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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ing that the interests of employer and em-
ployee are mutual, but both are too apt to
forget that any departure from this princi-
ple on the part of either, can but result disas-
trously; therefore, instead of an attempt to
restrict production, the trades unions should
confine themselves to a demand for reason-
able working hours, and a fair day's wage,
leaving the manufacturer at entire lib-
erty to adjust his cheap methods to the end
that there be no increase in cost of produc-
tion, or restriction of output.
If the piece-work system is a solution of
the problem, it certainly is neither proper
nor economically right to oppose them, for
the interests of the employer must be con-
served in order that a fair day's wage be
paid. In order to reap the highest results
there should be no restriction placed upon
the management or production of the shop
or factory. The relations between employer
and employee are stated succinctly in the
resolutions recently passed by the National
Metal Trades Association:
"We are willing to grant to our employees
all reasonable concessions in the matters of
hours of work and wages, but we deem it
our duty in our own interests, and for the
good of the public, who are practically de-
pendent upon machinery and its product, to
take every means to increase the productive-
ness of the American mechanic, and to pre-
serve freedom of employment to workmen
and freedom of management to employers."
This is the right kind of industrial free-
dom, and should be read by the officers of
all labor organizations in the land.
LACK OF COMMERCIAL MORALITY.
T will interest mem-
To prevent trade-
bers of the music
m.rkpoachin,-n M n.
whose trade-
other—Henry F. nil- mark
preserves have
ler's position.
been constantly poached
upon by imitators, to know that there has
been a concern organized for the substan-
tial protection of trade mark and copyright
owners.
The fact that there should be not only a
place, but the necessity for such an associa-
tion as this, demonstrates the lack of com-
mercial morality which exists among a cer-
tain class. After a concern has spent years
in building up a reputation for its trade-
mark, and giving a value to it, it is the mean-
est kind of thievery for a rival to attempt to
secure a business by appropriating a trade-
mark which the work and money of another
has made valuable.
The action of a competing firm who would
imitate such a trade-mark is as criminal as
that of the sneak thief, forger, or counter-
feiter of public money, and all true merchants
should aid in carrying out plans to prevent
such happening. There are concerns in this
trade that have sought to palm off the imi-
tation as the original brand, and one of the
firms who deserve credit for their action
in bringing offenders to justice is the Henry
F. Miller concern, of Boston.
We may add, too, that another long mark
that should be placed to the credit of this
institution is the fact that for years they
have stood the abuse of the blackmailer with-
out yielding or even flinching.
If there were more such concerns in the
industry who exhibited the right kind of
vertebrae, the exit of the blackmailer would
have been sooner. In fact, he would not
have stepped out, but he would have been
ejected with such violence that some time
would have elapsed before he would have
entirely recovered his equilibrium together
with his cast-iron nerve.
THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME.
T" 1 HE value of a good
Honor valued even
name is. appreci-
among thieves How
appreciated by busi- 1
ness
men—Correct ated even among that
principles must back portion of society who
combination.
are known as the light-
fingered gentry.
The other day when a broken-down thief
negotiated the return of the famous Gains-
borough picture, which he had cut from its
frame during the days of his buoyant man-
hood, when his desire to steal ran strongly
within his veins, whom did he select as the
man to arrange matters? Strange to say,
he did not select either a lawyer, a business
man, or a clergyman, but a gambler—a man
who, in the opinion of most of us, had
never earned an honest dollar. This gam-
bler not only did not betray the thief, but
handed over several thousand dollars, paid
for the picture, nor even asked a cent com-
mission from either side of the case.
Here is a reputation for downright, un-
impeachable honesty where one would least
expect it.
The incident tends to prove how impor-
tant such a reputation is, even in proceedings
that are of a shady nature. How much more
is it true in the case of a legitimate busi-
ness? The value of a good name is being
more highly appreciated daily, and if a man
be connected with the trust move whose
actions are looked upon with distrust, and
whose entire history reeks with intrigue,
and who, even now, is accused of libeling
women, such a man is hardly the one of the
right kind of reputation to interest the piano
man, even if he be weary of carrying on the
competitive battle.
No, .it requires a reputation to establish
anything on a right kind of basis, and it re-
quires at least an honorable reputation to
make the inceptive move towards organiz-
ing a piano combination.
If it were not so, it would be indeed a sad
commentary upon the morality of the Ameri-
can music trade.
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.
| T is said that the meeting of those inter-
ested in the formation of a piano trust
occurred this week in the St. James Building,
Twenty-sixth street and Broadway. A list
of all present and interested in the move in-
cluded : Marc Anthony Blumenberg, Marc
A. Blumenberg, M. A. Blumenberg, M.
Anthony Blumenberg, Anthony Blumenberg,
A. Blumenberg, and plain Blumie. Tre-
mendous enthusiasm in favor of the organi-
zation was reported, and all present signed
a document agreeing to any disposition
which the gentlemen represented might make
of their properties, so long as it was satis-
factory to themselves and all others whose
interests might be drawn in later on.
'T' WO weeks ago we referred to an exhi-
bition proposed by dickering & Sons,
which will illustrate a century's progress in
piano making and all interests closely allied.
This announcement should interest Chicker-
ing dealers all over America, who, no doubt,
will be able to add, through their customers,
many interesting as well as historical fea-
tures to the exposition.
It is proposed to amplify this scheme, so
that not only pianofortes will be included,
but all musical instruments of the past cen-
tury, so that the affair, which will be held
probably in Symphony Hall in Boston, will
be fittingly illustrative of the growth and de-
velopment of musical interests in America
during the century so recently laid to rest.
The date upon which the exposition
will open has not as yet been announced, but
it will probably occur some time during the
fall months. In the meanwhile it is desir-
able that all who can contribute to this inter-
esting event look to it that all historic instru-
ments within their bailiwick be rounded up
for the proposed exposition.
C LOODS and depressing weather have
had a serious effect upon all kinds of
business interests. During the month the
piano merchant has been forced with others,
to stand his share of loss in consequence of
depressed conditions.
]\]O financial embarrassment of any music
trade concern for years has created the
surprise in trade circles that has been caused
by the latest showing of the Rohlfing busi-
ness in Milwaukee. The condition of this
concern should furnish an object lesson to
those who are adhering to antiquated meth-
ods in the conduct of their business affairs.
No firm can afford to rest even for a brief
, period, upon past prestige. Every possible
avenue of progress must be forced to the
utmost. Dry rot means business disintegra-
tion.
formal opening of the Exposition
T HE at Buffalo
will be delayed until May 20.