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VOL. XXXI. No. 6.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, August 11,1900.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS
It will be cast to prevent, if possible,
the commercial upheaval inevitably and
invariably consequent on a change in
THE EMINENT PIANO MANUFACTURER HAS SOME DECIDED VIEWS UPON THE PHILIPPINE PROB-
party rule. The several years of depres-
LEM AND OTHER MATTERS WHICH ARE BEFORE THE PUBLIC EYE THE
sion after 1893 caused so much commercial
EXPANSION OF THE SOHMER BUSINESS.
distress that merchants dread a recurrence
" I n my opinion," said Hugo Sohmer, well fitted to-day—even better—than the of bad conditions, no matter what the
of Sohmer & Co., to The Review on Fri- Cubans. At any rate, it is not for us cause and no matter for how brief a per-
day when asked, during a talk on the phe- to sit in judgment and pass sentence until
nomenal commercial development of the the contrary has been proven. As for their
United States during the past three years, treachery: that depends on the point of
if he thought the solution of the Philip- view, it also depends on what the facts
pine problem was near at hand, "we adopt- really are as the provocation. They were
ed an erroneous policy after the battle of disappointed and disgusted. Putting our-
Manila Bay and have continued to pursue selves in their place, what would we have
an indefensible, erratic course up to the done, do you think? Those fourteen hun-
present time. The satisfactory solution of dred islands—mark my words—are going
the problem is, I believe, a long way off to be a perpetual source of worry and an-
and we have no one to blame but our- noyance to us unless some such compromise
as I suggest is adopted.
selves."
"Our cry for a long time prior to the
When urged for his reasons in thus de-
expulsion
of Spain from Cuba," Mr.
ciding, Mr. Sohmer continued: " I t is
generally conceded, so far as I have Sohmer said, "was 'Cuba Libre.' The
been able to learn, that Admiral Dewey policy now being pursued seems to
accepted, if he did not suggest, the friendly tend in the desired direction. We have
co-operation of the Filipinos, led by Agui- no more business to remain in control
naldo, when it became necessary to use of Cuba, even in name, than we have to
force in driving out the Spaniards. Why remain in the Philippines, as conquerors.
did they fight on the side of the United For purposes of commerce, special port
States? Their version of it is that they privileges are desirable, as in the East, and
were promised independence and a policy would readily be granted by the Cubans.
on our part of non-interference. Our We have no right to assume that the
method of keeping these promises, if such Cubans cannot manage their own affairs
promises were made, has been unique, to until the experiment is tried. Then, if it
fails, no blame will attach to us after we
say the least.
"For two years we have been pursuing have pointed out the way."
Regarding domestic affairs, particularly
the 'insurgents,'as we are pleased to call
HUGO SOHMER.
them, and at present have something like the ensuing presidential campaign, The iod. They dread financial uncertainty
fifty thousand troops more or less actively Review inquired from Mr. Sohmer as to much as a boy who has had his fingers
engaged in pacifying them with bullets and the apparently prevailing sentiment among burned dreads the fire."
bayonet prods. My view of the matter Sohmer representatives. "Do they fear or
"Mr. Sohmer, will you tell The Review
is that just as soon as the Spaniards were expect a change of administration? " was the results of your observations from year
driven out, we ought to have said, in effect, asked. ' 'We have taken special pains to as- to year concerning the development of the
' You have done your full share in getting certain the attitude of our agents as to the demand for Sohmer products among your
rid of a common enemy. Now govern campaign," was the response, " and have agents? "
yourselves, as you desire, and in return for gathered many valuable opinions from other
"Our books show, I am glad to say, that
our services in bringing about your free- sources. I am safe in saying, I believe, the rise in the volume of our business in
dom, lease to us certain ports of entry, that the weight of opinion is heavily in- New York and every other large city
with certain commercial privileges. On clined in the direction of a continuance for where we have representation — and
our part, we will undertake to protect you four years more of the present national we have representation in all large
against the encroachment of other nations administration.
cities and many small ones—if indi-
and shall be glad to advise and guide you
"It is not by any means generally al- cated on a map or chart, would exhib-
so far as you desire our services in that lowed, I find, that the present administra- it an increased elevation all along the
direction.'
tion is a model one. On the contrary, line. It is our good fortune to have, with-
"There are those who declare that Agui- there is a wide divergence of opinion as to out a single exception, loyal men working
naldo and his followers, by their treachery, the past and present policy of the Presi- under the Sohmer standard. The maxim,
forfeited all consideration. It has been dent and his colleagues. A vote for contin- like ours, is 'Upward and Onward.' It
argued, too, that they are not yet fit to uance, in a number of cases brought to our is very rarely necessary to do any ' prod-
control their own destinies. This latter I notice through business correspondence, ding. ' They fulfil their duty at all times
doubt, and question if they are not as will not be meant as a vote of confidence.
{Continued on page 8.)
Hugo Sohmer on Current Topics