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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
P
IANO manufacturers, however, should have feared no exposure,
and a man who is running a reputable business should not
knuckle to the thieving, clutching hand of the blackmailer.
In this connection we have received a communication from a
well-known member of the trade, who writes, after congratulating
this institution upon the Exposition number of two weeks ago:
HE address of J. Edward Simmons, president of the Fourth
"I consider that such a paper as you are putting forth, particu-
National Bank, of this city, before the Maryland Bankers'
larly the issue of September 30, constitutes in itself the strongest
Association, delivered last week, is of added interest at this time,
opposition to journalistic blackmailing principles which for years
when events that are exciting public interest and indignation from one
seemed to rule in this industry. The time was when The Review
end of the country to the other, have brought the question of public
was not as strong, when manufacturers were being clubbed merci-
and private honesty peculiarly before the people. The fact that he is
lessly right and left; it was the 'Chicago Cabbage organs/ the 'Kim-
at the head of a great moneyed institution in this financial and com-
ball Gumwood' and attacks upon leading houses everywhere.
mercial, as well as political, center of the country, and presumably
Manufacturers in those days, evidently preferred to pay tribute to
has close relations with, and a knowledge of the affairs of American
blackmail rather than give fair appropriations to a deserving institu-
business life, would seem to give greater weight to his words.
tion to act as a rebuttal power. But plainly as The Review has risen
to a commanding position, the blackmailers' influence has decreased,
R. SIMMONS spoke of the immense power of great corpora-
which proved to my mind conclusively that after all the best way in
tions and how such powers were sometimes abused.
which to combat blackmailing and unclean methods in this trade is
"Let us prudently but energetically lop off," said he, "those
to support a paper which has demonstrated its fairness, its honesty
features in the corporations already existing which have proved
of purpose, and its usefulness. Advertisers had better strengthen a
unjust to the individual and dangerous to the State. Let us de-
line of honorable defense on which they may rely in the time of need
nounce and punish without mercy those agents of the trusts who sin
than to continue to yield to the uplifted bludgeon. I congratulate
against the commandment, 'Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bribe,
you upon your steady and undeniably great advance. The interests
thou shalt not use as thine own what belongs to others.' The ordi-
of every department in this trade seem to be admirably served at
nary thief is personally amenable to the law; the ordinary
your hands." .
thief is a man without means and without power; but the
It is, indeed, gratifying to receive such commendatory words
thief who steals in the name of a corporation because he and to know that the policy of this institution is better understood
wields the influence of that corporation has many times the
to-day than ever before, and that its strength for trade welfare is
power for mischief which the former has. He has the power because
constantly augmenting.
he controls more money; he has the power because he is more re-
spected, and, therefore, less suspected.
UDGING from the comments we have received, the remarks ap-
"Such a thief is a far greater danger to the community, to his
pearing in last week's Review anent the proposed trade exposi-
fellow-citizens, and especially to the Commonwealth, than the foot-
tion at the dealers' convention next year in Washington created a
pad, the burglar, or the pickpocket. Corporations are mere legal
great deal of interest, and the more the subject is discussed the less
entities, and, as such, cannot be punished. But the director or trus-
liable appears the inauguration of a trade exposition of any magni-
tee of a corporation who steals or bribes or appropriates is a real
tude at the nation's capital next year. It would be far better to have
no exposition than to have one which reflects no credit upon the re-
person, and he should be answerable to the law, the more so as in all
sources of the industry. A meager exhibit will be without any value
cases he profits by his wrongdoing, and in many cases he is the only
whatsoever, and many consider that it will be impossible to carry
one who profits by it."
through an exposition of magnitude with profit and satisfaction to
S. CONWAY twenty years ago refused to take out insurance
those who bear the expense incident to such publicity.
• policies, on the ground that the handling of impersonal
No argument has yet been brought forth demonstrating that a
funds could not be done honestly. In fact, before these recent dis-
single piano more will be sold to a retail purchaser by the exposition
closures were even thought of, Colonel Conway stated emphatically
plan as proposed in Washington.
that if an insight could be gained into the inner workings of the great
Now this is the age when trade-winning methods are adopted in
insurance companies there would be revealed a state of rottenness
all lines, and that which does not promise reasonable returns is not
which would astound the world.
usually looked upon with favor by the advertiser.
His predictions have turned out to be absolutely true, and people
are beginning to wonder whether corporate honesty exists in the
HERE has been considerable piano publicity in the columns of
great institutions.
the New York papers recently, and the same is true of other
There is, however, no need to be pessimistic regarding the coun-
cities throughout the country. Piano men are coming to realize
try's moral future. The people may be trusted to overcome this as
more and more the possibilities of returns through advertising chan-
they have other difficulties and bring to pass a better state of affairs,
nels. They watch the advertising of their competitors more closely
but there is need in a community for a universal, determined effort to
than ever before. Their salesmen, too, go over carefully the adver-
stamp out dishonesty before it is spread further.
tisements of neighboring piano houses.
It would have surprised some of the old-timers to see the
HE president of the New York Life says that three-fourths of
amount of money which some of the music trade concerns are spend-
the insurance legislation practiced in the various States are
ing to-day for advertising purposes. The advertisement pays in
"strike" measures, amounting to blackmail, pure and simple, and yet
most cases. This is evidenced in the fact that the concerns which
with all the vast machinery of an institution controlling hundreds of
are the best advertisers, both in the wholesale and retail lines, occupy
millions, Mr. McCall failed in trying to crush out what he alleges is
the strongest position, and are the ones who are doing not only the
a great evil.
largest business, but the best paying business.
If an insurance concern, controlling unlimited resources and hav-
ing at its command the best legal Jaent would not even offer a remon-
OM LAWSON says that when you are trying to sell a man any-
strance, but would pay the price of the blackmailer, it becomes at
thing you should look him square in the eye.
once an easily understood matter why men in lesser positions have
Mr. Lawson has sold a good many million dollars' worth of
goods of various kinds, and his advice ought to be worth something,
acceded to the demands of blackmailers.
but it isn't all in looking a man in the eye. There should be a spe-
It is not surprising that piano manufacturers, fearing the ex-
cific aim back of every effort, and the successful men are those who
posure of weaknesses in their make-up, would pay tribute to a black-
have adjusted their action toward the attainment of a certain clearly
mailing editor, rather than fight him. They felt, like McCall alleges
about the insurance, that it was easier to pay up than to fight. But seen object. They have worked with a definite aim in view. When
Lincoln was reading law by the light of a pine knot in his cabin at j
is not any man a coward who is conducting an honest business who
night, he hoped and expected to be an able lawyer and a great juror, j
pays tribute to blackmailing demands? In the insurance business
and he was. The presidency followed, and he worked for big things, j
there was a lot of crookedness which undoubtedly the directors of
and he won. Efforts should be systematized so that there is no 3
the companies feared would be exposed if they took a hand in a-legal
waste in time.
j
battle against the blackmailers.
Now, the concerns which prohibit paper reading have in mind
just such instances as are related by our Western visitor. They fear
its effect upon their salesmen, and it does not assist in the sales-
making. That is what establishments are run for, is the making of
sales, not for libraries or lounging rooms for salesmen.
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