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THE
A GOOD HOLIDAY SEASON
Is the Report of Small Goods Men—Merchants
and Travelers Are All Optimistic Regarding
Prospects for the New Year.
The week before the holidays has been the best
of the year, and the wholesalers and minor job-
bers have experienced the peculiar sensation inci-
dental to a rush for goods that is acceptable and
extremely enjoyable at all times. Notwithstand-
ing the "cautionary signals" displayed from time
to time during the fall by the importing dis-
tributers relative to the placing of orders, deal-
ers have adhered to the very conservative policy
followed throughout the year in buying. Plung-
ing was out of the question, and its indulgence
not in evidence for the first time in many years.
Such business as will accrue during the holi-
day term will be to fill in, or as the wholesalers
term it, "shorts." Doubtless this trade is of
some consequence, as preparations on a consider-
able scale are made to cover this feature, which
is very much in evidence just now.
Travelers in from the road are candidly not
altogether optimistic. These interesting person-
ages are prone to make the most of everything,
including the proverbial "bad bargain," but they
have their own views about the restoration of
"normal conditions," as economic writers,
polemical writers, professional financiers and
politicians are wont to expatiate upon when for-
tunate enough to secure an audience. Not to
put too fine a point upon it, these so-called "fore-
runners of prosperity" who have been selling in
industrial centers declare the millennium is still
some distance away. They admit, to be sure,
conditions are greatly improved, but the weak-
ness and sogginess of the average dealer cannot
be denied when it comes to buying small goods.
The close of the year, to the road man, is not
equivalent of a prognostication for better times
just yet. Even the spring is not looked forward
to with a great deal of confidence; but at the
same time they express a willingness to "boost
the game" for all it is worth and keep smiling
throughout the process, hoping a favorable turn
is likely to occur any time.
STRIKE STILLJONJN GRASLITZ.
Only a Small Percentage of Men Return to
Work—A Manufacturer Explains the Situa-
tion as It Exists at Present for Review
Readers.
(Special to The Review.)
Graslitz, Austria, Dec. 12, 1008.
For some time past foreign papers have an-
nounced incorrectly the present status of the
strike of the brass instrument workmen. All
appear to be misinformed, for they state that,
"Of the 800 original strikers all but 200 have
returned to work." These figures are incorrect.
A prominent manufacturer said: "The greater
number of the strikers are still out, so that we
are to-day working with a trifle over one-third
of our former force. We have reduced our out-
put accordingly and do not consider the reduc-
tion unfortunate, even though we may have to
continue for some time, so long as we will have
to put up with present conditions. We cannot
compel the mechanics to go to work and will not
plead with them. If they do not wish to work
they need not. We are better off with a small
number of satisfied employes than we would be
with a large number of dissatisfied men. Men
who will listen to agitators, who usually make
large demands, are of little value to any manu-
facturer.
"In the beginning of the trouble we placed our
position lucidly before our employes and also ex-
plained our position regarding the demands
made by our employes. We are fully deter-
mined to carry on our business as we deem best.
"Our employes have been lied to and fooled
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
45
by the leaders, but the time will arrive when The show card is sufficiently original to win a
they will be glad to return to us. It has been second glance and is a distinct departure from
repeatedly stated that there are many American
contracts to be filled and that therefore the
strike cannot last much longer. Our American
friends cancelled them prior to the strike. So
far as we are concerned, may the strike last
as long as it will—a year from now we will
maintain the same position we occupy at this
time. We are in no hurry. This is the position
assumed by the manufacturers."
CONN'S RECORDj\S_A FISHERMAN.
The Great Band Instrument Manufacturer En-
joys His Sojourn on the Pacific Coast—Hon-
ored by the Tuna Club With Gold Button.
C. G. Conn, head of the C. G. Conn Co., Elk-
hart, Ind., makers of the famous Wonder line of
band instruments, has in the past won distinc-
tion as an enthusiastic and successful disciple of
Izaak Walton, and upon a recent vacation spent
in fishing off the coast of southern California his
catches won a gold button for him from the
Tuna Club, the prominent fishing club of that
State. Mr. Conn came very close to winning the
grand prize offered by the club, a diamond medal.
One day's catch was four fish weighing 124, 146,
136 and 336 pounds, respectively, and on another
day Mr. Conn landed a shovel-nose shark weigh-
ing 360 pounds, with a 24-thread line.
LESTER ACCORDEON PUBLICITY.
Clever Advertising Put Out by Buegeleisen &
Jacobson Relating to This Instrument.
One of the most beautiful attention-getting
pieces of advertising brought out in the trade
in recent years is the Lester accordeon show
card, just being issued by Buegeleisen & Jacob-
son, 113-115 University place, New York, the sole
importers and distributers of this popular brand.
None Better Made
the ordinary, in that a Lester (No. 46) is repro-
duced in the exact colors of the instrument:
green, gold and silver.
The card bears the direct command, "Ask to
see a Lester," and the impression one receives of
the Lester from the show card is so favorable
that the suggestion is likely to be followed out
by all those who see this advertisement. There-
fore, as the firm remark, "it is deemed advisable
for dealers to maintain a complete Lester stock
if they would hear the agreeable jingle of the
B
Largest Jobbers in America of
ODERN
USICAL
ERCHANDISE
UEGELEISEN
& JACOBSON
M
113-115 University Place
NEW YORK
WRITE FOR NEW CATALOG
FO
«"THE TRIO CORNET"
" T H E VIENNA WONDER AHD
MILANO ORGANETTO ACCORDEONS
WRITE TO
WM. R. GRATZ IMPORT COMPANY, 35 and 37 West 31st St., New York
THE
CONN
AND
THB
Union Label
ARE SYNONYMOUS
AND
THB
Genuine Distinguishing Harks of Superiority
Which Will In Future Be Found On All
Wonder and American Model Band
and Orchestral Instruments
MADE BY
C. G. CONN COMPANY,
ELKHAKT
INDIANA
J