Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
.
LABOR
. . Conditions in Chicago
TROUBLES STILL ON—STORY & CLARK START UP ITNION MEN ASSAULT WORKMEN
AT BENT'S FACTORY DOLD TO BE ARRESTED SMITH & BARNES PURCHASE
A FACTORY AT ROCKFORD—OTHER NEWS.
[Special to The Review.]
Chicago, 111., Jan. 17, 1900.
When I wrote you last there was abun-
dant evidence on hand that pointed to an
early settlement of the labor troubles
which have been throttling- the Chicago
music trade industry for the past ten
weeks. It was believed that after Mr.
Gompers' visit, and the arrangements
made by him, there would be a speedy re-
sumption of work. The strike was de-
clared off at the Story & Clark factory,
and the piano and organ factories both are
now in operation. But the hand of Dold
again appeared, and it seems that he spoke
the truth as I quoted him in my last letter,
when he said that the labor troubles were
as far away from settlement as ever. So
it seems; and no one can predict with any
degree of certainty just when the matter
will be adjusted. It may be in a day and
it may be weeks before a final settlement
is made and the men come to their senses
and get away from the thraldom of Dold.
Yesterday the striking piano makers re-
sorted to violence, and led, so some of
their victims declare, by their business
agent, Charles Dold, surrounded the fac-
tory of George P. Bent and assaulted all of
the men who attempted to enter the build-
ing. Five men were attacked and badly
injured. Warrants for the arrest of Charles
Dold were sworn out. Trouble is feared.
Several of yesterday's victims had to be
taken to hospitals.
A detail of several policemen keep order
at the factory while the strikers maintain
pickets just across the street. It seems
that the troubles have reached that point
now where it has been feared for a long
time that they might culminate, in the dis-
ablement or destruction of human life.
In the Evening Post Edward H. Story
is quoted as follows:
"Regarding the settlement with our
employes, I wish to state that it is on the
basis outlined in Mr. Gompers' letter. We
granted nine hours as a work day, but are
only working seven. We made a slight
raise in wages in a few instances. We
also agreed to pay twice a month in cur-
rency instead of in checks. All other
points in the controversy were waived by
our employes."
"Did you agree to employ none but
union men?"
" N o ; we did not. We reserve the
right to employ whom we choose, but
agreed to take back all the old men with-
out discrimination."
"Are you now employing any non-
union men? "
"Yes."
"Do you think the other manufacturers
will take their men back on similar terms?"
"I think there is no doubt they would,
dealing with their own men direct."
This is the first statement made by the
piano manufacturers since £he trouble be-
gan.
As I wrote at the very inception of the
labor troubles it was more than probable
that some of the manufacturers would
move away from Chicago, and as I said
some time ago, there was a deal between
Smith & Barnes and the business men in
Rockford, 111., relative to the purchase of
a factory in that city.
It is now definitely arranged that Smith
& Barnes will run a factory at Rockford in
conjunction with one at Chicago. It is
possible that others will make a move. I
understand that Smith & Barnes did not
ask anything in the way of a bonus. They
made a spot cash offer of $10,000 for the
plant of the Illinois Chair Co., including
ten acres of ground. The delay in com-
pleting the deal has been to get two bond-
holders to consent to throw in the land.
An important move by J. O. Twichell is
to be recorded. He has leased the Story &
Clark warerooms, at 231 Wabash avenue
for five years, with an option of a further
five years at the same rental. The first
and second floors and basement of the
premises will be occupied. He will take
possession about May 1. In the mean-
time needed alterations and improvements
will be effected in the way of installing
new passenger and freight elevators, and
artistic decorations for warerooms. Story
& Clark's new location has not yet been
decided upon, but it is said their head-
quarters may be in the next block south.
fir. J. C. Henderson.
J. C. Henderson, manager of the Ann
Arbor Organ Co., will leave next week for
the South on one of his usual visits to the
representatives of his house.
Speaking of this popular member of the
trade, brings to mind that he was the re-
cipient around the holidays of a magnifi-
cent solid gold watch-chain knife with
steel blades, the sides of which are beauti-
fully mounted with a sapphire, emerald
and diamond, also containing his name
neatly engraved. The donors of this valu-
able gift were the Henderson Piano Co. of
Ft. Worth, Tex. It is a testimonial of
esteem which, it is needless to say, is
highly valued.
The Art of Varnishing.
The art which, in the varnishing of
wooden instruments of music, was be-
lieved to have disappeared, gives signs of
reappearing through the efforts of certain
intelligent students, the Gazzetta Musicale
di Milano says. Among these it gives us
pleasure to mention a compatriot, B. Sac-
cani, who, after patient and severe studies
made from ancient models, has obtained
in a pleasing and similar fashion to the
old models, the tints and varnish that were
once upon a time favored and valued for
violins by the celebrated Cremona School.
Some of the violins thus finished have
been examined by persons competent to
judge, and have obtained full approval.
They recall the best examples of Cre-
monese art.
The Henry F. fliller Piano.
Steger-Northen.
On Jan. 8, at the home of the bride, 424
Seminary avenue, Chicago, occurred the
marriage of C. G. Steger, son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. V. Steger, to Miss Sarah Northen,
the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
John Northen. The occasion was a quiet
home affair, with none but immediate
relatives of the contracting parties present.
The Rev. Mr. Armstrong officiated. Mr.
and Mrs. Steger will make their home at
Buena Park. The Review joins with a
host of friends in extending best wishes.
Sohmer's Big Trade.
Talking to a representative of The Indi-
cator during his present trip West, Hugo
Sohmer stated that the increase in the
Sohmer trade in 1899 over that of 1898
may be estimated at 30 per cent. Some
of the phases of last year's trade merit
special mention. For instance, the num-
ber of cash sales was unusually large
and the time sales were much shorter
than those made in the years immediately
preceding. This Mr. Sohmer accepts as a
sign that prosperity has come back in earn-
est, and we are inclined to believe that he
is right. The wholesale trade of the
Sohmer is in a similarly gratifying state.
The same ratio of increase is to be reported
in the wholesale that has marked the retail
business. In fact, the Sohmer trade has
been exceptionally satisfactory.
The Henry F. Miller artists' concert
grand piano will be used at the thirty-
second annual musical festival of the
Orleans County Musical Association, New-
port, Vt., which occurs next week. As in
previous years, this instrument has been in
great favor in musical affairs generally
this season.
The review of the year's business by
the Henry F. Miller Co. has brought to
light a condition of affairs that has even
exceeded the most sanguine anticipations
of its members. There has been a splen-
did appreciation of the Henry F. Miller
piano through the country, and the con-
dition of business at the opening of the
new year indicates that the enthusiasm
shown in the Miller interests last year will
be continued with the same excellent re-
sults during 1900.
A Columbus Inventor.
Professor S. W. Robinson, of Columbus,
O., recently designed a violin differing in
some respects in mechanism from the or-
dinary instrument and employed Mr. T.
L. Denman of Marysville, O., to make it
for him, paying him $100 for the instru-
ment when completed. He was so well
pleased with it, both as to its new features
and Mr. Denman's skill in developing
them, that he exhibited it to his friends in
Cincinnati, one of whom placed an order
with Mr. Denman for a duplicate.