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THE
TWENTY-THIRD YEAR.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
CBITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J. B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGINO EDITOR.
Executive Staff:
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
EMILIE FRANCIS BAUER
WALDO E. LADD
GEO. W. QUERIPEL
A. J. N1CKLIN
Putnam Every saturflay it 3 East 14th Street, New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage^, United States,
Mexico ai"l Canada, $2.00 per year; all other countries,
$4.00. %
ADVERTISEnENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
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.
7V£\JSIC TRKDE
REVIEW
fluence will be turned elsewhere should they
not receive their percentage. Such a condi-
tion closely approximates blackmailing, and
our Pennsylvania friend, who has taken the
position that he will pay nothing unless act-
ual results are shown, is on the right side.
Commissions for legitimate work are al-
ways just, and piano men do not object to
paying them, but when the commission claims
reach a point where there are a number of
claims for commissions on almost every sale,
then it cannot be doubted that the busi-
ness is not wholly removed from evil.
Now that the dealers propose to have a
large gathering in Baltimore in the spring,
it might not be amiss to take a definite stand
regarding the payment of commissions. The
agitation of this important matter can only
result in general benefit, and if some con-
certed action can be brought about so that the
business may be fairly regulated, then the
retail departments of piano selling will have
been purged of a decided evil.
a million dollars. With such gigantic expen-
ditures, it is no wonder that the advertiser
has been able to purchase the best locations
in the different periodicals, even at the ex-
pense of an artistic make-up.
This is a commercial age and the advertiser
knows what he wants, and he usually gets
it, as far as space, display and location are
concerned.
•
That "incubus- of the advertiser" that
Blumie worked so hard to free himself from
—and succeeded at that—is welcomed by most
publishers. Naturally! It is business.
But it does not follow that the advertiser
dictates the editorial policy of the paper he
patronizes.
"T" HERE has been some discussion regard-
ing the eligibility of William Dalliba
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 174S-EIQHTEENTH STREET.
Oil the first Saturday of each mouth
Button for the presidency of the National
THE
The Review contains in its "Artists' De-
ARTISTS
partment" all the current musical news.
Piano Manufacturers' Association on the
DEPARTMENT This is effected without in. any way tres-
>
passing on the size or service of the trade
ground that he is not a piano manufacturer.
section of the paper. I t has a special circulation, and
therefore augments materially the value of The Review
to advertisers.
We do not think that this alleged opposi-
DIRECTORY OF
The directory of piano manufac-
tion will develop any strength, for the mem-
PIANO
turing firms and corporations found
MANUFACTURERS on page 13 will be of great value as
a reference for dealers and others.
bers
of the association indorsed Mr. Dutton
Y\7 HILE it is admitted that the direct tan-
gible results of recent expositions do for the first position when they nominated
not loom up very large, yet there are indi- him for vice-president. If he is eligible for
EDITORIAL
cations that the piano men are going to be one office, he certainly is for the other, and
since its foundation, the association has held
Don't overlook the Review offer of $100 in cash represented in full force at St. Louis' big
prizes on page 13. Details will interest you.
fair. A few things, however, should be def- undeviatinglv to one rule—the rule of rota-
tion in office.
COMMENTS ON CURRENT EVENTS. initely settled before the opening day.
PENNSYLVANIA
The Nominating Committee could change
How can the com-
Exhibitors should know whether there is
mission evil be abated
dealer
who
called
this
unwritten law, but it now looks as if Mr.
—The next Associa-
to be an ideal standard which may be out-
tion p r e s i d e n t—
upon The Review last side of instruments exhibited.
Dutton would be selected to fill the office of
Changes among travel-
ing men— Piano adver-
week said: "I have re-
Chief
Executive of the Piano Manufacturers'
They should also know whether the with-
tising—Piano men at
solved the commission drawal of any exhibitor shall make it possi- Organization. He is splendidly equipped for
St. Louis.
evil to a strictly business basis. I pay for ble to reduce the grade of reward for those the position. He is a good talker and writer,
and plays as well a clever game at diplomacy.
what I get, but no more. 1 know others in who remain in the fight to the end.
my city who have paid out thousands without
There are a few minor details regarding
EVER has there been a time when so few-
getting an equivalent."
exposition matters which are of utmost im-
changes, or "shake-ups" have been
There is no good reason why all dealers portance to those who invest their money.
made among traveling men. The prolonged
should not deal with commission workers as
They should be clearly defined by the ex- prosperity which this country has enjoyed
with other attaches. It is stated that the com- position officers before the show begins, not has had an important effect upon the travel-
mission evil is a complex and difficult puz- after.
ing fraternity, who are known to be a hard-
zle to solve satisfactorily; but is it? Will
working, energetic class. When times are
not the application of common sense solve \X7 E have some pretty large-sized adver- good they are enabled to secure results,
it? The matter of commissions is import-
tisers in this industry whose liberal pat- which, during the periods of depression, are
ant, and all who act as agents for piano men ronage of all sorts of mediums has given extremely difficult for them to attain. As a
and succeed in assisting business materially them position among the prominent advertis- matter of fact, manufacturers have been sat-
should be fairly recompensed. They have ers of the country. Perhaps in this respect isfied with the results, the traveling men have
delivered their goods, but "touchin' on and the .ZEolian Co. have attained the lead, and been satisfied, and with a general satisfaction
appertainin' to'' that kind of commission the educational work of this institution has reigning, there has been but little cause for
work which does not show, the quicker deal- been of vast benefit to the self-playing piano either dismissals or resignations.
ers take a decided stand against it, the better industry, which has developed at such a phe-
it will be for their interests.
M EW YORK has been getting ready to
nomenal rate during the past few years.
receive Prince Henry, who is expected
In nearly all of our large cities there are
Piano manufacturers have never been large
commission fiends who pursue piano men patronizers of periodicals outside of some here to-day, and while there is a notable ab-
with unflagging regularity, and we know of houses, notably the Vose concern, Ivers & sence of music trade men in the various
instances wherein as many as a half dozen Pond, Kimball, Cable, and some others; but committees appointed, it does not necessarily
commissions have been claimed on the sale advertising as a whole has reached its high follow that there will be any lack of enthu-
of a single piano; each party alleging cer- state of development in America, where a siasm on the part of the members of the mu-
tain mythical influence, and at the same time patent medicine concern has expended for sic trade in their welcome to this scion of
a covert threat is also implied that their in- newspaper work alone in a single year nearly Germany's royal house. While there is noth-
NEW YORK, FEB, 22, 1902.
A