Music Trade Review

Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 20

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD ILYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
j . B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
OBO. B. KBIXBB,
W. H. DYKES,
R. W. SIMMONS.
B. BBITTXIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
AUGUST
L. B. Bown«,
J. TlMPM.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
BOSTON OFFICE:
B. P. VAN HABLINGEN, 156 Wabash Ave.
G. W. HENDERSON, 180 Tremont St.
Room 806.
Room 18.
Telephone, Central 414.
Telephone, Oxford 2936-2.
ST. LOUIS:
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL :
R. W. KAUITMAR,
ADOLF EDSTBN.
CBAS. ft. VAN BURIN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 P i n t Street
CINCINNATI. O.:
BALTIMORE, MD.:
JACOB W. WALTMB.
A. ROBERT FBBNCH.
LONDON. ENGLAND: 69 Baslnghall St., B.C.
W. LIONBL STUBDT, 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, 92.00 per rear;
Canada, $8.50; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. $2,00 per Inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. AdTertlslng Pages, $00.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
A n
Cppflnn
Important feature of this publication is a complete sec-
i ^ ^ * * »****•• tion devoted to the interests of music publishers and dealers.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Brand Prim
Paris Exposition, 1000
diloma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
Silver Medal. Charleston Exposition, 1902
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Lewis-Clark Bxpoaltlon, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 4677 a n d 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.
Cable a d d r e s s : "Elblll. N e w York."
NEW
YORK, MAY 14,
1910
EDITORIAL
LET THE ISSUE BE SETTLED.
EFORE another issue of The Review makes its appearance
the Dealers' Association will have gone on record as either
favoring or opposing that form of publicity which is colloquially
termed coupon or guessing contest advertising.
We say will have gone on record with a degree of positiveness,
because we are firmly of the opinion that while there is an obvious
desire on the part of some members of the association to sidetrack
this issue simply because it may mean warm times within the or-
ganization, yet we believe that they will not be successful in oppos-
ing the determination of many to put the organization squarely on
record as either standing for or opposing objectionable advertising.
Last year at Detroit it was deemed expedient not to press this
matter to conclusion, but this year conditions have materially
changed and it is plain to everyone that the coupon form of adver-
tising has grown to an alarming extent.
It is almost impossible to scan a paper in any of the prin-
cipal cities throughout the length and breadth of the land without
seeing some form of piano advertising whereby the public is offered,
for the solution of an alleged puzzle, some special gift, the bait
being sometimes a diamond ring, sometimes plated spoons, some-
times a piano, but always a bunch of certificates which will be re-
ceived in part payment for pianos.
This whole scheme has grown to such an alarming extent that it
absolutely threatens to undermine the stability of the piano trade.
It is already demoralizing conditions everywhere and dealers
who believe in the future of the trade should show their influence
towards .compelling the National Association to tell just where it
stands regarding this proposition of scheme advertising.
B
IF RIGHT LET ALL SHARE.
HERE is no issue more vital before the music trade in this
country to-day, and, if this kind of advertising is permitted
T
REVIEW
to go on unchecked another year it is difficult to see just how far
the interests of the trade will be affected.
Now, if this form of advertising is right the whole trade should
adopt it.
There should be no half-hearted way about it.
Everyone should participate and enjoy the good things result-
ing from coupon advertising.
This form of advertising is not confined to any particular part
of the country and dealers themselves are not the only ones who
are indulging in it.
Some manufacturers have participated and it is by all odds
to-day the livest wire in the entire music trade.
Now, there is no danger of anyone stepping on it receiving
such a severe shock that it will paralyze them before the current
can be turned off.
The Review has gone squarely on record as opposing this kind
of coupon-certificate advertising.
We have taken this position simply believing ihat in doing so
we were serving the best interests of the trade as a whole and we
have been throwing our influence in the scale with no other object
in view than that of benefiting our constituency.
Our campaign has certainly been instrumental in arousing
widespread interest and the hundreds of letters received at this
office show that many dealers fully realize the alarming condition
which confronts the trade.
SETTLE IT AT RICHMOND.
OW, next week we are to have a national gathering of the
music trade clans at Richmond and what better time could
there be to settle upon a policy regarding this form of advertising
and then stand by it.
If, in the estimation of the members assembled these methods
are considered right and helpful because they show an immediate
profit, then the whole trade should eagerly adopt them.
The old system should be discarded and the new installed in-
stead.
Why not?
But, on the contrary, if the majority of the members of the
association consider the present policy of coupon and scheme ad-
vertising injurious, then why should not the National Association
declare itself positively against it.
If in the estimation of the assembled delegates it is considered
that the present policy is detrimental to the trade then why would it
not be a splendid policy to decide upon a day when the dealers in
the various cities scattered throughout the length and breadth of
the land could call upon the editors and publishers of the papers in
their respective localities and present logical arguments why they
should refuse to admit guessing or coupon advertising in the col-
umns of their publications?
N
THE MINNEAPOLIS PLAN.
T 3 0 B E R T O. FOSTER was successful in convincing the Min-
•i-V neapolis publishers that the coupon form of advertising was
wrong and what has worked out successfully in Minneapolis would
undoubtedly work out along similar lines in other localities, and
then consider the tremendous advertising force which would accrue
to the trade through the appointment of a NATIONAL ANTI-
GUESSING CONTEST DAY!
It would sweep the land and thus by a single stroke the trade
would have succeeded in accomplishing what it would take months
to do in any other way.
Papers all over the country would print the substance of the
resolutions passed by the Richmond Convention upon this subject.
They would print this where they would refuse ordinary Con-
vention matter.
This action would pave the way for A NATIONAL ANTI-
GUESSING CONTEST DAY, and, properly managed, the whole
country would be advised that the dealers emphatically condemn
misleading forms of advertising.
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UMMING up, -the association surely should define its attitude
one way or the other, and if it condemns coupon advertising
then why should it not fake effective means to remove it from the
trade bodj?
S
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
MUSIC TRADE
That seems but a logical sequence to an act declaring its atti-
tude.
In the same way if it is considered desirable to adopt it why
not show the world that the Dealers' Association believes in that
form of advertising?
Let there be no half-hearted position.
Let it be squarely understood one way or the other and then
back up the resolutions with some kind of definite action.
Resolutions are meaningless and are useless unless there is a
sentiment behind them which makes for their adoption.
Trade organizations can pass resolutions until Halley's comet
returns, but without the sentiment back of them to support them,
or without some penalty clause they accomplish nothing.
Now is he time for action and we do not believe that the deal-
ers can afford to view the situation with indifference or postpone
declaring themselves definitely upon this important trade matter.
The future of the trade is too much affected by it.
T H E ATTITUDE OE PRESIDENT DROOP.
HE president of the Dealers' Association, Edward H. Droop,
does not hesitate to say that he believes that the Dealers'
Association, without fear of consequence, should boldly declare
themselves as either favoring or not favoring the coupon guessing
prize certificate or similar forms of advertising, provided it can be
shown that such advertising is absolutely misleading and unfair
and has a tendency to destroy confidence and piano values.
President Droop is a clear thinking man whose business equi-
poise is admirable.
He does not believe in taking hasty action upon any important
matter, but he asserts in a straightforward unequivocal way that
according to his opinion the time has come when the organization
should declare itself.
Now, we know of no better or wiser leader than Edward H.
Droop.
He has given serious thought to this and other matters affect-
ing trade welfare, and his. opinions are well worthy of the most
serious consideration of every man in this trade.
Why?
Because he has the interests of the trade at heart.
His business future is closely identified with music trade affairs.
He believes in conducting business on straightforward lines
without subterfuge and without attempting to fool the public, and
is what might be termed a safe man—therefore, a good man to
follow.
T
CORPORATIONS AND PUBLICITY.
EN do not like to have their affairs pried into by those whose
objects might be unfair. Even if the corporation income
tax act shall be upheld by the United States Supreme Court, where
it is under review in a case to test its constitutionality, here is a
prospect that one of the most objectionable features of the measure
will shortly be removed by legislative action. The bill as it now
stands requires corporations to file annual reports at Washington
showing their earnings from year to year, and stipulates that these
reports shall be accessible to anybody who cares to examine them.
The corporations strongly oppose this provision on the ground that
it would compel them to submit to competitors much information
concerning which they are entitled to secrecy.
This objection is well grounded. A corporation whose opera-
tions are honestly conducted has on general principles as much
right to immunity from non-official scrutiny into its confidential
affairs as belongs to an individual doing business on his own
account. The justness of this contention has been recognized by
Congress, and both houses have virtually agreed that the act shall
be amended so as to provide that corporation tax returns shall be
open to inspection only upon the order of the President under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
M
THE VALUE OE SHOW WINDOWS.
S
HOW window space is not utilized as effectively as it should be.
Some merchants do not realize the importance of having
attractive window displays.
There are others, however, who improve every inch of window
space, and it will be easily found that they are the ones who are
if* thfir respective
REVIEW
In some sections of the West frost frequently shuts off the
interior view of those on the outside.
Probably the best and simplest method yet found to keep frost
from show windows has been discovered by a Denver man, who
had tried all known remedies, but some flaw of one kind and an-
other was found until he tried using an electric fan. This is what
he says:
"I had become wearied with using glycerine, alcohol and other
things, and one day discovered, by accident, that a current of air
circulating through the windows would keep the frost down. You
see, the constant opening and shutting of the door to the street
always chilled the warm air in the show window, and as we did
not have double windows, frost always hid our goods from the
passersby.
"I start the fan when I come down in the morning and inside
of an hour the window is as clear as in the summer time. The
circulating air keeps the chill air from striking the pane, and in
order to always keep the air moving I keep one door to the win-
dows partly open all the time, which also aids in preventing all the
hot air from being pushed against the cold window.
"I tried my fan treatment when the mercury was five below
zero and it worked beautifully. Besides, there is an advertising
side to it, for the pedestrian, seeing the fan at this time of the year,
wonders what is up and stops to examine the freak idea, seeking
the reason for the stunt."
IN LIGHTER VEIN
ONE GLEAM OF JOY.—Johnny had two presents at the same time—
one a diary, which he kept very carefully, and the other a pea-shooting
popgun, which he fired indiscriminately on all occasions.
One day his mother found the following terse record in his diary:
"Mondy cold and sloppy. Toosdy cold and sloppy. Wensdy cold and
sloppy shot granma."
LONG LIFE ASSURED.—Visitor—You must have a remarkably effi-
cient Board of Health in this town?
Shrewd Native—You are right about that, I can tell you.
"Composed of scientists, I presume?"
"No, sir. Scientists are too theoretical."
"Physicians, perhaps?"
"Not much. We don't allow doctors on our Board of Health—no, sir
—nor undertakers, either."
"H'm! What sort of men have you chosen, then?"
"Life insurance agents."—Penny Pictorial.
TERRIBLE.—"My wife stabbed a passerby with one of these terrible
hatpins, and it cost me five francs damages."
"That's nothing, o]d chap, my wife paused before a hat shop the
other day; a hat struck her and bang went twenty francs."—Bon Vivant.
SUFFERING OF THE POOR.—Seeing a tramp hurrying away from
a large house, a fellow professional asked him what luck he had met with.
"It ain't wort' askin' there," was the reply. "I just 'ad a peep through
the winder. It's a poverty-stricken 'ouse, mate. There was aschully two
ladis playin' on one pianer!"
MERELY HATPINS.—Ethel (calling on her friend)—I didn't know
you were one of those athletic girls.
Madge—What do you mean?
Ethel—Look at those foils over your bureau.
Madge—Foils! Why, those are my hatpins.—Boston Transcript.
WONDERFUL.—"Physical culture, father, is perfectly lovely. To
develop the arms I grasp this rod by one end and move it slowly from
right to left."
"Well, well," exclaimed her father, "what won't science discover?
If that rod had straw at the other end you'd be sweeping."—Illustrated
Bits.
"Arthur, I must confess to you: half of my teeth are false. Are you
very angry with me?"
"On the contrary, I am greatly pleased. I thought they were all
false!"
SAVED HIS LIFE.—A story is told of an Englishman who had occa-
sion for a doctor while staying in Pekin.
"Sing Loo, gleatest doctor," said his servant; "he savee my life once."
"Really?" queried the Englishman.
"Yes; me tellible awful," was the reply; "me callee in another doctor.
He givee me medicine; me velly, velly bad. Me callee in another doctor.
He come and give me more medicine, make me velly, velly badder. Me
In Sing Loo. He n<) come. He savee my life,"

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