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THE MU3IC TRADE REVIEW
T
H E small grand which is exploited under various special names
has played an important part in the piano output of the old
year. While there may be some difference of opinion as to the
danger line made possible by the shortening of strings and the
abbreviation of sounding board space, there can be no ground for
disagreement in the broad statement that the small grand is a seller
in any form, and no grand has been made yet so small that it has had
any effect to lessen the number of admirers and buyers. It will be
found if the pages of The Review several years ago are consulted,
that we made the statement that the small grand was destined to
occupy a prominent place in the future piano output of this country,
and it is possible that there will be several additions to the small
grand family during the next year.
W
E have in this industry to-day a number of institutions whose
interests are so varied and embrace so many lines that they
are colloquially termed piano trusts. The designation, however, is
hardly correct, if we may apply the definition which is generally con-
ceded to be correct in the term "trust."
No one can deny that for years there has been a tendency to-
ward concentration of business interests in all lines, and naturally
it would be supposed that we would have men in this trade who
would go with the tide rather than to struggle against it, and as a
result we see giant institutions in New York and Chicago which con-
trol varied interests in the musico-industrial field.
T
H E Aeolian-Steck deal, which was announced in The Review
of last week, furnishes another illustration of the trend to-
ward consolidation. The Steck, a famous old piano—one which
has always held a dignified position in the trade, now passes under
the control of a coterie of brilliant men who have fairly earned the
right to be called leaders in this industry.
No matter from what viewpoint we scan the Aeolian combina-
tion, we must be forced to admit that there is an impelling power
guiding the destinies of that great institution which is remarkable in
its force. It has gone on expanding and gathering into itself all
kinds of industries, until practically the whole field of music trade
development is represented in the Aeolian lines.
Naturally such an organization must exercise a potent force
upon the retail end of the business; that is obvious, but it must be
admitted that the Aeolian representation, embracing, as it does, such
a powerful line, is a most important adjunct to the selling assets of
any dealer.
T
H E Manufacturers' Association has shown a steady growth
throughout the year, and to-day has a greater number of firms
on its membership roll than ever before. No radical measures have
been attempted by this organization. It exists as a healthy trade
factor. The Dealers' organization is also in excellent condition. Its
officers are men of standing and ability, who are working with a com-
mon purpose to make the association a still greater benefit for trade
weal.
USIC trade journalism has in some instances shown a healthful
growth during the year, and it must be admitted to-day that
there is a tendency on the part of advertisers to exercise a keener
discrimination than ever before when allotting their trade paper ad-
vertising.
This is the correct rule to follow. If a manufacturer desires to
patronize any paper through a friendly regard which he may have
for the publisher, and not on account of the values which he delivers,
that is his affair, but the papers which exhibit progress and deliver
a value will ultimately reduce the smaller sheets to an eleemosynary
position. Men are not going to throw away money simply because
they happen to have a personal acquaintance with the trade editor.
M
S far as The Review is concerned, no year in its history shows
such advance as was made during 1904. The reasons for it
are easily explained. We produced a better paper than ever before.
To-day we have a large and well-organized staff, and special corre-
spondents who cover every field of music trade interests. We have
departmentized The Review so that the busy man can find what he
desires in less time than ever before, and we have presented a paper
of unusual value to the subscriber. The work which we carried on at
the St. Louis Exposition was admitted by thousands to be of advan-
tage to the entire industry. It was conducted at great expense, and
advertisers should understand that such an institution as this does
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not halt at any reasonable outlay to advance the interests of its con-
stituency.
We have plans of magnitude under way for the new
year which will be announced at the proper time. The Review takes
this opportunity to express the wish that its readers in every clime
will enjoy a new year full of delight and business pleasures.
T
HE cotton men of the South must have swallowed that canard
about the wholesale burning of the old square pianos at At-
lantic City, and they planned to have two million bales of cotton
burned in order to reduce the supply so that the price will rise.
The great cotton crop to which the South has looked forward
has evidently proved a curse instead of a blessing. The writers on
the daily papers would hardly say that cotton is not popular to-day al-
though they took occasion to remark that about the decadence of the
piano when they learned manufacturers and dealers were destroying
them at Atlantic City.
The Dealers' Association has learned a lesson, and it is extremely
doubtful if it ever again lends its name to the exploitation of a scheme
which has such a serious reactionary effect upon the industry.
I
F we search the entire history of libel suits against newspapers
in the State of New York it will be found that ninety-nine out
of every hundred cases have resulted in either a victory for the news-
paper or a damage amounting to but a few cents against it. This
record shows that the average juror is not inclined to abridge the
liberties of the press as far as honest criticism is concerned.
Perhaps the most notable case on record where an opposite
result was obtained is the suit of Victor Herbert, the distinguished
composer and orchestra leader against the Musical Courier con-
tingent. His suit first resulted in a verdict of $15,000 damages
against the offending publication. This was the largest judgment
against a paper ever recorded in the law courts in New York, prov-
ing conclusively that the jury concluded that this publication had
gone beyond the limit of fair criticism.
N appeal was taken from this decision, and the amount of dam-
ages was materially reduced. The last court of resort in this
State on Friday handed down its opinion to the effect that the
Courier contingent must pay $5,000 and costs.
When the first result of Victor Herbert's victory was known a
dinner was tendered him by distinguished musicians and composers,
which was also attended by leading people in the piano trade. At
this banquet much joy was expressed at the result of the Herbert
suit, and the great composer was complimented upon his action
which resulted in such a victory. It was an astonishing demon-
stration such as never before has been witnessed in any profession.
While many considered that $15,000 was an excessive verdict
to render in such a case, it was evidently intended that the penalty
should be of such magnitude that it should have a deterring effect
upon the Courier "criticisms" (?) in the future.
A
N many of the papers throughout the land there appeared extended
notices applauding the verdict of the Herbert jury. It showed
a remarkable feeling of contempt by newspaper men for the Courier
style of journalism. It is all the more notable in a profession where
there is a strong spirit of comraderie existing, for no journalist views
with pleasure any court records which show that a fellow editor has
been put to great legal expense to defend freedom in criticism,
which should not be denied him. On the other hand the journalists
who are proud of their profession know that the craft is tainted by
the association of men who parade insolent and vulgar abuse in the
of criticism.
I
N these days of pooling with capital stocks of many million, the
following cable to a New York paper is enlightening, as it shows
that not only in the United States is the grip of monopoly felt.
To ask the help of the Government savors of the paternalism
that the rich people shrink from. Listen to the demand in behalf of
the middle class (meaning small capitalists) against the stupendous
accumulation of capital:
Berlin. Dec. 29.—The Reichstag, after two days' debate, to-day
adopted a resolution asking the Government to introduce a bill for
the protection of the middle commercial classes against great ac-
cumulations of capital in the retail trade.
The resolution contemplates a further extension of the law
against unfair competition and the regulation of closing-out sales,
so as to prevent bogus advertisements, and also seeks a remedy
against the hardships caused by sales on the instalment plan.
Finally the resolution demands the prohibition of Government
officials, including army and navy officers, from running co-oper-
ative department stores.
I