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THE
MUSIC TRADE
gloves, and his recent letter showing the attitude of the State's At-
torney in Chicago was a credit to the man and his sincerity. With
an organization composed of Geo. P. Bents much would be accom-
plished in any line.
"~pHE awakening of the public to the dangerous aggressions of
*
organized labor is one of the most remarkable developments
of the times. It is, of course, the natural result of the militant spirit
of the labor leaders, encouraged by a long period of success to be-
lieve that everything is possible to those who are thoroughly organ-
ized. Until recently the preponderance of public sympathy was
clearly with organized labor, as it seemed that a movement to secure
better pay and shorter hours was not unreasonable. Men of keen
vision perceived the danger that in time the liberality of the citizens
would be curtailed to an extent incompatible with our free insti-
tutions.
ND now walking delegates have been shorn of their autocratic
power, and blackmailers among them have now come to grief
and are wearing the convict's stripes. Associations have been
formed for the purpose of enforcing the laws and defending inde-
pendent workmen in their right to earn a living. Large employers
of labor announce that they will no longer enter into agreements
with their men, binding themselves to pay certain rates of wages,
or to run their factories for a stipulated number of hours per day.
It would seem from the present outlook that there will be but com-
paratively little interruption to labor during the present year.
A
N another section of the paper a view is shown of the employes
of the Cable Company in the full enjoyment of a sumptuous
repast, and it was only a week or two ago that we had an extended
account of the annual dinner of the Steinway employes. Then in
New Orleans last week of the Grunewald workers; before that
the Pease men and still later the Heppe forces of Philadelphia
and so on.
The cultivation of closer relations between employer and em-
ploye is encouraged by these frequent meetings around the festive
board. There are to-day many business men who can profit by the
example which has been set by leading men of the industry. There
are men who fail to appreciate the immense importance of friend-
liness between themselves and their employes.
I
T is a well understood fact that men will give their best work to
a fair-minded employer who treats his assistants in a liberal man-
ner, and these social meetings have the effect to encourage and
stimulate accentuated interest in the affairs of the firm or corpora-
tion.
I
A piano man was recently heard to remark: "I don't want any
suggestions from my employes. I run this business as I think best,
and I don't want any 'ifs and ands' from the men who work for
me. If a man doesn't like to do what I tell him, let him get out and
work for somebody else."
That is frank and straightforward, surely, and has to some, a
very businesslike ring, but after all, upon analysis it cannot be con-
sidered a good business policy, unless the man knows that all his
employes are mentally incompetent and entirely devoid of ability
to offer suggestions in the interest of the business.
I
T is not a hard matter to pick out a man who has always worked
for such an employer and. ha,s been satisfied, to conform to the
REVIEW
latter's wishes without comment. We could locate some such
houses in this industry and the men under such treatment grow up
without confidence in their own ability. Now, on the other hand,
a man who has worked for an employer who encourages sugges-
tions on the part of the people whom he hires to do certain work,
knows that there is no written law in business which can be fol-
lowed safely in every case, and is prepared to use his own judgment
in all emergencies when it is impossible to consult with his employer.
What a great advantage a man has who can feel confidence in
his employes, over the one who must always feel that without his
presence the business is apt to be neglected.
H P HE men. who make the greatest success in the mercantile line
are those who have encouraged their employes to think for
themselves. A salesman should not be ridiculed when making a
mistake, but the same should be pointed out to him, and he should
thoroughly understand wherein he was wrong. By following such
a course better feeling would be generated which will reflect upon
the success of the business. Co-operation of this kind assists to-
wards bringing about the beneficial results and some of the brightest
men in the piano industry fully understand the value of such encour-
agement to employes.
JH 1 VERY salesman likes to feel that his extra efforts are appre-
L
^
ciated, and an encouraging word now and then or a fair
criticism will do more in effecting and improving the business system
than continual faultfinding. The dinners and the thoughts which are
evolved from the after-math of the banquet result in bringing out
much to assist toward bettering the business enterprise. The wheat
may be easily sifted from the chaff, and open discussions at these
employes' banquets will result in bringing about an era of good feel-
ing in trade. Then, too, they will be helpful in the largest
way to the business.
I N Chicago the advertisements of piano men may be seen upon
* various stations of the elevated railways. In New York there
is almost every other manufactured article advertised at intervals
upon the elevated railways, but it is rarely, indeed, that a piano sign
occurs. Things will not change in this particular when the under-
ground system is in operation, for it is definitely settled that there
will be no advertising in the stations of New York's underground
railway. The cars, however, may carry the usual placards; that has
not been announced.
'"T"*HE cold weather of the past week has naturally delayed piano
*
shipments in all sections of the country. Certainly pianos do
not improve under the usage they receive in cold cars during such
extreme weather as we have had during the past few days. No
difference of opinion regarding that. The removal to warm warerooms
is apt to bring about results not at all pleasing to purchasers. It is
better to have a little patience than to have instruments subjected to
extremes of temperature.
Of course business in special lines like the selling of pianos
has not been accelerated by the cold wave which has extended over
a large section of the country. The reports for the week received
at The Review office do not indicate a lively condition existing in
the selling department of the industry. Winter clothing has been
in much livelier demand, than pianos.