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THE
MUSIC TRADE
ffiVHW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND,
GEO. B. KELLER,
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER,
W. MURDOCH LIND,
A. EDMUND HANSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
GEO. W. QUERIPEL.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 36 La Salle St.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
. R. W. KAUFFMAN.
R. J. LEFEBVRE.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE:
5T. LOUIS OFFICE :
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (.including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00; opposite reading
matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
r.y^r.n Bill.
DEPARTMENT
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
"Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aug-
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
niPFfTHBY
at PIANO
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MANUFACTURERS
intended to create a monopoly as some allege.
It does not so appear to the average reader, and no matter in
what light it may be viewed by experts, it will be exceedingly
difficult to win others over to their belief, if the matter should at any
time be carried to the Supreme Court.
' I ' H E condition of trade has not improved materially during the
past week, and there is still much trouble experienced in con-
nection with transportation, and the railroads, partly as the result
of the severe winter, are seriously congested at many points, and
annoying delays in delivery are constantly occurring.
There has been but little change in the tone of the general mar-
ALFHED METZUER, 325 Davis St.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
THE ARTISTS'
members of the Supreme Court the fact that the bill itself was
Editor and Proprietor.
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor.
EXECVTIVE STAFF:
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE:
REVIEW
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directory
of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
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LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMEKCY.
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NEW YORK. MARCH 26, 19O*.
ket as far as values are concerned.
It may be said that prices on
staples are fairly steady with only minor changes. The general tone
is not especially strong, but there is nothing of softening to justify
neglect on the part of the piano merchant to purchase instruments
in sufficient quantities for the regular requirements of trade
I N another week there is every reason to believe that trade condi-
tions will have materially improved. A little sunshine and settled
roads will do much towards helping out the music trade situation in
all parts of the country.
Business has been curtailed for the past two months to a large
extent by the severity of weather which has prevented the delivery
of instruments to country residents and even many of those in the
larger towns have been compelled to abandon their parlors so that
dealers in scores of cases have been unable to deliver instruments
which have been actually sold.
' T ^ H E recent merger decision of the Supreme Court is far-reach-
*
ing. It is a blow to all combinations in restraint of trade,
TJ ROM personal observations made during many weeks of travel,
even among private corporations, as it renders illegal all combina-
tions which tend to monopolize.
The decision of the court affirms the constitutionality of the
it is obvious that manufacturers and merchants must place a
stronger emphasis upon their work this year if the volume of busi-
ness of the past year is reached.
anti-trust law in every particular, and it also sustains the Govern-
ment and Congress, strengthens the authority of the Nation, and
in fact declares that the power of Congress to regulate interstate
commerce is illimitable.
In its exposition of general principles, the decision handed down
It will require stronger effort in all departments.
words—to use that specially appropriate term—it will need plenty of
hustle to bring business up to the standard of last year—and if one
proposes to surpass it, it must mean additional energy and plenty
of it.
is almost unique, because in some portions it reads like a text book
intended for the instruction of young lawyers.
*~T^HE decision holds that the anti-trust act not only declares to
*
be. illegal contracts which necessarily operate in restraint of
In other
It will be no easy accomplishment to maintain last year's stand-
ard.
In the first place, there is to overcome an unmistakable
pessimistic feeling.
Now there will be business, plenty of it, but it
will require additional work to win it.
trade between States, but that it is aimed against all direct re-
straints, whether reasonably or unreasonably imposed by any com-
bination, conspiracy or monopoly.
In the opinion of some legal experts, this decision would directly
T ^ H E manufacturer or merchant who views the field with com-
placency and expects the business to drift easily his way will
be disappointed.
In these strenuous times nothing should be over-
apply to certain legislation which is pending at Washington relative
looked, and advertising bears about the same relation to a business
to an amendment of the copyright laws which will directly affect the
that steam does to an engine.
rights of composers whose works are reproduced in perforated music
It is at once a propelling as well as a creative force.
roll form for use with piano players.
Business is warfare, cold, hard and unrelenting, and advertising
is the business man's most modern and effective weapon.
\ \ J E cannot wholly agree with the opinion of the legal lights
" *
who have expressed their views upon this matier, for if thei
present bill regarding copyright to which we have reference becomes
a law, it will be a difficult matter to establish in the minds of the
Occasionally some over-conservative will say that "I never have
advertised and I am still doing business at the old stand."
It will be invariably found that such an individual is doing
business at the old standstill.