr. Couch, after reading
the letter, "was, evidently, to throw such
discredit on our piano as to lead the holder
of it to repudiate his contract 'for cause'
and then to make a sale of some other in-
strument in which he had a lively inter-
est. But the game didn't work because
the holder saw through it before any mis-
chief was done.
"Among small dealers of a certain class
this sort of thing is not at all uncommon,
more's the pity, but it is a dastardly piece
of business, and 'contemptible' is too mild
a word to use with reference to the conduct
of men who are guilty of it. The man
who said he could duplicate the instrument
for a much smaller sum never had the
agency for the Kroeger piano, and could
not have supplied a Kroeger piano at
any price. Hence his object was plainly
apparent. It is too bad that such men
cannot be content to earn an honest living
in a legitimate, straight-forward way.
They take much more pains to carry out
their pernicious, rascally schemes than
would be necessary to earn an honest living
twice over."
Weser Alterations.
Alterations and improvements are now
in progress at the factory of Weser Bros.
The offices are being re-fitted and en-
larged. Pressure of work in the several
factory departments will soon necessitate
the use of additional space.
Fred Lohr Sails.
Fred W. Lohr, Hardman Peck & Co. 's
traveling representative, left for Europe
on Tuesday, where he will spend a short
vacation.
I. L. Stickney is now manager of the
Estey warerooms at Athol, Mass., succeed-
ing A. E. Saxby.

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