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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
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Music Publishers*
An interesting feature of this publication Is a special depart-
Department V» y* ment devoted exclusively to the world of music publishing.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Oravd I'rix
Paris Exposition, H)'J(> Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma. Pan-American Exposition, 19fll
Qold Medal. ...St. Louis Exposition, 1004
Gold Medal. .. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
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NEW
YORK,
NOVEMBER
2 1 , 1 9 0 8
EDITORIAL
T
H E business interviews which appear in another portion of
this publication are well worthy of the closest perusal, and
much optimism can be gained from them. They are expressions
of the views of business men who are thoroughly acquainted with
the local conditions in their respective localities. These opinions
do not come from theorists, but from men who are in close touch
with the selling end of the business.
It is remarkable when we come to review this symposium of
views how optimistic all of them seem to be. When such a feeling
of hopefulness pervades the retail field, it is certain that it must
have a direct effect in creating business. Read the views of the
dealers—they will interest you, and the closer one follows them, the
deeper will be the conviction that the dealers of this country Jiave
emphatically expressed their opinions that we are on the eve of a
period of prosperity greater than any that the country has ever
seen. There is little doubt that this hopefulness will spread and
that enterprise will now go forward at an accelerated speed and in
a degree which will recall the remarkable conditions of recent pros-
perous years.
Piano merchants everywhere emphasize in their statements the
bettered conditions which exist in trade and the figures which are
given out in the public press regarding important contracts which
are being placed by the great corporations in the iron and steel in-
dustry would seem to show the broad and firm basis on which the
varied industries of this country are now progressing and the
height which we as a nation are constantly gaining in wealth and
resources.
T
H E R E is no doubt that this reawakened enthusiasm will have
a stimulating effect upon distributers of musical merchandise
in every part of the country. There is, too, a disinclination to de-
part from conservative policies and business men as a whole are
not inclined to make plunges. They however, are going to strive
earnestly to increase their sales and profits.
REVIEW
The assurances which are made and the opinions which are
voiced elsewhere in this paper should influence other dealers. They
should influence manufacturers, because the outlook as viewed by
conservative business men undeniably favor steady progress.
Over-buying or speculative buying is to be discouraged and it
was our intention when collecting these opinions to present a sym-
posium of views which should be valuable in forecasting the busi-
ness future. The situation is full of promise and in some lines of
merchandise there will _ be difficulty in filling orders, owing to the
fact that mills have pursued a policy as conservative as that adopted
by merchants. Hence, it may be seen, for the present time, difficulty
may be experienced by them in the process of readjustment to the
new and more satisfactory conditions.
Probably herculean efforts will be put forth during the next
few T weeks to make ftp for lost time in both the manufacturing and
retail branches of the business. Wide-awake merchants will exploit
their products. Everything possible will be done to attract buyers
and care will be used that no possible sales be missed.
The Review, as far back as last summer, counseled early buy-
ing and some of the most aggressive merchants have adopted our
suggestions and they are prepared to supply the demands of a holi-
day trade which is going to be, judging from the present outlook,
extremely lame.
I
N a recent issue The New York Herald devoted considerable
space to the reproduction of opinions from the various leading
trade and technical journals. Excerpts were made from journals
representing every subdivision of industry and in the music trade
industry, The Music Trade Review was selected as the representa-
tive journal and the opinions of The Review regarding trade con-
ditions were reproduced in the Herald.
I
MPORTANT hearings are now going on before the Ways and
Means Committee at Washington which are intended to form
the basis of a revision of the present tariff law which will be ac-
complished at a special session of Congress to be called soon after
the adjournment of the general session next March.
As announced in The Review of last Saturday, the "Schedule
"N," under which musical instruments and parts thereof appear, is
listed for November 28. Many letters and telegrams have been
received by the committee inquiring as to the scope of the hearings
and the particular class of information desired from those who
appear for the purpose of presenting oral or written statements.
This publication has been in communication with the Ways and
Means Committee and the information which we receive is that in
view of the limited time at the disposal of the Committee for these
hearings, it seems desirable to caution all who intend to appear to
prepare themselves in advance with a view to giving the Committee
the largest possible amount of real information in the shortest pos-
sible time.
The Committee does not desire to hear abstract discussions of
principles of protection or free trade or any other academic feature
of the question. What it desires most are facts, as concisely stated
as possible and when practicable, such facts as are within the per-
sonal knowledge of the speaker. It will desire to know from each
speaker whether he favors the retention of the existing laws re-
ferring to the schedule in which he is interested, or desires changes
either in the language or the tariff or rates thereof, supported in
each case by a brief statement of the reasons for his position.
The Committee desires especially to obtain information regard-
ing costs of protection in this country with special reference to the
item of labor and corresponding figures for those foreign countries
in which competing products are manufactured. Special attention
will be paid to this item of labor cost as it is the dominant principle
of the protective tariff, that protection provided shall be adequate to
cover the difference in wages between this and other competing
countries.
I
NFORMATION bearing upon the maximum and minimum
upon which the new tariff is to be based will further be sought
by the Committee. It is understood that the Dingley rates as re-
vised by the Committee after these hearings will constitute the mini-
mum or general tariff, which will be applied to the products of all
countries granting to products of the United States the minimum
rates of their respective tariff. After this has been agreed upon the
so-called maximum rates will be fixed and applied to each item.