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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PUBLISHERS NOTE IMPROVEMENT
HOWLEY-DRESSER AFFAIRS.
A WRITER OF SONG HITS.
In Trade During the Past Week But do Not
Look for Stable Betterment Until August—
Too Much "Knocking" Going on—Collec-
tions Continue Poor and Publishers Suffer—
Department Stores Continue to be a Vital
Topic to Publishers.
Liabilities of Over $40,000—Receiver Lord
Criticises the Management of the Business
—Creditors' Committee Appointed.
As a writer of song hits, Theodore Morse has
a reputation and record close to the top of the
list, and many of his admirers claim he stands
This week publishers are prone to the belief
that their business showed a slight improvement,
but a continuance is not looked for. As they
express it, "From now until the middle of Au-
gust there will be precious little doing." To
be sure, the trade never lacks topics for dis-
cussion, and much sage advice and many prophe-
cies are indulged in these halcyon summer days.
While failures in the publishing line are not
many, now the surprise expressed over so few
is general. The "knocker" is abroad, and what
he pretends to know about the affairs of every
firm in the "street" seems momentous, and is
possibly of small account—a lot of evil gossip
and precious few facts.
In truth, collections have been slow, the ordi-
nary sources of quick money for emergency pur-
poses have curtailed loans sharply, and this,
combined with the prevalent quiet business, from
which every line is suffering just now, has cre-
ated a feeling of "blue funk," for which there is
no sound mercantile reason. It is proper to
add that publishers who have conducted their
business along true commercial lines are not the
complainants at the present writing. They push
every department systematically and methodi-
cally, are not looking for spasmodic successes,
but enduring trade along legitimate channels of
development. The gamblers and speculators,
who center all their energy and capital on one
cast of the die; who crowd on all steam to create
a hit—often short-lived—are the ones who feel
the situation most keenly.
The ultimate figure that department stores
controlled by publishers will cut in the trade is
a subject most irritating to those on the out-
side. The publishers not interested in this new
method of exploiting sheet music continue to be
extremely critical, and predict dire results to
the trade at large. Said a publisher to The Re-
view this week: "The trade is complaining bit-
terly, and publishers are also sufferers. For in-
stance, we had an order for $1,000 a month from
one store in the combine, and now not a penny
comes our way. Dealers in the different cities
say their business has been greatly reduced on
account of the cut prices. Now, one publishing
house controls twenty-four department stores in
different parts of the country, another five, a
third in Chicago four, and several one each, and
they are all driving away at each other on prices.
You may easily imagine where the dealer stands
with such competition. The charge that certain
publishers solicit trade from the dealers and at
the same time cultivate and sell to the public di-
rect is well founded. The dealer—the legitimate
avenue of retail distribution—should always be
protected, else there is demoralization. Houses
who violate this established law of business
should be made to suffer the consequences of
their foolish greed."
LOTTIE GILSON AND HER SONGS.
The popularity of Lottie Gilson is not a thing
of the moment, but continues to grow in volume
wherever she is booked. Her latest engagement
in Philadelphia, at the Lyceum Theatre, empha-
sizes the fact that the "Little Magnet" possesses
powers of attracting large and appreciative audi-
ences, who enjoy her presence and her act.
Miss Gilson is one of the most painstaking lit-
tle artists in the selection of her songs, and
will frequently try over a score of compositions
before she decides to add to her repertoire.
Two of the latest include S. R. Henry's March
Song, "Polly Prim," with lyric by Monroe H.
Rosenfeld; and the second is one of Max S.
W;itt's recent compositions entitled: "There's
Just As Good a Fish in the Sea." This maxim
song is looked forward to as one of the song
successes of the coming season, and is published
by the well-known firm of Jos. W. Stern & Co.
At a meeting of Howley, Dresser & Co.'s
creditors on Saturday last, at the office of H. &
J. J. Lesser, 320 Broadway, New York, counsel
for Receiver Ford, about twenty gentlemen—
representing the heaviest claims—were present,
besides a number of lawyers. S. G. Garrabrant,
of Bulkley, Dunton & Co., paper manufacturers,
presided. Henry Lesser, the secretary, submit-
ted the appended statement of the embarrassed
firm's affairs on the part of the receiver: Lia-
bilities, $40,220, itemized as follows: Merchan-
dise, $34,520; royalties, $5,500; work, labor, etc.,
THEODORE MORSE.
$200. Assets: Outstanding accounts, $3,000; pa- unequalled in his specialties, which seem to in-
per, $1,000; fixtures, $1,000; sheet music, 400,000 clude pretty nearly every style of composition
copies; orchestrations, 100,000 copies; these, excepting sacred music. A few of his latest
with the catalogue and plant, the value had not numbers, collaborating with Ed. Madden, are:
been appraised. The creditors number about 60, "Up in the Cocoanut Tree," "Wise Old Owl,"
and the largest claim is $7,000, that of C. H. "When We Were Two Little Boys," "Dear Old
Goetting, borrowed money.
Girl;" besides what are reputed as the two big-
Receiver Ford severely criticised the business gest hits on the market to-day, namely, "Blue
methods of the firm, and said he had never seen Bell" and "I've Got a Feeling For You." Mr.
so much confusion and lack of management. Morse is writing exclusively for F. B. Haviland
"Music was scattered everywhere on the floors Publishing Company.
of every room, and now, for the first time, we
have arranged it properly. The place was a
FLASHES FROM A LIVE WIRE.
nursery for idlers and parasites, and one-half
the force of clerks employed could attend to the
Jean Schwartz, on the staff of Shapiro, Remick
business. Both Messrs. Howley and Dresser are & Co., whose comic opera, "Piff, Paff, Pouf," still
doubtless honorable gentlemen, but they evi- holds the boards a t the Casino, left New York
dently do not know how to successfully manage last week for a brief stay at the springs at West
a music publishing business. Mr. Dresser's name Baden, Ind., and which Ezra Kendall describes
is worth money, and I believe he can raise capi- as the "liver laundry."
tal among his friends to continue, therefore 1
John W. Bratton should feel very much grati-
would suggest a reorganization of the concern,
with Mr. Dresser at its head. The firm has no fied by the fact that no matter how classical a
doubt a splendid business, judging from the mail programme Duss may be giving at Madison
I have handled since acting as receiver, and the Square, he rarely fails to play either "The Rose's
assets are valuable, and these should not be Honeymoon," or else "Laces and Graces," the
frittered away by any ill-advised or hasty pro- novelette written by Mr. Bratton together with
Gustav Salzer.
ceedings."
Charles Francis, of the Charles Francis Press,
was questioned about the transfers of plates,
copyrights, etc., made to him in December last,
in liquidation of a claim against the house, but
no definite information was elicited. After a
general discussion a committee was appointed to
formulate a plan of action, composed of the fol-
lowing: D. G. Garrabrant, of Bulkley, Dunton &
Co.; F. W. Helmick, with Enterprise Music Sup-
ply Co. (Goetting's interest); J. Lee Nicholson,
expert accountant; N. Burkon, for Crown Music
Co.; Charles Francis, of Charles Francis Press.
J. F. BOWERS ILL
Had to Undergo Operation to Secure Relief—
Unable to Attend Convention.
J. F. Bowers, president of the Music Publish-
ers' Association of the United States, was indis-
posed when he reached New York Monday. His
trouble reached an acute stage, and he was
obliged to undergo an operation at the Hotel
Manhattan to obtain relief from the intense pain
he was suffering. Consequently he was unable
to attend the convention, and was confined to his
room for the week. Expressive of their sympa-
thy the association, Tuesday, on motion of Wal-
ter Jacobs, of Boston, passed the following reso-
lution:
"Resolved, We have heard with sincere regret
and sorrow of the illness of J. F. Bowers, the
president of this association, and we extend to
him our sympathy, and wish for him a speedy
recovery, and we offer to him our services in any
way he may command."
A new waltz song has recently been issued by
M. Witmark & Sons, from which that house ex-
pects a big success. It is entitled, "Lolita," and
is by Rida Johnson Young and Karl Hoschna.
As the name implies, it is a Spanish song, and
both in lyric and melody it is full of that "Car-
menesque" atmosphere which is always so de-
lightful. The waltz has an ease and strength,
and has already been taken up by colorature
singers on both the vaudeville and concert stage.
Charles K. Harris returned Saturday last from
a month's trip in the West, the greater part of
the time being passed in Milwaukee, where he
still has important real estate interests. The
genial ballad writer has recently been "busted"
very faithfully, the artist turning out an accept-
able production, which now adorns his hand-
some offices. Perhaps Mr. Harris is preparing
to occupy his pedestal in the "songsmith's" hall
of fame.
"Good Bye, Little Girl," originating with Cobb
& Edwards, was interpolated in "A Little Bit of
Everything," at Klaw & Erlanger's Aerial Gar-
dens, Monday evening. The song is in the front
rank of current sellers.
Before leaving on her vacation, to go to Narra-
gansett Pier, R. I., for the summer, Clare Rum-
mer contracted to write exclusively for Jos. W.
Stern & Co. for a term of years. She is known
favorably as the writer of "Egypt," "June," "I'm
Goin' To Change My Man," "Take Your Name
Off Ma Door," etc. Miss Kummer has placed
quite a number of manuscripts with her pub-
lishers, which include some quaint lyrics set to
melodies that have characterized her success as
a successful song writer; these will be published
during the early fall.
Separate Numbers and Scores
of the following
Comic Opera and Musical
: : Comedy Successes : :
"RED FEATHER"—By Chas. Emerion Cook, Chai. Klein
and Reginald De Koven.
NANCY BROWN"—By Frederic Ranken and Henry K.
Hadley.
"THE MOCKINQ BIRD"—By Sidney Rosenfeld and A.
Baldwin Sloane.
"THE OFFICE BOY "—By Harry B. Smith and Ludwig
Englander.
"A QIRL PROM DIXIE"-By Harry B. Smith.
"THE ISLB OP SPICB"—By Allen Lowe ft Paul Schindle
'•""•"«»r JOS. W . STERN ft CO.
84 Bast Slat Stna*
NEW YORK
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