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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWENTY-SECOND YEAR.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J . B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR
Executive Staff:
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
WALDO E. I,ADD
GEO. W. QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLIN
PnMlshed Every Saturday at 3 East 14th Street, New Y o u
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage", United States, Mexico
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ADVERTISEriENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
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REniTTANCES, in other than currency form, should be
made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter
NEW YORK, MAY 25, 1901.
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745-EIQHTEENTH STREET.
THE
ARTISTS'
DEPARTMENT
On the first Saturday of each
month The Review contains in its
" A r t i s t s ' D e p a r t m e n t " all the cur-
rent musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or ser-
vice of the trade section of the paper. It has a
special circulation, and therefore augments mater-
ially the value of The Review to advertisers.
DIRECTORY OF
The directory of piano manu-
PIANO
facturing firms and corporations
MANUFACTURERS
^ Q£
f o u n ( J o n p a g g ^ ^.^
value as a reference for dealers and others.
DIRECTORY OF
ADVERTISERS
^ ^
A directory of all advertisers
^ n The Review will be found on
page 6.
EDITORIAL
ECHOES OF THE CONVENTION.
" T H E R E is but one
opinion regarding
tbe convention of last
week—and tbat—it was
the greatest music trade
meeting ever held in the history of the indus-
try. On every hand is heard the warmest
praise for the men who had the arrange-
ments under their especial direction. That
they provided an entertainment worthy of
the best precedents of New York, and of the
music trade industry itself, is acknowledged
by all who were within our gates during
convention days. A new record for music
trade gatherings has been made, and the
next meeting must be indeed colossal in every
respect to eclipse the convention held in New
York last week.
The distinguished
success won by the
men who had the ar-
rangements in charge
—The freight matter
moat Important to the
dealer.
All matters relating to the convention were
covered in detail by The Review in its extra
and regular editions. Not only was there an
exhaustive reportorial account given of the
whole proceedings, but a fair editorial re-
sume of association accomplishments as well.
So, after having duly chronicled all of these
matters, it is unnecessary to again take them
up in detail, simply because the happenings
are still fresh in our minds.
One of the most important matters which
the association has taken up for serious con-
sideration is the question of freight discrim-
inations. Strenuous endeavor will be made
along these lines, so that there may be a re-
adjustment of freight tariffs in order that
pianos and organs will in future be shipped
as third-class freight, instead of first-class,
as to-day.
If the organization is successful in ac-
complishing a reduction of freight rates, it
will have given evidence of its practical
benefit to the entire retail trade of the coun-
try, for, by the accomplishment of this de-
sired end, it will have saved tens of thou-
sands of dollars annually to the dealers
throughout all America. It is understood
that the secretary of the National Associa-
tion will at once inform the members of
the retail trade of the concerted action which
the Manufacturers' Association will take in
order that the dealers' load may be light-
ened.
This is a practical age, and nothing will
interest men in an organization so much
as the saving of money, because saving money
means, in fact, finding dollars, therefore, the
dealers must see at once that the manufac-
turers are desirous of making some sacri-
fice in the way of time and expense to win
something for the men with whom they
are carrying on business relations.
If the organization takes up one matter
annually, such as this, and carries it to a
successful issue, it will win more supporters
than columns of beautifully worded annual
reports, no matter with what rhetorical fin-
ish they may be presented. It is the practi-
cal side—that is, the money saving side—
which will appeal forcefully to business men
of to-day.
These are the facts in a nutshell.
THE PRIZE WINNER.
" T H E first of the prize
winners of the con-
test inaugurated by The
Review is announced
this week. R. Warner
Kimball, of Providence, R. I., sends the best
article upon the subject, ''Will the Depart-
ment Stores Become Permanent and Greater
Distributing Piano Factors?"
In passing upon the merits of the various
contributions sent in to compete for this
prize, w« have considered not entirely the lit-
erary merit of the various articles submitted,
but the best arguments used to defend the
positions taken by the contestants, so that
it should be clearly understood in this, and
in the future contests, that the opinions of
the writers are not necessarily the opinions
of The Review, but only that the ones to
whom we award the prizes shall have made,
in our opinion, the strongest arguments in
defense of their claims.
H. Warner Kimball
wins the first Review
prize—Sends the best
essay upon the de-
partment store as a
piano distributing fac-
tor.
There are remaining three important top-
ics which can be taken up by any of our
readers, and for which we offer $25 for the
best essay upon each of them. The rules
governing the contests may be learned by
referring to a neighboring page.
By installing this prize system it was our
desire to bring out and develop thought
along lines which are obviously of benefit
to every department of the trade.
Who will be the next winner?
THE DEALERS ORGANIZATION
REVIEW of the
dealers' meeting
last week will show that
the unexpected happen-
ed. An association was
formed, the advent of which was not her-
alded. The discussions, which were reg-
ularly scheduled to be considered, were all
passed by without positive action, for it is not
on the records of either meeting, and we
have a precise stenographic report of both,
that anything in the way of a resolution was
passed either condemning or upholding prac-
tices which are admitted to be indulged in
by certain members of the trade.
May grow Into a
powerful organization
—Will require persist-
ent work— Elasticity
of by-laws—Sincerity
of the men behind the
move.
A
As far as the Dealers' National Associ-
ation is concerned, it is a skeleton organ-
ization, but, under proper guidance, it may
prove to be the nucleus of a union which
ultimately will result in bringing about
remedial action, and much needed better-
ment in the retail department of the indus-
try. Its by-laws and constitution are elastic
and subject to change at the will of the
executive committee. This embryo organ-
ization has a great field for advancement
before it, and if the men who are behind
the inceptive move will devote sufficient time
and energy to bring convincing arguments
before other dealers, there can be no ques-
tion as to its advance towards a perma-
nency.
The organization to-day exists on paper,
and it may be welded into a weapon which
shall cut away certain trade excrescences
which have appeared in spots here and there,
and which require a sharp scalpel to effect-
ually remove.
It will be no easy task to form an effec-
tive organization, but with work and en-
thusiasm much may be accomplished. This
is the day of consolidations in all depart-
ments of trade and industry, and there are
really excellent reasons why the piano mer-
chants of America should come together for
mutual protection and advancement.
For a long time past The Review has
advocated an association of this nature, as
well as local associations in principal cities
throughout the land. It is only by honest
and conscientious work on the part of those
who are affected by the evils which exist,
that their removal becomes a probability.
Sincerity must be back of a desire to elim-
inate certain evils, and if all the men really