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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
buildings and of the grounds. Expositions
should be viewed from the outside as well as
within, and the external effects of the Pan-
American at Buffalo show that it deserves to
rank with the great expositions of history,
and in some respects it surpasses them all.
The attendance has been small, but before
we reach August the people of America will
learn that there is something at Buffalo
which will interest every American who can
afford the time and expense to reach there.
It offers a "dream city"; or better, at night a
city of Aladdin.
9
nity. He considers work unnecessary when journal should be unhampered by any official
the world can be so easily induced to con- relations with either individual or organiza-
tion. When other papers have clamored for
tribute to his support.
"special recognition"' for the press, we have
THAT OFFICIAL RECOGNITION.
always claimed the press was entitled to no
A SUBSCRIBER in
What an admirer of
more special recognition than action manu-
The Review says—The
the West in writ-
matter of official re-
facturers or plate men, or of any other sub-
cognition is not de-
ing to The Review says:
sirable—T h e t r a d e
division of the industry.
"I have been a long and
press should be un-
We have always been opposed on general
hampered.
constant admirer of
your publication, and have frequently been principles to the proposition of any "official
surprised to note how closely your sugges- recognition" of the trade press. The trade
tions have been followed out in many ways. press is a part of the industry, an educational
On the editorial page of The Review of part, receives pay for its work and every
OPPORTUNITY FOR DISHONESTY. .March 16th appeared an argumentative arti- paper should be judged according to its indi-
T HE statement is fre- cle agitating the formation of a National vidual merits. That is all we have asked
Thc easy granting
of credits—Creates
quently made that Dealers Association. One paragraph I or ever shall ask. The day of "official or-
opportunity for the
gans" is gone forever.
dishonest— Character,
there is not enough care quote:
after all, the real basis
exercised in this indus-
—Suspicious failures
'' 'Weare to havea big music tradecongress
TEARING OFF THE MASK.
should be investigated.
try in the granting of here in this city in May. Dealers will be in-
A MORE absurd con-
A reflection upon
credits. We have discovered that the very vited, and what more auspicious time to or- the intelligence of the
dition never exist-
industry—The m a s k
people who do most of the preaching along ganize the inceptive move of a dealers' na-
torn off—A peculiar
ed in any industry than
condition, worth the
these lines are usually the ones who are dis- tional association ?'
consideration o f a l l
exists in this to-day,
manufacturers.
covered deep in the next failure that is an-
"The suggestions of The Review were car-
and one would think the
nounced.
ried out to the letter, no other paper even en- piano manufacturers were sized up as a lot
As far as our personal observations go we dorsed them, and I am somewhat surprised of school boys by the trust promoter.
are not led to the belief that credits are that due credit and recognition has not been
In the first place he annouces that he has
run on a looser basis in this industry than given you for this."
severed his connection with music trade
in many others. We are not up to the dry-
There is no special need of surprise on the journalism, but in the meanwhile the paper
goods or hardware lines because there the part of our friend, for our experience in life remains his property as absolutely as during
most rigid mercantile rules are not only tells us that the man who is looking for "due any period of its existence, he simply remov-
adopted, but lived up to, and there is a regu- credit and recognition" for his actions is ing himself from a portion of the detail work.
lar scale of time and discounts upon which looking for something which he never re- His connection was ostensibly dropped be-
the majority of the goods are sold, and at the ceives. This paper originally advocated the cause he said that he could not pose as the
same time exceeding care is used by the formation of a piano manufacturers' national editor of a trade publication while working
credit men of the great establishments doing association. The first call was issued by The the trust scheme. In the meanwhile every
business in those industries. They are great Review. We advocated the formation of man who supports the paper supports the
industries compared with our own. There local associations in the various cities. trust promoter, that is the man who is plot-
is no question that credit is far too easy for These were formed, and within the last year ting the destruction of many individuals who
the scheming dealer to obtain.
we placed special emphasis upon the necessity at present are actively engaged in this indus-
Character, after all, is the only safe foun- of a dealers' national asociation, and the try. Every man must understand that all of
dation upon which to base credit, and there suggestion on our part which was acted the honeyed phrases and statements to the
should be a clear line of demarcation between upon, by forming a dealers' asociation at the effect that it would not become an absorptive
the dealer with good character and small music trade convention last month need draw trust if it were formed is a distortion of the
monetary assets, and the man with a suspi- forth no special "recognition." We are not truth to an unrecognizable degree.
cious character who can make a fairly good looking for' that. It is one of the duties of
What is a trust if it doesn't eliminate and
showing on paper.
a trade publication to lead the procession absorb competition ?
One of the weakest and most reprehensi- rather than to be pushed along with it.
What is a trust if it doesn't close up two-
ble customs is the granting of a line of credit
It is proven beyond power of argument thirds of the factories and throw out one-
to a man who has failed "suspiciously." that the trade press exercises vast influence half of the men, and a large proportion of
When a man fails with a clean slate, it is then upon the destinies of an industry. As far as officers ?
ii
a question of his ability and honesty that The Review is concerned this influence has
A trust is not a trust unless it annihilates,
should guide one in granting credit, but the always been to build up rather than tear condenses and boils down.
dishonest man should be blacklisted by every down. The mere matter of "recognition" is
Is there anyone who cannot see through
one in the trade. It is worth while to think not necessary at all, nor is it desirable.
the thinly disguised scheme? Is there any-
of occasionally when hesitating about ship-
A number of times in days agone friends one who has forgotten the unsavory past of
ping wares to a man who has failed question- of The Review have incidentally suggested this individual? Is there anyone who feels
ably or suspiciously once, or perhaps, more making The Review an official organ. a sense of security in disclosing to him the
than once.
Whenever this has been broached we have inner workings of his business ?
Is there anyone who relishes the idea of
Is it not a matter of fact that the man who asked of our friends to go no further, be-
supporting
an enterprise owned and managed
would refuse to loan him a hundred dollars in cause frankly we do not believe in official
by this man, who is seeking to sweep two-
cash would ship him five hundred dollars organs any more than we believe in house thirds of the firms, dealers, salesmen and
worth of goods without much hesitation? organs. Neither can be independent, nor travelers out of existence?
Easv credit is the dishonest man's opportu- work for the best interests of the trade. A
These are matters worth thinking about,