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THE 7VtUSIC TRRDE
limit; and the hardware trust died "a-born-
iir "—all of which goes to show that trusts
are not so easy to manage, after all..
It was not so many months ago that a dis-
credited, egotistical individual attempted to
form a piano trust. He was without back-
ing, save his colossal nerve, which he hoped
would be ample enough to pull him through.
The hardware trust scheme, much easier
of accomplishment than the piano trust, had
behind it men of character, of financial abil-
ity in the higher standing of trade circles,
and yet they failed to pull it through.
On the same basis, how far away would
the music trade promoter be from success
aided only by his castiron nerve?
There may be at some time a union of the
piano distributing forces of this country, but
unless the scheme is properly constructed,
and the right man behind it, it can never
reach success.
One thing is certain—the defaulting of
this house will serve as a strong check upon
tlie credits given to manufacturing insti-
tutions which are not looked upon as being
particularly strong financially. During re-
cent years there has been comparatively few
failures in the manufacturing departments
of the trade which have been open to crit-
icism. This one, however, will cause those
who are extending credits to those weak
financially to go in more closely into the
details of their business. They will be pretty
sure to ascertain who holds the whip hand
over them.
A fair show will be demanded.
T_J O W the young men have been coming
to the front in this industry during
the past two years. In a number of the fam-
ous piano factories the old men have been
replaced by new, and some of the greatest
music trade institutions in the world are now
A SSOCIAT1ONS are a natural evolution guided by young men, whose personalities
of the times, and when we take a ret- only a few years ago were dwarfed by those
rospective glance into conditions as they over them.
were once and look at them as they are now,
They were given no prominence and their
we will admit that the Piano Manufacturers' individuality was not in evidence. However,
National Association has indirectly played an things have changed, and they have devel-
important part in the bringing together of oped under fire, so to speak, for they have
members of the industry for common good. shown the possession of superb qualities un-
This world of ours, in all departments, der trying conditions. Responsibility, ne-
whether in literature, science, or commerce, cessity and opportunity are the factors that
L, one of progress, receiving from the indi- reveal and develop character. There is a
vidual an independent action and the greater splendid reserve force in almost every man
the progress the more complex the organ- that only comes into play in emergencies.
ism and requires a higher order of intelli- Responsibility steadies and enlarges. Men
gence to work harmoniously in all depart- do important things by having the necessity
ments of the trade. We are all members of of important things thrust upon them.
one grand whole, working together to make
Most men are much better and much abler
up what we may term, the logic of events than they are believed to be. They haven't
which is carrying the world along to the had the opportunity to prove their worth.
higher fulfillment of her destiny.
Sometimes a test comes and then they show
The frequent coming together has elim- what they had in them all the time, and no
inated some objectionable abuses and resulted one suspected it.
in exchange of ideas and methods that in
Ability and power were in the men all the
turn have resulted in a valuable education. time; responsibility and opportunity brought
It is not probable that people will come them out.
together with a view of cultivating good fel-
T " HERE are some men who seem to figure
lowship without good results.
that it is good business to place out
The greatest enemy which association
pianos, no matter how, on what terms, or at
work has had to combat has been indiffer-
what prices sold. They delude themselves
ence, and even a great many members have
with the belief that because they are doing
not cared to take the trouble to attend meet-
business, that they are on a safe basis, which
ings and follow them up so closely as
they are not, for trade secured without a
to get the best results from them. Conse-
profit is of no value, and sooner or later this
quently they have not appreciated the ben-
unnatural state of things must find a remedy,
efits that could have been derived from as-
which will be destructive to the man who
sociation work.
indulges in that sort of distortion of business
\\I H I L E it was known for some time principles.
previous to its collapse that the Water-
HE prize articles which have appeared
loo Organ Co. was not strong financially,
for months past in The Review have
yet it was believed that all of the creditors
attracted
widespread attention. The second
would have at least a fair showing. Plainly
the bank seems
the Dealers' Association Adopt to Stamp
assets, and all of the outside creditors are
Out Misleading Advertising?" is peculiarly
left.
,
appropriate at this time when a paper was
read upon fake advertising at the recent
convention in Baltimore.
It should be understood that these sub-
jects were given out long before the Deal-
ers' Association had announced their con-
vention topics.
The gentleman who is the winner of this
twenty dollar prize has certainly made an
interesting argument, and his article, which
appears on a neighboring page, is well wor-
thy perusal by everyone who is interested
in this live topic.
The next subject bears upon association
work, and all who are desirous of winning
twenty dollars should send in their ideas re-
garding "What is the Greatest Accomplish-
ment Won by Association Work in this
Industry ?"
D EPORTS that we have received from
different parts of the country show
that the month of May as a whole resulted
much more satisfactorily in a business way
than many have predicted. While some lo-
calities in Pennsylvania have suffered very
keenly, yet as a whole, trade all over the
country has kept up better than many had
believed until they reviewed the figures for
the month.
The month of June has always been looked
upon as a period very largely devoted to
weddings, and in every city and town
throughout the Union there will be celebrated
many such occasions. As pianos figure large-
ly as wedding presents and in the home fit-
tings of young couples, the piano business
in June is usually excellent, and while some
complaints have reached us, there is reason
to believe that June is going to give a good
account of itself at its close.
T T is stated that one of the leading depart-
ment stores of New York which main-
tains a piano department is now employing
a special agent who is canvassing all of the
principal towns on Long Island to locate
therein several persons to act as special
solicitors. The department store will allow
liberal commissions on all work which they
may do in the way of exploiting their pianos.
D UMORS, rumors, rumors galore! To
tell of the number of rumors which
have been circulating in trade circles this
week regarding moves of department stores,
the possible opening of branch stores in New
York by prominent Eastern and Western
concerns alone would require considerable
space. Back of these rumors will eventuate
plans which will be related in The Review
in due time. The mere printing of rumors
is injurious, and it may also be unwise to
print certain facts which are in possession
of newspaper men before the time really ar-
rives when they can l>e properly announced.
Discretion must be exercised at all times re-
garding the serving up of trade moves.