Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1908 Vol. 46 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
GKO. B. KELLER,
L. B. -BOWERS,
W. H. DYKES,
F. H. THOMPSON.
J. HAYDBN CLARENDON.
B. BBITTAIN WILSON,
L. J. CHAMBKBLIN,
A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. VAN HAKLINGEN. 195-197 Wabasta Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643.
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
RHNEST L. WAITT, 278A Tremont S t
PHILADELPHIA t
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTHN.
SAN FRANCISCO:
CHAS. N. VAN BUBBN.
S. II. GRAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI, O.: NINA PUGH SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
LONDON. ENGLAND:
69 Baslnghall S t , B. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION, (Including postage). United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada. $3.50 ; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per lncb, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Directory of Plaao
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
'
~ ~
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
MauoUelnrtri
f o r dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Qrand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition 1902
Diploma. Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal.. . S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. . . .Lewis Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting a l l Department*.
Cable address: "Elblll New York."
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 1, 1908
EDITORIAL
REVIEW
must be "familiar with industrial and commercial conditions in for-
eign countries affecting the competition of foreign products with
products of the United States and thoroughly conversant with the
customs and tariff laws of those countries," while the fifth must be
"an economist and statistician who has given special attention to
the subject of prices and cost of production as affecting the tariff."
The members of the commission are to be appointed for terms of
seven years, each commissioner to receive an annual salary of
$7,500. The duties of the commission are set forth in the bill as
follows:
Sec. 4. That said commission shall tabulate the results of said
investigation and submit the same to Congress, together with an
explanatory report of said facts so ascertained; and said tabulation
of said facts and report in explanation of the same shall be laid
before Congress at the earliest possible moment for the use, infor-
mation and guidance of Congress; and at the request of the Ways
and Means Committee of the House and the Finance Committee
of the Senate, or by the direction of Congress by resolution, said
commission shall sit with said above named committees of the House
and of the Senate during the sessions of said committees when said
committees are drafting or considering any bill affecting the customs
tariff laws of the United States.
Now if this measure is acted upon it would seem to place the
tariff where it should be—that is removed entirely from politics
and placed in the hands of men who are specialists—men who
should be thoroughly competent to deal with it properly. The
tariff requires specialists and if a tariff commission is created it
will be the best thing in the world for the business interests of this
country because it will assure a certain stability for no radical
action would be possible. But then, if this bill does not become a
law it will not be easy for any new administration to make radical
changes in the existing tariff. The Republican party is pledged
to protection and even if a President of the opposite faith should
be elected it would be impossible to accomplish measures without
the sanction of both branches of Congress, therefore when these
things are thoroughly understood by all, why should the coming
contest for Presidential honors affect business as it has in some of
the past struggles for National political supremacy?
A
LL over the country there is an inclination on the part off
GOOD many business men have fallen into the habit of saying
merchants and manufacturers to go a trifle slow. Orders
that the year in which.a Presidential election occurs is an
are not placed with the same freedom which has characterized busi-
off-year in trade. As a matter of fact, does not the clinging to this
ness dealings in former years. This will not be a year of plunging
old time belief help to retard energy which should go to business
in any sense and still we believe that when the results of 1908 are
building? Surely there is not the wide difference between the
revealed by the figures shown at its close, some of otir pessimists
policies o'f the two great parties which formerly existed when Mr.
will be agreeably surprised at the results. Business will be run on
Bryan came out with his revolutionary free silver utterances.
better and sounder lines, and that a vast amount of business will be
There is an unmistakable drift of sentiment in the entire country
towards a lessening of the gap between the contestants, and it is transacted is not doubted by those who have even a superficial
knowledge of the existing conditions.
probable that the Presidential election which takes place next fall
will show that the line of demarcation between the two parties is
Since the last appearance of The Review notable progress has
not as pronounced as formerly, therefore as we are drifting nearer
been made in the clearing of the financial skies, and with the return
together in National sentiment regarding the administration of our of confidence and sound banking conditions there is a prospect of
public affairs, why should business feel the same depressing effects
easy money before long.
which it did formerly, when it was possible to replace sound busi-
Chris. B. Garritson, who is one of the optimists di the trade,
ness principles by impracticable theories?
predicted, even when the panic was at its height, that it would only
The dominant issue will be to our minds the tariff, and in be a little while before money was easy and plentiful.
Charles H. Wood, the head of great supply interests, a man
former years whenever this has occupied the center of the stage
whose qualifications for business leadership are known throughout
it has disturbed business interests, and why? Because the leaders
this industry, remarked recently to The Review: "Present conditions
and builders of industry in this country have believed in a tariff
are all right—as necessary and essential as days of unbounded
policy, and any radical disturbance in these protective conditions
prosperity. They make us think and keep us practical. I think
would have, according to their views, a depressing effect upon
the present is a good time to be sensible, calm and thoughtful. I
trade. But now there is an unmistakable trend of Congress towards
don't see any use in becoming desperate and slaughtering prices
a revision of the present tariff at a comparatively early date show-
and forcing goods on an unwilling market. I think this is a good
ing that change in the present tariff schedule is desired by the lead-
time to take stack of ourselves—ascertain where our methods are
ing men in the ruling party.
weak and shake things down to a foundation that is strong enough
so that we can stand a return of even greater prosperity than we
Y far the most important bill relating to tariff has been intro-
have enjoyed during the past ten years." Thoughtful words these
duced by Senator Beveridge, which provides for the creation
of a tariff commission of five members to be appointed by the from a leader of industry—from a man who has carved his wav up
to the directorate of great supply interests.
President "solely with a view to their qualifications as specified in
this act without regard to political affiliations/'
One member must be "identified with the producing interests,"
H E music trade generally is preparing for a fair spring busi-
another is to be a lawyer "who has made a special study of customs
ness, and within the past ten days there has been a notable
and tariff laws," another must have a "special experience in con- increase in the orders at the various factories. Buying is indeed
nection with the administration of customs and tariff laws," another
not in large volumes but in quantities which show plainly that
A
B
T
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
MUSIC
TRADE! REIVIE1W
pian'os are being moved from the vario'us warerooms and that after
all is where the improvement should begin. It is not the time for
large or speculative buying or for the laying aside of conservatism
in the conduct of business. It is the time for each merchant to get
his establishment into shape so' as to be ready to take care of the
demands which, under existing conditions, it is reasonable for him
to expect will be made upon him. Special attention should be given
to collections and to credits. The conditions are such as to justify
a vigorous and energetic prosecution of business so as to keep the
volume of sales up to a satisfactory point.
I
N many of our colleges and universities business science is
taught as they teach law, medicine and engineering. This
innovation has not been popular with some of the old time college
presidents. Whether opposed or not, commercial teaching in our
colleges has come to stay, and its entrance into the field of business
is not a stooping to commercialism on the part of institutions of
learning. The universities which have established schools of com-
merce and business are simply recognizing the fact that as most
college graduates have to enter not the so-called learned profes-
sions, but the newly recognized profession of business, it is in-
cumbent upon the universities to prepare them in a scientific way
for their careers.
But can business be treated as a science? That is a question
that many practical business men ask. Many persons of experience
express a doubt as to whether commercial life with its innumerable
technical details is a fair subject for the school room and lecture
hall, and whether the underlying necessities that make for or
against business prosperity can be profitably studied or determined.
The experience of the so-called schools of commerce would seem
to prove that these are matters to be taught.
The modern university school of commerce does not rely
wholly upon men who are simply professors, but calls to its faculty
men fresh from the world of commerce who have gone through the
business mill and won their way to positions of authority, and
these men supplement the work of professors of business theory
by giving the students the practical, concrete details that make up
business success.
The early attempts of the universities to train men for business
were not alcng such practical lines, but now commercialism—by
that we 'mean a business education—has taken deep root in many
of the principal colleges and institutions of higher education
throughout the land. It would be difficult to figure out just what
the result of such teaching would have upon the business men of
the future. Unquestionably it would cause men to think along
commercial lines regarding the development of business and at the
same time it would instill into the minds of the young men a re-
spect for business as a profession. It's a move, to our minds, in
the right direction, and because it is right it has come to stay.
A
READER asks: "Do you not think that eventually the small
piano man will be ground out of existence by reason-of his
inability to meet the competition of the big city department stores
and great music trade institutions ?"
r
We think many small dealers through their inability to meet
competition in an up-to-date manner will be forced to succumb just
as some merchants in the greater cities will fail to grasp present
opportunities and will gradually lose prestige and standing. Every
business man is in just so much danger of extinction as he exposes
himself to it.
Now, if the smaller merchant continues to do his business
along ancient and antiquated lines and if he will not keep abreast
of the times by reading good trade papers; if he will not use modern
business methods in the conduct of his affairs, then he is doomed
ultimately to extinction. No doubt of it, but the small merchant
who is strictly up to modern conditions is in close touch with the
manufacturers, and by close perusal of leading trade papers he is
well informed as to general trade conditions. Perhaps he gives
more time to the study of trade journals than some of his com-
petitors located in large cities. Hacking this information with
judicious advertising wherein he may appeal to home pride and
the necessity of patronizing home enterprises, the smaller merchant
is fairly well entrenched from any assault by his larger competitors,
be it department stores, mail order houses or exclusive music trade
competitors. He must be up-to-date. He cannot cling to ancient
ideas and expect to succeed in 1908 and succeeding years.
Plan your work and then work your plan.
Confidence of the purchaser is the first requisite of a piano sale.
A good business man realizes that the world is large.
mands.
So are its de-
Did it ever strike you that a strong man is never heard exaggerating
his difficulties.
The man who lives a clean, well regulated life is not the one who is •
oflenest afflicted with pessimism.
*
Keep hard at work. The days of your fitness to hustle to increase
your bank account will not last always.
Never pay the slightest attention to the knocker. The man who hits
at other pianos is not one whose utterances should receive serious con-
sideration.
BRIDAL FORETHOUGHT.—Groom—I hate to tell you, dearest, but
that palmist says I have a very short life line.
Bride—Oh, George! Do take out some more insurance.
NATURAL ABILITY.—At a party recently they were playing a game
which consisted in everybody in the room making a face, and the one
who made the worst face was awarded a prize. They all did their level
best and then a gentleman went up to one of the ladies and said:
"Well, madam, I think you have won the prize."
"Oh," she said, "I wasn't playing."—Philadelphia Ledger.
A SPIRITUALISTIC MESALLIANCE.—A spiritualist medium came
to a house and claimed to be able to locate lost friends. The residents had
an old horse which they had sold years before and the old lady of the
house wanted to know where he was. She began:
"We had a very good friend who always did all our work. He passed
from us several years ago and the las-t we heard of him was that he was
in Los Angeles." The medium made a few mysterious motions, knocked
on the table and then said:
"Your friend is in Los Angeles and is married to a rich young
woman."
THE RIGHT CAR.—A traction company in a Tennessee town is still
using the cars bought for their line when it was constructed—rorae fifteen
yejirs ago. Naturally the shaky eld cars cause much disgust to those
who have to ride in them.
A merchant of the town was particularly vexed recently when the
motorman ran his car half a block past him before stopping. As he ran
to catch it he yelled out:
"Can't you even stop your blooming old freight train on the corner?"
"This is no freight train," replied the conductor; "it's a catt'e car.
Aboard!"
LESSON IN PROFIT AND LOSS.—"I have often wondered," re-
marked Greenleigh, dropping a penny in the slot, "where the profit on
those machines"
Here he grasped the handle.
"Where the profit of these machines"
Here he shook the machine.
"I have often wondered, I say, where the profit"
Here he shook the machine again.
"Where the.profit comes in. Hang the thing. It seems to be clogged
this time. Nothing happens!"
"Well," said Brooks, "do you begin to see where the profit comes in?"
A COURTEOUS REPULSE.—There was an ignorant man who once
applied to President Lincoln for the post of doorkeeper to the House.
This man had no right to ask Lincoln for anything. It was necessary
to repulse him. But Lincoln repulsed him gently and whimsically, with-
out hurting his feelings, in this way:
"So you want to be doorkeeper to the House, eh?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Well, have you ever been a doorkeeper? Have you ever had any
experience of *doorkeeping?"
"Well, no—no actual experience, sir."
"Any theoretical experience? Any instructions in the duties and
ethics of dooikeeping?"
"Urn—no."
"Have you ever attended lectuies on doorkeepihg?"
"No, sir."
"Have you ever read any exl-liooks on the subject?"
"No."
"Have you conversed •witfc any cue who has read such a book?"
"No, sir; I'm afraid not, ; ir.'
"Well, then, my friend, doa'l ;JMU see that you haven't a single qual-
ification for this important P Mf!" said Lincoln, in a reproachful tone.
"Yes, I do," s^Jtt.tho u. T >p"' i , and he took leave humbly, almost *

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