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THE
"Do you remember the good old days when
Y 2 and 20 was a good rate, and if a jobber wanted
y 2 and y 2 he had to buy 5,000 copies? And now
it is down to 8 cents for one copy, that's y 2 , Ms
and 20—fierce, isn't it? Pay printers' bills, royal-
ties, office expenses (which are about 25 times
bigger than they were in the olden times), and
then figure your 'losses'; the word 'profit' is
eliminated from the business—there isn't any.
However, more of this subject later.
Waste Paper Baskets Needed.
"To resume—we think many of us are wise to
the slide graft, the professional copy graft, and
the amateur minstrel graft—this guy who bought
your goods for many years, and now gets them
for nothing, a fine condition of affairs. Don't
forget to dissect that professional mail daily—
90 per cent, of it amateurs or fakirs. They print
fake letter-heads, fake programs and fake cards
now—a wise lot of bunco-steerers they are, fool-
ing us all for years, and we have just waked up,
but we are not fully awake, still dozing, some of
us. Let'B be wideawake to all of these things.
Don't hand out your good stuff for the asking—
make them qualify. If they can't, then make
them buy. Qualify or pay, that's the 'slogan.'
Put about 90 per cent, of that so-called profes-
sional mail in the waste basket, that's where it
belongs.
"Make the slide exchanges buy regular copies—
no professionals. Make them buy slides, buy
them outright; no exchange privilege, they have
got to have them. Don't fear, you'll never lose a
nickel by making them do now what they should
have done three years ago. In fact, you will save
a barrel of money. Assert yourself, be a man
or business man, stand up for your rights and
what is yours, and get it every time. Question
the man or woman who comes into your shop for
free music. Do it diplomatically, and you will
find 50 per cent, of them are fakirs. Ever notice
the rush Saturday after 1 o'clock? Downtown
offices close at noon, and the office boys flock
uptown to graft free music. It's every day and
all day, but Saturday afternoon it's the limit—
watch it.
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
away from this one of quicksand and pitfall
that threatens to demolish the structure and send
it in a heap to crumbling ruins.
"The fact that we have heard from various
sources that our letters are having a beneficial
effect, and that some of them are displayed in
the various publishing offices, leads us to believe
that our humble efforts to better conditions are
bearing fruit, and for this reason we shall con-
tinue to address you in this way from time to
time, and trust our letters may always receive
your consideration. It doesn't cost a cent to
read them, and it may be the means of saving
us all many and many a dollar."
DEUTHER ON REMICK LETTER.
Why Western Dealers Care About the Prices
at Which Music Is Sold in New York Depart-
ment Stores—Some Facts and Figures Which
Make Interesting Reading.
Tomaz F . Deuther, of 516 West Chicago ave-
nue, Chicago, 111., sends the editor of this
section the following reply to Jerome H. Remick's
letter which appeared in our issue of April 11:
"My Dear Sir—I have read with considerable
interest Jerome H. Remick's letter addressed to
the 'Man on the Street,' and most emphatically
take exception to many of the assertions which
he makes therein. He says, 'What do you sup-
pose the West cares what Mr. Macy does or
Siegel-Cooper?' The West does care, and only a
short time since I wrote to Mr. Remick* enclos-
ing him clippings from the New York papers of
the 'ads.' of the metropolitan department stores
which he controls. However, there certainly is
no reason why Mr. Remick shouli sell his prints
at 5 cents in Chicago, as he has been doing.
Incidentally, Mr. Remick states that there is
more music sold in Chicago than in any other
two cities in the country. Your readers may
take this assertion with a grain of salt. What
does Mr. Remick mean when he says that Chi-
cago gets good prices for music? He advises the
'Man on the Street' to come West and look
around. I happen to be in Chicago, and needless
A Cheering Prophecy.
to say I look around. On Saturday, April 18,
"Now, Mr. Publisher, for your sake, for the Remick's department store in this city had a
sake of the general business, keep on with the cut-rate sale on quite a number of pieces of
good work. Keep on good and forte, and inside music selling at 5 and 10 cents, mail orders
of six months you will see things different in filled at 1 cent extra. Of some thirty of the 5-
this town, and in other towns, and in the general
cent pieces advertised, at least twenty-five were
business, and it will be all to the good. It's a his own, and nearly all of the 10-cent pieces were
movement in the right direction, that you cannot his prints. Does he call this getting good prices?
heir* but acknowledge, and if each and every pub- In the same sale he had Hoist's two pieces,
lisher will do his share, we will put this good 'Dance of the Demon' and 'June Bugs' Dance' at
old money-making business back on the solid 15 cents. About a month ago, or perhaps a little
foundation where it came from, and we will get more, he sent the trade a circular advertising
'Dance of the Demon' 75 cents y 2 and y 2 , and
THE TEACHER'S FAVORITE
'June Bugs' Dance' 60 cents y 2 and y 2 , making
them net 18% and 15 cents, respectively, and
GRADED
advising dealers to stock up with these two num-
bers. On top of this he advertises them retail at
EDITION
15 cents, mail orders filled at 1 cent extra. There
U. S.
was absolutely no excuse for this sale, especially
Beo. u.3 PAT Or-r.
on the above two pieces, as they are well known
LEO FEIST, Feist Building,-134 W. 37th St., N. Y.
and standard teaching mateiial. One year ago,
25 cents, or two-thirds off, on 'Dance of the
J
Demon' was a low discount. I wrote Mr. Remick
E
personally regarding this sale and got no reply.
From "THE DAIRYMAIDS"
R
In truth, I expected none, because there is no
( W o r d s b y M . E. ROURKE)
O
reply to make. I told him, however, that his
"MARY McGEK," "I'D LIKE TO MEET YOUR
M
FATHER." "CHEER UP GIRLS," "I'VE A MILLION
methods were not endearing him to the dealers
REASONS WHY I LOVE YOU," "NEVER MARRY
E
A GIRL WITH COLD COLD FEET."
of Chicago and the vicinity.
D.
From "THE LITTLE CHERUB"
"The comments of the 'Man on the Street' in
"MEET ME AT TWILIGHT," (W»rdi by F. Clifford
which he says, 'if the power of Remick was used
Harris). "UNDER THE LINDEN TREE," (Words
K
in the right direction,' etc., are plain to everyone
by M. E. Rourke).
E
in the music trade save to Mr. Remick himself.
From "THE MORALS OF MARCUS"
R
I would dearly like to know what sacrifices Mr.
"EASTERN MOON," (Words by M. E. Rourke).
N
Remick is making. He talks vaguely of sacrific-
R
H
A
D
i
m
f
ft
U3M43S
Broadway
'8
T . D . n a n ma L U . , NEW YORK
ing something, but gives no explanation.
"To sum up my letter, I now look for a cut-
rate war in Chicago, such as is now in progress
ROBERT TELLER SONS & DORNER
in New York, for as the Chicago papers are read
by
thousands living outside of Chicago, the pub-
Music Engravers and Printers
lic will doubtless be able to get their music by
SEND MANUSCRIPT AND IDEA OF TITLE
mail from Remick at one-third and one-half of
FOR ESTIMATE
what he charges the legitimate dealer wholesale.
M l WEST l l t h STREET, NEW YORK CITY
Now, Mr. Editor, as I said, I wrote Remick that
this thing cannot last. No matter how much
money is dumped into the waste paper basket, the
bottom will cave out ere long, and I predict dis-
aster for several of the big publishing houses
before many years have gone over our heads,
unless the proverb, 'Live and let live,' enters
more into their business methods. 'Houses built
on sand will crumble.' Yours very truly,
"T.
CONSERVATORY
F. DEUTHER."
EDITION
EVEN if you'd like to think so, there
are no other editions of
IQphler,
Heller
Czerny
that are nearly so good as the just
published
Conservatory
Edition
of these standard works, and best of all,
they cost less than any other edition—
none nearly so good.
Conservatory
Publication
Society
Cor. BROADWAY and 28th ST., NEW YORK
CONSERVATORY
EDITION
The Music That
YourGrandparentsLike
AS WELL AS
The Music That
Your Parents Like
BESIDES
The Music That
You Like
IS CONTAINED IN
"Century Edition"
PAT. Orr.
TEN CENT SHEET MUSIC
SVCCESSFVL SONGS
Century Music Publishing Co.
19 West 28th Street, New York
The Biggest Song Hit of to-day is
By CHAS. K. HARRIS
I'M STARVING FOR
ONE SIGHT OF Y O U "
Another "After the Ball"
Sold by your music jobber or direct from
the publisher
CHAS. K. HARRIS,
31
8t 3 St
K
N ^w Y Y & &
MEYER COHEN, Manager.
I