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THE: MUSIC TRADE:
twenty months, not more than one dozen com-
plaints have officially been brought to our notice,
and every one of these has been equitably ad-
justed without any action being necessary by
either association. That part of the committee
represented by the furniture dealers have abso-
lutely refused to consider any complaints or
attempt to remedy any evils which did not refer
to the legitimate furniture dealers of the State.
"I well remember that at one of our meet-
ings a prominent attorney presented for our con-
sideration case after case of apparent injustice,
hardship and fraud, the details of which, if sus-
ceptible to proof, were well worthy of investiga-
tion and perhaps criminal action, but our com-
mittee could not act, for all the cases referred
to a dealer in pianos and not furniture, but rest
easy, gentlemen, this dealer is not present this
evening, and if what I hear is true, he would
feel very uncomfortable among the respectable
and honorable merchants who are here to-night.
"Now don't you think it probable, gentlemen,
that with the assistance and co-operation of our
association and the joint committee, that this
party might find it very difficult to continue his
unfair method? Let me tell you what our asso-
ciation has accomplished along these lines for
the retail furniture dealers? About a year ago a
display advertisement of a New York house ap-
peared in the Boston dailies, offering a certain
article of furniture at a ridiculous price and
even more ridiculous terms. It was both mis-
leading and fraudulent, and we decided that it
was unfair competition. So, without making use
of threats or coercion, we explained the situa-
tion to the different managers and editors, and
they all finally agreed to stand by their local
advertisers and to refuse further business from
this concern—all but one. Can you guess which
one? This paper claimed that a contract had
been made with their New York agent alld they
would have to live up to it. This was most dis-
appointing, but strange to relate the next day
this was the only furniture advertisement in the
paper. For some unaccountable reason every
furniture dealer in Boston had forgotten to send
them 'copy,' and in a very short time the
manager called on me and said they had finally
come to the conclusion that the advertisement
in question was misleading, and they had decided
to cut it out, and we have had no trouble since.
"Then there is the catalogue, mail order and
premium house evil which doubtless affects you
equally with us; the most gigantic curse of the
twentieth century, like a mighty octopus stretch-
ing over this fair land of ours seeking whom it
may dgvour, and filling the commercial grave-
yards of our country with the financial wrecks
of once most prosperous citizens.
"Our association has declared war to the finish
against this monopoly of greed and avarice, and
already has accomplished much, for the Table
Manufacturers of America, in convention, at our
request, recently passed resolutions agreeing to
discontinue all business dealings with these con-
cerns, and our national association has just
issued a "White List," comprising the names
of upward of 1,000 manufacturers of furniture
who have agreed to sell their entire product only
to the legitimate dealer. Are you not also in-
terested in this great evil?
"But we offer you many other advantages.
We maintain a permanent headquarters in the
Kimball building which, is open at all times for
the convenience of members. Here is employed
by the association a stenographer and a reliable
attorney, who is also our secretary, and whose
legal advice on all business matters is at your
service without charge. He also represents our
association at the State House, appearing for us
and protecting our interests when any bills are
brought before the Judiciary Committee, which
might prove harmful to the credit dealer. When
we realize what we individually have had to
contribute in the past years for attorney's serv-
ices at these hearings, I know that many of you
must agree that this item of saving alone repre-
sents more than is sufficient to cover the total
yearly dues of our association.
"Here also is a most reliable list containing
REVIEW
more than 2,000 names of undesirable customers.
The possible money saving advantages of this is
obvious. Then there is the feeling of good fel-
lowship and the social relations which we en-
courage in our gatherings such as this. I be-
lieve that a closer relationship and interchange
of business courtesies between the piano and
the furniture dealers will be mutually profit-
able in other ways. Your customers all need
furniture and our customers all expect to own a
piano some time. Why couldn't your salesmen
be encouraged in some way to talk furniture
and our salesmen encouraged to talk pianos,
each recommending the prospective buyer to pa-
tronize some member of our association? Per-
haps a small commission which the salesman
participated in might be advisable, and the re-
sults be most satisfactory to all parties.
"The fierce rivalry and bitter competition
which existed up to a year ago among the fur-
niture dealers of Massachusetts has given place
to a more harmonious feeling, and to-day we
are ever ready to meet our' business rivals in a
friendly spirit, knowing the world is large
enough and the field broad enough for all of us
to get our share, and that after all the intense
desire to accumulate riches is not the only goal
in this life worth striving for.
"Our association meets as a body twice a year
at the annual meeting and banquet in February,
and once during the summer at Nantasket, but
the executive council, comprising 24 represen-
tative dealers throughout the State, and who
have full authority to manage the affairs of the as-
sociation between the interim of the semi-annual
meetings, come together twice a month if emer-
gencies should arise, so we are essentially a real
working body. A.monthly bulletin or miniature
trade journal is published and mailed to every
member each month. In this way the up-to date
dealers are kept in close touch with the associa-
tion's affairs, and. their active interest and sup-
port is maintained. Our association was organ-
ized in March, 1906, with but 14 members, so
we have existed less than two years, and to-day
we have 168 live furniture dealers enrolled in
our membership.
"The idea of inviting the piano dealers to join
with us as individuals was suggested by a gen-
tleman who has large interests in two retail
piano warerooms in this city. The subject was
brought before the council, who, without one
dissenting vote, enthusiastically favored the
plan. Your distinguished president and secre-
tary met with us and appeared to be much inter-
ested in our association and what it stood for,
and so they invited me to come here to-night
and tell you all about it. The membership fee
is $5 and the yearly dues at the rate of $1 per
employe per year, with a maximum yearly pay-
ment of $50. For instance, if you employ ten
people in all, your total yearly dues would be
$10, and so on, but if more than 50 employes are
on your payroll your total annual payments
would never exceed $50. By this method each
member pays in proportion to the size of his
establishment and volume of business done,
which we think is absolutely fair to all. Of
course, collectors, salesmen, office help and all
others drawing a salary should be figured in de-
termining these yearly fees. It costs money to
run a large organization, but we furniture men
feel that as an investment it has proved to be a
most profitable one and has already paid us
many times over, the few dollars it Is costing.
Finally, I am authorized by the Retail Furniture
Dealers to extend to the retail piano dealers of
Massachusetts the right hand of fellowship and
earnestly and cordially invite you to begin the
year by becoming members of our association."
Hon. A. F. Odlin's Remarks.
Hon. Arthur F. Odlin, LLD., formerly Su-
preme Court judge in Porto Rico and in the
Philippines, was the only other speaker. His
address was so unusually interesting and he told
so much that was of practical value, that he was
given three rousing cheers as he finished. His
subject was "The Future of the Philippines."
He said it is too late to discuss the question of
whether the United States should have taken
control of them in the first place, but that now
we are in duty bound to control them, to de-
velop them, to give them economic equality with
us, and later, if they wish it at that time, to
give them political independence.
Mr. Odlin said it would be criminal to with-
draw now and leave them at the mercy of other
powers (especially Japan, for Japan is pagan,
while the Filipinos are almost all Christianized),
and if they were given independence now
anarchy would follow before the withdrawn
army could reach Hawaii. He said the only
Filipinos who want independence are the "Po-
liticos," who want office. These are many and
active. The educated business class do not want
it, and the peasant class wouldn't know what to
do with it if they had it.
There is no Filipino nation, only tribes con-
stantly at war with each other, and in many
towns the dialects are so different that citizens
of the same town cannot understand each other,
said Mr. Odlin, and he spoke in high praise of
the ability and good judgment of Mr. Taft as a
governor. He said that the failure of Congress
to do justice to the Philippines was a national
outrage. If Congress would indicate a willing-
ness to treat them fairly on the economical
side, all irritation on their part would cease.
As to the idea of ultimate independence for the
islands, Mr. Odlin said he thought it should not
be considered for at least two or three genera-
tions, and in the meantime every effort should
be made to educate them in American ways and
ideals and in the English language.
Those Present.
Following is the list of piano men at the
tables: Frank Allen, John Anderson, W. J.
Baltzell, F. H. Barnard, W. A. Beedle, Chas.
Bobzin, John T. Bowers, O. S. Brambach, A. J.
Brooks, Roger Brown, Frank A. Butler, M. P.
Campbell, A. A. Card, John E. Carter, Julius
Chelius, F. L. Churchill, J. J. Clark, C. C. Con-
way, E. E. Conway, Thomas M. Cornell, C. R.
Cressey, E. A. Cressey, A. Dalrymple, Geo. F.
Dyer, Wm. S. Dennison, Horace Edmands, J. H.
Estey, Wm. Arms Fisher, W. L. Fletcher, Wm. L.
Ford, E. A. Francis, A. J. Freeman, Richard W.
Gertz, Frank L. Gibson, Geo. A. Gibson, Walter
J. Gillis, E. Gramer, E. A. Guernsey, J. F. B.
Hale, W. A. Harvey, A. C. Hatch, B. F. Howard,
Byron E. Hughes, A. M. Hume, Ralph W. E.
Hunt, A. L. Jewett, Wm. L. Johnson, J. A. Keane,
F. M. Kilmer, E. N. Kimball, W. S. Kimball,
Theo. J. Kraft, Emory W. Lane, E. H. Lansing,
G. E. Mansfield, H. M. Matteson, Ernest Mead,
W. F. Merrih, Burton R. Miller, Edwin C. Miller,
Henry F. Miller, James C. Miller, Wm. T. Miller,
Robt. Murray, C. J. Murphy, H. A. Norton, W. H.
Nutting, Ira Nay, Thomas O'Connell, C. H.
Ordas, Alfred Parker, Edward S. Payson, G. P.
Phelps. J. A. Philpot, C. H. Pond, Geo. W. Pope,
J. Fred Powers, C. R. Putnam, W. S. Rich, C. E.
Saunier. Alex. Steinert, Thos. H. Smelt, N. H.
Smith, Chandler W. Smith, Gilbert Smith, Dr.
Robt. E. Turner, E. G. Tyler, Ubert Urquhart,
Hon. W. C. Wardwell, Milton Weil, Henry S.
Wells, C. A. Woodman, Geo. M. Woodman, A. E.
Vont, W. E. loung.
RUDOLF
PIANOS
are conscientiously made, good
instruments; in other words, the
sweetest things out.
RUDOLF PIANO CO.
458 E. 144th Street,
NEW YORK.