Music Trade Review

Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWENTY-FIRST YEAR.
•EDWARD LYMAN BILL.
Editor and Proprietor
evidence that Clericals, Radicals and Na-
tional Liberals, as well as the Socialists,
desire to keep on friendly terms with the
working classes—a fact which in itself
shows the growing political power of the
common people.
This is of peculiar interest to Americans
at this time, for it shows that even in im-
perial Germany they could not pass a law
which afforded even a fair protection to
business interests on account of the truck-
ling to the labor vote.
We will venture to assert that more than
one piano manufacturer during the past
few months would have liked to have seen
a law in America such as the Emperor pro-
posed, but it was held up in the Reichstag
where even his autocratic hand could not
put it through.
not. Under former rulings, publishers
and merchants who use illustrations to
advertise their wares have been mulcted
in many thousands of dollars, and hun-
dreds of cases have been settled out of
court rather than stand the expense of
trial and take chances on the outcome.
\ I 7 I T H I N a short time we shall be able
to announce the taking on of pianos
3 East 14th St., New York
by more department stores. It is certain
SUBSCRIPTION (Including postage), United States,
that the men at the head of these colossal
Mexico and Canada, |ax» per year; all other countries,
$
modern emporiums are- interested in the
ADVBRTISEllENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
Wanamaker move piano-ward, and have
ing matter I75.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should
watched
its advance with material inter-
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
est. The department store as a distribu-
EnUrtd at the iVew York Pott Office a* Second Clou Maltm-.
ting factor for pianos, will be more strong-
NEW YORK, JANUARY 20, 1900.
ly in evidence this year than ever before,
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745..E1QHTEEMTH STREET.
but it does not necessarily follow that
THE KEYNOTE.
what John Wanamaker has accomplished
The first week of each month, The Review wil)
contain a supplement embodying the literary
A MEETING of the executive committee will also be won by other men. Still the
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
of the National Piano Manufacturers' matter will be tested thoroughly and the
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
Association will take place in New York at tastes of the public will be found out re-
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
the Logerot, on January 30th. The secre- garding its dislike to patronize general
trade paper.
tary has already sent out communications stores for such important articles of home
to members asking suggestions relating to adornment as pianos.
TOPICS OF THE HOUR.
A MEASURE was recently introduced matters to be brought up for discussion at T H E Piano Manufacturers' National As-
in the Reichstag in Germany at the the convention to be held in Chicago next
sociation was established for the mu-
express wish of the Kaiser, the aim of May. Far from there being an abatement tual protection and promotion of the
which was to give a serious blow to organ- of interest in association matters it seems manufacturing and trade interests of the
ized labor by limiting the power of strikers. to be steadily growing, and the much industry, and any organization which has
The Kaiser was desirous of having the talked of disintegration is apparently a as its foundation a desire to improve the
Reichstag pass a bill which would punish, long way in the distance.
musico-industrical conditions of America,
by imprisonment at hard labor, whoever
has the support of The Review, no matter
should attempt to hinder workmen who '"THREE auxiliary factories running in if we are not in accord with all of its moves
connection with Chicago institutions to gain the desired end. The object is
were willing to work, or should incite
them to strike. The bill was modified are already in operation—Story & Clark at one important thing, its accomplishment
somewhat and its severity cut down, as it Dixon, 111.; Russell-Lane at Chesterton, is quite another.
limited the penitentiary sentence to those Ind., and Smith & Barnes, of Rockford,
The Piano Manufacturers' Association
strike or lockout proceedings which impair 111.
was founded with a desire to promote the
the public defense or endanger life or
Will others follow?
welfare of this industry. That it has done
public health.
It is not improbable that within a com-
much good cannot be disputed. That
But even in this comparatively mild paratively short time great piano indus- much further benefit could have been ac-
form it met with the most determined op- tries will be in operation near Chicago. complished we firmly believe, yet those
position, even in the press. In the Reich- Piano manufacturers cannot afford to have who criticise the Association for what it has
stag not one influential deputy, of any their business seriously injured by the not accomplished must consider the abso-
^party, ventured to support it ; and the ma- recrudescence of labor troubles which may lutely disorganized condition of the indus-
jority which rejected it was overwhelming. occur at any period.
try a few years ago. Then no fraternal
On their face the provisions of the bill
spirit existed. It was war to the knife in
do not seem altogether unreasonable. It A CCORDING to a decision of a jury in ordinary business dealings.
was urged, however, that much depends
the United States Circuit Court, a
upon interpretation; that severe penalties photograph of an actress is not such an "T^O-DAY while there may be the same
are already provided for offences which en- artistic production as will bring it within
competitive warfare in existence, it is
danger, the public defence or impair public the meaning and intent of the copyright hedged about at least by pleasanter condi-
health; and that to weaken or destroy the law, and a precedent has been established tions than of old. The industry too has
right of workmen to combine would be to which it is alleged will put a stop to wide- been benefited in an indirect manner by
rob the common people of their liberty.
spread abuse of the law. It is a question the discussion of matters which have been
Although Germany has as large a pro- whether under this decision copyrights on brought before the Association and dissem-
portion of skilled laborers as any nation in photographs of actors, actresses, pugilists inated through the trade press to readers
the world, the ruling rates of wages are and other celebrities in professional poses everywhere. Intelligent discussion of lead-
very low. Since the military establish- are of any value.
ing topics has occurred, and while we be-
ment imposes enormous burdens, anything
Judge Wallace, before whom the case lieve there is an excellent opportunity for
which tends to increase these already hard was tried, referred the question to the jury further accomplishments by the Associa-
conditions is regarded with suspicion.
to decide as a matter of fact whether such tion we do not believe it right or proper to
The vote on the bill gave unmistakable a photograph was an artistic production or disparage or belittle that which has only
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
been gained by hard struggles against often-
times unfortunate conditions and secret
vilification.
_ It is not within our legitimate province
to criticise any individual for not becom-
ing affiliated with the Association, or to
criticise those who have deemed it neces-
sary to withdraw. We believe in the As-
sociation idea, and believe that tremendous
good can be gained to the industry by an
Association formed on a broad, compre-
hensive, logical ground, where all matters
of vital importance to the industry can be
freely discussed without personal wrangle
or bitterness.
We believe that in the union of piano
manufacturers there is strength which is
of unqualified advantage to those whose
interests lie in this particular zone of 1 ac-
tion. Because all manufacturers do not
see it in precisely that light we have no
right to condemn them, because it is abso-
lutely impossible that we should all view
everything in precisely the same way.
T H E Association has had a hard enough
time to reach its present position, and
needs offer no apology for its existence.
It has fought against destructive elements,
also trade indifference, and has survived
for a term of years. There are influential
manufacturers who have remained outside
of the organization, alleging that they could
not see where their interests could be ma-
terially advanced by becoming members.
Others, too, have claimed that the Asso-
ciation has accomplished nothing worthy
of serious consideration and they do not
care to become affiliated for the ostensible
purpose of an annual junketing trip.
It is, of course, impossible that we should
all think alike, still the fact remains that
serious-minded, enthusiastic men have de-
voted time and energy to the upbuilding
of the Association idea. It cannot be
said that they have profited personally by
their actions. They have worked for gen-
eral trade good and betterment. That
they have not accomplished more is due
largely to the fact that greater interest has
not be generated throughout the trade.
There are important trade institutions
which have never been identified with the
Association, perhaps never will.
No one can tell just what might be ac-
complished if they all came in under the
Association banner pledged for the protec-
tion and advancement of mutual interests.
I T is oftentimes amusing, when it does
not become tiresome to read the utter-
ances of certain sections of the trade press.
To an onlooker it would seem as if the en-
tire journalistic firmament was ablaze with
bombast or abuse. One in particular seems
to have mapped out lines of personal con-
quest which means the total annihilation
of all others if its own special wishes were
to be carried out to an ultimate issue.
Others contain little silly bursts of spite
and malice against certain individuals, the
reasons for which are fully disclosed when
one consults the advertising columns, for
an absence of the business card of the firm
to which reference is made is immediately
found.
As far as we are concerned those papers
which are utterly reckless of principle,
honor and reason, may continue to confine
their yellow and blackmailing tendencies
to their particular spheres and subjects.
They may manufacture, distort and mis-
represent to suit their own individual tastes.
They may continue to lie for revenue if
they so desire.
This paper will continue to pursue its
clearly defined path of securing and serv-
ing accurate reports, suppressing nothing
to which publicity should be given, and as
far as we are concerned the remainder of
the craft, if desirous of so doing may con-
tinue to give weekly exhibitions of acro-
batic and contortionistic displays of vanity,
vulgarity and venom.
TT would seem as though all reports of
the troubles between the piano work-
men of Chicago and their employees ap-
pearing in the daily papers of that city
were colored from the workingman's side.
There has been no expression of editorial
views, only sensational accounts, with one
notable exception.
We are glad to say that the Chicago
Tribune of the uthinst., has made a re-
freshing departure, and prints the follow-
ing editorial under the caption "The Mis-
chief a Walking Delegate May Do."
"President Gompersof the Federation of
Labor has made peace between the Chicago
piano manufacturers and their employees.
There should have been ho war. There
would have been none but for the persist-
tent activity of the walking delegate of the
employees' union. He induced its members
to demand that the employers should 'rec-
ognize the union,'dealing with it instead
of dealing directly with the men. The em-
ployers refused and resolved on a lockout.
It has lasted for ten weeks. The manufac-
turers have lost what they might have made
during the holiday season. The men have
lost $450,000 in wages. By the agreement
the employers concede the nine-hour day.
They consent to meet their employees in
their respective shops and adjust any differ-
ences of wages which may exist. All these
things the manufacturers were willing to
do when the trouble began. The walking
delegate would not accept that settlement
because he and his union were not recog-
nized. Nor are they recognized under
the agreement which Mr. Gompers has
negotiated. So the employees have se-
cured at a cost of $450,000 concessions
which they might have had for nothing if
they had not been so unfortunate as to
have a walking delegate who was deter-
mined to be 'recognized.' If the manu-
facturers had ' recognized the union ' the
walking delegate would have gained great-
ly in importance. He would have been
authorized to meddle in every shop and
become a thorn in the side of the employ-
ers. His ambition has cost the men whom
he led astray nearly half a million dollars,
and he has shown how much mischief one
small walking delegate can do. It is said
he will resign. He ought to do so, for he
has been a costly failure as a leader."
T H E above article appeared when it was
believed that the labor troubles were
of the past. Since then the situation has
changed, and while there may be an imme-
diate settlement, there is also a probability
that the period of final settlement may be
materially extended. The unpleasant fea-
tures which seem to be inseparable from
strikes have already appeared. Violence
and bloodshed has occurred at the factory
of Geo. P. Bent, where the striking ele-
ment has committed brutal assaults upon
non-union workmen—assaults which should
entitle them to an extended tarry within
penitentiary walls.
C V I D E N T L Y some members of the
trade have not as yet learned that
controversy with an editor is a blunder.
They forget that he always has the last
word and his space is unlimited. Also
that some are adepts at dust-throwing,
question-begging and confusing theissue.
pvAYTON, O., is a city which should
not be overlooked by Western piano
manufacturers who are looking for advan-
tageous piano sites outside of Chicago. It
is the home of large industries, and there
must be a number of skilled operatives
there who are experts in a line which is
first cousin to certain parts of piano mak-
ing. Crown Point, Indiana, would be an
appropriate site for the Crown factory.
T H E men who fail in life and who move
in the common grooves would have us
believe that "circumstances make the man"
and that "position" and success are the
result of luck or good fortune. In some
cases this is true, but an overwhelming
majority of the world's successful men are
workers, not men with exceptional natural
ability and peculiar and extraordinary
talent, but simply workers. They are
men who make their time count, who
have not sought for ease and comfort as
the best to be obtained in life. Let any of
us look up at abler and more successful
men, consider the time we waste in lazy
ease and in uselessly expending energy.
There we see the cause of our own in-
feriority. The workers, the persistent and
intelligent plodders, are climbing the lad-
der and passing while we are stopping to
view the beautiful scenery from a round
half way up.

v

Download Page 4: PDF File | Image

Download Page 5 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.