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THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The facts are, that notwithstanding the prodigious advance
which we have made in almost every line during the past few years,
we have not wholly eliminated that inherent selfishness in human
nature.
Now the first step towards checking the corruption which
threatens the foundation of industry, trade or society must be the
general recognition of the need for a higher standard. It is all per-
fectly useless to tell about our exalted heights of idealism, which
are unexcelled in any part of the world, while in an underbreath cer-
tain elements in the industry are insincere in their utterances.
I T is true we are not only a practical but even a cynical people,
and we have grown somewhat calloused regarding the al-
legations of corruption which are said to exist in various cir-
cles. There are men who want to use dishonorable trade papers
as pawns in the industry's battle.
While trade conditions have materially bettered during the past
few years, their complete purification is still, to Ingallize, an irides-
cent dream.
There are many whose interests are directly affected, who are
at once indignant at the very existence of such conditions, but the
HERE is no question but that the one-price system is steadily
growing in this industry. It is becoming fully established
throughout the country, and its merits are now better recognized by
progressive piano men than ever before. There is, however, in the
management of some of the stores a constant temptation to deviate
from the fixed price.
Some men affirm that theoretically one price is all right, but
practically it does not work in a successful degree.
We have never known any one who has given the one-price sys-
tem a fair trial to abandon it. We know of some large concerns who
tell us frankly that they find it difficult to strictly adhere to one price
undeviatingly. They state that they feel justified in slashing prices
at times in order to make sales.
Last week a well known dealer in New England stated to us
that he had found the making of special prices really demoralizing
to his salesmen, destroying, as it did, their confidence in the instru-
ments which they offered for sale.
The man who not only talks one price, but sticks to it, is moving
along sound business lines. Deviation from fixed prices is a more
or less business weakness, and is apt to have an unhealthful effect
upon the concern adopting such methods.
lust for gain is not wholly extinguished, and some men are not just
A DISCREDITED local publication has recently issued a circu-
ready to make sacrifices which involve financial risk in order to con-
tribute their quota to the betterment of industry. The corruption
•* * lar letter to piano manufacturers asking their opinion regard-
ing what system of awards should be adopted at the St. Louis Expo-
microbe has crept in and permeated many departments of our indus-
sition-whether .or not the award system should be wholly abolished
and a number of other similar questions.
trial and political life.
As a matter of fact the entire system of awards has been definite-
l y URING the early fall of last year an alleged trade paper, filled \y decided upon, and whatever opinions piano manufacturers or other
*-^ with impetuousness, strenuousness, abusiveness and a few other
exhibitors should now express would not change the determination
choice ingredients, published an article which was exceedingly dis-
o f t h e Board of Directors of the World's Fair,
tasteful to Wm. Dalliba Dutton.
' 1 "'HEY have already settled upon the plan of awards. Every
After mature deliberation, Mr. Dutton concluded to bring suit
*
exhibitor must conform to those plans; and they would indeed
against the offending publication and its editor, naming the damages
show themselves to be vacillating in their opinions if they should at
at a hundred thousand. All legal formalities having been
this day decide to modify them materially. It is a bid for cheap notor-
complied with, the case was on the court calendar for an early ap-
iety on the part of the editor of the discredited publication—the same
pearance in November. At the end of last week the offending paper
one, by the way, who endeavored to play such a peculiar part at the
discovered, after a year's close research, that Mr. Dutton is flawless,
Chicago Fair.
and that the editor did not intend in any way to "make any attack
Some piano manufacturers have already received notice of allot-
whatsoever upon Mr. Dutton's honor as a gentleman." The editor
ment of their space, and there will be enough participants in the
calmly regales himself upon a dish of crow, and the bird of ebony
music trade section to make it thoroughly representative in character.
hue seems a keen relish for him, for he devours it with much gusto.
The chief of the Liberal Arts Department, Col. J. A. Ockerson,
has been anxious to interest piano men, and he also is determined
T is not stated in this "cheerful retraction" what other considera-
I
tions brought about the change of heart in the editor, but mistakes
of that character which require such minute professional investiga-
tion usually are expensive ones; and in this case, as in the Steinert
one of days agone, the editor has discovered, no doubt, that a truth
which takes a year's work to establish is an expensive appendage to
a newspaper business. It is a truth which cannot be found on the
bargain counter. However, the suit is settled out of court, and the
terms are satisfactory to the parties most interested.
It was believed by many in the industry who are familiar with
the record of the editor that he would never permit the case to come
to trial, particularly when the evidence seemingly was so strong
against him. He swallowed the crow, bones and all, and it was a
dainty dish when compared with the repast furnished by Victor
Herbert.
that only those who take part in the exposition shall reap any reward
through the musical entertainments, which, by the way, are being
planned on an extensive scale. As first announced in The Review,
no pianos will be permitted on the concert platform save those which
are represented in the Liberal Arts Department.
'"T"*HE piano man who reduces his fire insurance because he has to
*
pay more for such protection is pursuing an extremely dan-
gerous policy.
It is true, fire insurance rates have gone up materially—some
think to an excessive point. But, then, it is well to bear in mind the
marked increase in the cost of building.
A contemplation of the facts in the insurance proposition and of
the changed conditions should not cause the wise men to reduce their
insurance.