Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1912 Vol. 54 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
TH
MUSIC TRADE
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
GLAD. HENDERSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
H. E. JAMASON,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
C. CHACE,
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
L. E. BOWERS.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
PHILADELPHIA:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 37 South Wabash Ave.
Telephone, Central 414.
Room 806.
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
ADOLF EDSTEN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
REVIEW
Now, the piano industry has stood for many things for many
years, but no industry in the world would have stood so much
abuse from journalistic brigands as this industry.
Why?
Well, that is difficult to explain.
It was fed upon it when the trade had scarce put on its swad-
dling clothes.
It was rammed down its throat when it was a husky youngster,
and now that it has reached big development an extra force is
used to cause it to swallow the poison, but it is rank and there
is considerable indigestion created by the absorption of these foul
and indigestible substances.
But the industry is seeing light and it will no longer be choked,
stifled and abused by the vulgar and malicious men who have long
traded under the guise of journalists, extorting unwilling money
from the pockets of piano manufacturers.
CLYDE JENNINGS
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
O
NE of the most important reports presented at any annual
convention of the National Association of Piano Merchants
LONDON. ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
was
that
submitted at the gathering in Atlantic City last week by
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourtb Avenue* New York
the
legislative
committee, of which E. H. Droop is chairman. This
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matttr.
report embodies the fullest information regarding legislation that
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage). United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
$3.50; all other countries, $4.00.
may have been made in the interests of, or against the interests
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
of, piano merchants in the various States of this country during
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
the past year.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
PinnA dllU
Unit
TiailU
. In preparing this very comprehensive report the committee
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
nDnaplmonfc
was splendidly aided by the State Commissioners and the status
y
dealth with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish
bi a number
b of reliable tecnical works, information concerning which
of conditions as they exist to-day is so fully represented that one
will be cheerfully given upon request.
is able to get a very good idea of the present trend and condition
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
of the legislation which is helpful or inimical to trade interests.
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. . .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma. .. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
In investigating the laws of the various States the committee
Gold Medal. .L.ewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
has attended many conventions or congresses which were called
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 5982-5983 MADISON SQUARE
Connecting all Departments.
for the purpose of advocating a national policy. In other words,
Cable addreaa" "ElbllL N e w York."
the scope of the association has broadened out tremendously, and
NEW YORK, JUNE 1, 1912.
this is evident not only in the legislative report, but in the various
resolutions passed bearing upon great national questions affecting
the commercial affairs of the country.
EDITORIAL
In this attitude the National Association of Piano Manufac-
turers, as well as the National Association of Piano Merchants, are
following the lead of the great national organizations of the country.
CLIENT sends us a communication in which he asks the fol-
It has well been said that the interest of one is the interest of
lowing questions: "Do you believe an advertiser is justi-
all, and this is certainly true in the world of business. The ten-
fied in remaining in a publication which has a blackmailing reputa-
dency of legislation these days is not favorable to business and it
tion? In other words, can such a publication deliver the values?"
is absolutely necessary that great business organizations should
The question should not be a difficult one to answer and we
keep in touch with developments to the end that their interests
are surprised that the gentleman should submit such a query to us.
are not undermined by the enactment of harmful laws.
How can any publication through its advertising or reading
This policy to discuss and take action on national business
columns expect to influence its readers in favor of any particular
questions
does not imply any neglect of strictly trade necessities.
product, when its utterances are looked upon with suspicion and
This
is
obvious
from a reading of the report of the Convention
doubt ?
proceedings which appeared in The Review last week. It shows
Can there be any values in the criticisms of such a publication
that many matters of vital interest to the trade were discussed and
regarding any products?
acted upon by the various conventions.
No matter whether such a paper damns or praises it amounts
Resolutions, however, are" only of value when they are lived
to one and the same thing.
up
to.
They may be written in the most attractive vein and
Its utterances are wholly valueless.
framed
strong enough to impress, but they are merely empty
If a laudatory article appears readers say that it was paid
phrases
unless
the members of the association practice what they
for—hence it does not represent an honest criticism.
preach
and
carry
out the wishes of the members.
If an advertisement appears people will say that the adver-
tiser preferred to pay the price than to submit to abuse, and if
T is said that the application of alleged loan shark methods to
an advertisement appears after the individual has been abused and
commercial lines appears to be responsible for the insolvency
maligned, then readers will say that he succumbed, in other words,
of
the
R. K. Maynard Piano Co.
that he walked up to the captain's office, learned the price and
It
developed at the hearing before the referee that as a result
paid it.
of
transactions
between the bankrupt and a number of commercial
So, after all, what value can there be in such a publication.
companies,
the
commercial companies claim to be the owners of
The values in a sheet of tainted reputation in our opinion
practically all of the instalment contracts and a great proportion
cannot be delivered, but so far as a blackmailing trade publication
of the Maynard Co.'s dealers' accounts receivable.
is concerned the very presence of an advertisement of a reputable
In the opinion of men who have gone into the matter, the
firm in such a publication when placed side by side with one who
transactions with these various commercial companies were simply
has paid tribute is questionable.
loans advanced at usurious rates of interest, and Judge Landis, of
In other words, the entire environment of such a publication
the District Court of the United States, has enjoined the commer-
is mud bespattered—it is full of intrigue and abuse. But passing
cial companies from collecting or interfering with the receiver in
the value aside, there is a greater than a dollar principle involved.
the collection of the amounts.
Is any man justified in supporting any organization which deals
It is said that if these transactions are set aside and the alleged
in blackmail? No! A thousand times no!
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE. MD.i A. ROBERT FRENCH.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.: STANLEY H. SMITH.
MILWAUKEE, W I S . : L. E. MEYER.
A
I
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
usurious interests were paid into the bankrupt estate there should
be in the neighborhood of $50,000 additional assets for distribution
among the creditors.
N the regulation of misleading advertising and in questions
affecting honesty in business generally, Germany always seems
to lead the United States. We have oftentimes discussed in these
columns the very drastic law which prevails in Germany regarding
questionable advertising—in other words, that form of publicity
which tends to mislead the purchaser and which is still prevalent
in many forms in the piano trade despite the disappearance of the
puzzle contest and other obnoxious forms of advertising.
In one instance, however, Uncle Sam is ahead of our Teutonic
cousins. We notice that the German Government is considering
a bill somewhat in line with the Campbell Bill now in Congress,
which makes it compulsory that all goods sold by dealers shall con-
tain the manufacturer's name. This was brought about through
the agitation conducted by the German jewelry trade to protect
the public against artificial or "synthetic" stones being palmed off
as precious gems, particularly rubies and sapphires. It is sought
to have those labeled showing the makers' names and stating that
they are "synthetic" and not "real" under penalty of heavy punish-
ment for intentional fraud by fine. The jewelry trade in this
country is also seeking some such protective legislation.
The support given the Campbell Anti-Stencil Bill by formal
resolutions at the conventions of the National Associations of Piano
Manufacturers and Piano Merchants at Atlantic City, should
prove undoubtedly a great stimulus in having this bill secure a
larger measure of consideration from the legislators in Washing-
ton. Whatever be its faults in detail, if there be any, it is safe
to assert that the Campbell Bill should prove effective in prevent-
ing the illegitimate branding of names simulating those of well-
known piano manufacturers, and would prevent piano merchants,
so inclined, from misleading the public, and making statements
regarding piano values that could not be substantiated.
I
HEN any concerted attack has been made upon dishonest
journalism there always has been a retaliation savoring
much of bluff and braggadocio, and we may expect that these
same conditions will now be in evidence.
That is to be expected, but when men who are assembled in
business convention deliberately go on record in denouncing wicked
journalistic practices they must at least be credited with sincerity
of purpose.
Such resolutions are not merely mouth-filling words—they are
passed with serious intent and purposes and now that the Piano
Manufacturers' Association has gone on record as opposing black-
guardly journalistic methods it should mean that the influence of
that organization will be thrown towards the extinguishing of cor-
rupt journalistic practices.
But, of course, the retaliation will smack of bluff—and brass—
it was ever thus. But even pachydermic hides will blister and
shrivel under a galling, roasting fire.
The hide may be thick and calloused, but when the heat reaches
a certain point the sizzling begins. Looks as if sizzling season
were on with George P. Bent as director of ceremonies.
W
HE growth in the number of corporations and the fact that
in many cases the amount of capitalization and particularly
the amount paid in is really insignificant has been commented upon
on more than one occasion by those in close touch with general
business conditions. The questionable advantages of incorporat-
ing a small business that might better be conducted under a part-
nership agreement was well summed up in a letter to the New
York Times by a correspondent who pointed out the trouble and
expense attached to the conduct of a small corporation as follows:
"The past two* decades have witnessed the slow but sure decline of
the commercial partnership as a method of doing business and the
rise in its stead of the corporation. All manner of business enter-
prise, both great and small, has sought and is seeking incorpora-
tion—and why? For what reason does a business of moderate
proportions seek to incorporate? What are its advantages? The
internal organization and structure of the corporation is suited
only to an enterprise of considerable size and where there are a
large number -of co-owners. Perpetual succession appeals only to
T
REVIEW
Legal Questions Answered for the
Benefit of Review Readers
CJWe have opened a Department wherein legal
questions, which have direct bearing on music
trade affairs, will be answered free of charge.
ijThis Department is under the supervision of
Messrs. Went worth, Lowenstein & Stern, attor-
neys at law, of 60 Wall Street, New York.
CjJMatter intended for this Department should be
addressed plainly, Legal Department, The Music
Trade Review.
the same class. And limited liability, while it exists in theory,
does not exist in fact. So wherein is the reason?
"It is the writer's opinion that the modern craze for incor-
poration is due largely to sentiment and to the fact that the busi-
ness world has become affected by the spell cast by the incantations
of the corporation lawyer. The use of big words and mysterious
reasons has much to do with it, and there is nothing in the world
more mysterious than some of the phases of corporation law.
Taxes are no less for the cprporation than for the partnership;
they are frequently more. And annual reports, etc., which a cor-
poration is required to file, entail an unnecessary trouble and ex-,
pense; and, as has been said, the elaborate organization is not
adapted to a small concern."
READER asks: "Has not a trade paper reached the lowest
A
point when it reprints family matters and divorce proceed-
ings in its columns?"
Oh, we don't know! Why bother us with such questions.
There may be sub-cellars of indecency far below that point.
There is no telling how low a trade publication will sink.
We believed that the lowest point was reached years ago when
scores were sandbagged into paying hush money, but we are away
off in our reckoning and we refuse to be drawn into any estimate
in 1912.
As a general proposition, however, decent trade publications
have nothing to do whatsoever washing the soiled linen of the
divorce courts in plain view of their readers.
Matters of that kind can be safely left to the yellow journals.
A
T the dinner of the members of the New York Produce Ex-
change last week, John Barrett, director-general of the
Pan-American Union, made some pointed remarks on foreign
trade in which he said that unless the business men of the Ex-
change did not immediately set about getting the trade of the South
American nations that Germany, France and England would de-
prive us of billions of dollars that ought to come here. He said
that what we contemptuously call the "Dago Lands" had a foreign
trade last year of $2,300,000,000. "And now, gentlemen," said he,
"I want to sound here, in the presence of this kind of men, a
solemn warning that has everything to do with the development
of our commerce and our prestige among those countries that have
increased their foreign trade $1,000,000,000 in less than ten years.
But before I utter that warning, let me call your attention to the
fact that of the two billion three hundred millions of foreign trade
that Latin-America is doing, the share of the United States was
only $650,000,000."
N expert pianist is often called upon to read and play 1,500
A
notes in a minute. Tn one of Weber's pieces, 4.54.T notes
have to be played in less than four minutes, and in one of Chopin's
etudes there are 3,950 notes that must be played in two minutes
and a half. Schumann marked one of his pieces, at one place,
"as fast as possible," and a page later he made it "still faster."
This has often been referred to as an amusing blunder, but it is
only a confusion of terms. On the page marked "still faster"
there are fewer notes than on the preceding pages, wherefore it 13
possible to play it in less time.

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