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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ment. My orders are those of the real steel
trust, of the men who make the steel.'
"The manufacturers of trusts have manu-
factured, without knowing it, a giant that
may pursue them as Frankenstein's giant
pursued him.
"A vast power is this of labor monopoly,
and one that may be as dangerous, more dan-
gerous, than all the monopolies of finance.
"It is to be hoped that wise leaders will
be .found by the great armies brought to-
gether by trust formation.
"It is to be hoped that stock speculators
may not succeed in manipulating these
forces, and that private ambition or conceit
may not misuse them.
"Great new problems confront the people
in this trust age.
"The greatest of these is not the problem
of financial control.
"It is the problem presented by the possi-
bilities of a labor trust more dangerous and
aggressive than any other.'/
Words potent with deep meaning.
PRINCIPLES, NOT PERSONALITIES.
M OT a pleasant task
to ripsaw the do-
ings of any man or body
of men. It becomes the
duty, however, of a fair
journal, nevertheless, if we are to conscien-
tiously criticise, to make our criticisms of
some commercial value to readers. The
Review has always adhered to the plan of es-
chewing personalities and rather dealing with
principles, and while we do not expect that
all of our readers will agree with us upon
the advocacy of all matters, yet we believe
that none will assert that The Review has
been unfair or insincere in its utterances.
We have no time or inclination to enter
into petty quarrels, or to seek by intrigue
to take advantage of certain conditions im-
posed upon clients. In the business world
it is recognized that to get the greatest re-
turn for very effort put forth is the busi-
ness man's daily grind, and in order to
achieve the best results no man should be
keyed to the highest pitch nor high strung
with excessive cares and worries, but, with
business acumen building better for to-mor-
row on the things that develop from to-day's
opportunities. Making hay while the sun
shines is.a motto that stands lots of thinking
over by manufacturer and merchant who can
make his mark even in a limited degree.
The business sun shines just so long as we
keep in the line of activity—in other words—
ahead. If it happens that details overlap
one's executive capacity, it is well to see
how the thing happens. If the fault lies in
taking hold of things of a trifling character
and spending too much time in carrying out
intrigue and accentuating petty jealousies,
Not the Individual
but the principle-
Petty intrigue and
virulent abuse have
no p'ace in the busi-
ness world- Pays to
keep a weather eye
_ open.
then it is good sound business to unload some
of the incubus. While it may be a reason-
able way to keep a weather eye on the other
fellow's business moves, yet it does not pay to
spend too much time in watching him, or in
indulging in the acrimonious disputes which
are usually the outcome of intrigues.
ASSOCIATION AND OTHER TOPICS.
]\J EW YORK for the
next week will be
the storm center of mu-
sic trade interests. Ev-
erything now indicates
not only a large attendance during the Con-
vention, but accentuated interest on the part
of those who propose to participate in the
business matters which will be brought up
for serious consideration.
The first music trade convention of the
new century bids fair to eclipse all of its
predecessors, as far as interest and possi-
ble results are concerned. It is understood
that a number of topics will be brought up
for discussion by the delegates. It is also
evident that a large number of dealers will
take part in the dealers' convention, which
occurs on Wednesday afternoon.
Association Interest
—Attendance prom-
ises to be large-
American
pianos
abroad—Musical ex-
hibits at Buffalo-A
tear of sympathy for
the trusts.
O EMARKABLE as has been the develop-
ment of our commerce and industry
during the past few years through the amass-
ing of capital and the scientific organization
and administration of manufacturing plants,
and transportation facilities, it has been but a
step compared with the mighty strides that
will be made during the first decade of the
twentieth century.
The United States is leading onward
toward new conditions, and in all probabil-
ity to a new civilization. World-history
that will endure for centuries is being made
right under our eyes, and the piano indus-
try will contribute, with others, toward this
marvelous development.
Talking recently with a man who has stu-
died the manufacturing department of the
piano industry in Europe, the previous ut-
terances of The Review along these lines,
received emphatic endorsement, and that
to the effect that when the American piano
manufacturer gives serious attention to
the development of trade relations with Eu-
rope he will immediately outstrip his Euro-
pean competitor in his own field, but he
will have to do it by supplying instruments
which are in conformity with European
tastes.
A LREADY the musical exhibits at the
Buffalo Exposition have received some
publicity through the columns, of the daily
papers. We have held that piano manu-
facturers, as a whole, have taken too little
stock in the Buffalo Exposition. The Pan-
American will be the Mecca of pleasure-
seekers throughout the summer, as well as
of those who find in an exhibition sugges-
tion and inspiration for the conduct of their
business. The people of our own country
will be there in countless thousands. Mex-
ico will send many visitors, and the repub-
lics of Central and South America will be
well represented. The tourist who comes
across the Atlantic will be attracted as well.
The Exposition grounds will be thronged
from tne last of May until October.
T"" HE advertisement appearing as news
matter in last week's Vaudeville Ex-
tra, in which the announcement was definite-
ly made that "the National Piano Manu-
facturer's Association Convention Las se-
lected the Hotel Victoria as its general head-
quarters" next week, only adds further ev-
dence, if it were needed, to what depths of
deception a paper will descend in order to
secure a few dollars of advertising patron-
age. Undoubtedly, misrepresentation may
have been made to the proprietor of the
Victoria in order to secure this advertise-
ment, which naturally arouses the indigna-
tion of every member of the Association.
The editor who accepted that advertisement
knew that it was misleading, and knowing
that, willfully gave publicity to a false-
hood, as well as insulting the members of
the executive committee who have formally
announced that the Hoffman House would
be business headquarters during the Con-
vention.
T"" HE importance of catalogue house com-
petition had been wholly overlooked
until The Review began an argumentative
campaign* along catalogue house lines. The
men who believe that the mere agitation of
a problem is of injury to the legitimate trade,
to our minds, occupy a position which they
cannot defend. Ignoring the existence of
a competitor does not remove that compet-
itor, and it cannot be denied that the busi-
ness of the catalogue houses in the musical
instrument line has reached figures that are
astounding to those who are uninformed.
No matter if the instruments sold by them
are of the cheapest, flimsiest character, they
are sold as pianos.
We have developed healthy discussion
anent this kind of competition, carefully
avoiding personalities, and using no argu-
ments that the catalogue houses could use
to support their position. We shall place
no weapons in the hands of the enemies of
the legitimate trade, but we shall continue
the discussion of the catalogue house as an
important factor in the distribution of mu-
sical instruments.
There is no greater problem confronting
the small piano dealer to-day than lies in this
catalogue house competition. It is of no use
to deny facts, and the man who attempts to