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MU3IC
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
TlallO BI1U
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
p
d ea ith with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposjtion, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.... Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
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NEW YORK. JULY 13, 1912.
REVIEW
land. Figures are not exactly clear in my mind, nor have I con-
sulted statistics recently, but my impression is that the customs
house business of our country, i.e., the exports and imports, for the
past fiscal year, at last reports, were in the neighborhood of $3,800,-
000,000; about $2,300,000,000, or the greater part, were exports,
and for the first time our exports were about equally divided be-
tween manufactures and crops, or raw material.
"This is America's greatest record. The country is in a most
promising condition, practically everywhere bumper crops—barring
catastrophe—assured; prices of commodities such as we produce
in many cases fairly well advanced, and most of them tending up-
wards ; industries very well employed; labor scarce; labor troubles
not above the normal, for we always have them, and the better the
times the more labor trouble.
"Political unrest is having far less effect upon commercial mat-
ters this' campaign year than ever before, and I do not anticipate
serious interruption of prosperity on that account.
"The real wealth of the United States of America has climbed
to a position almost incomprehensible—comparatively almost unbe-
lievable. I have read but recently that the wealth of the United
States is computed at one hundred and thirty billions of dollars,
England's at eighty billions, France and Germany in the near neigh-
borhood of sixty billions.
"Is it any wonder that Mr. Edison should hope to see a phono-
graph in every home, or that the Victor Co. should preach in its
most ambitious manner that the possibilities present opportunities
for the sale of ten Victors to every one that is being sold ?
"As to our business 1 prospects for the immediate future, we
already have practically a splendidly prosperous fall business within
our grasp, and feel that, with our country in the splendid receptive
and expansive condition that it is, we may look forward to an un-
interrupted era of prosperity, extending at least three or four years
into the future. It is due; the cycle is upon us. We need not wait,
for to close observers it will be noted that the country is already in
the midst of an incipient boom, and we shall all profit by it to the
extent of our capital, our ability to grasp the situation and our
capacity for hard and intelligent work."
R
EGARDING the Oldfield bill, about which The Review has
had considerabble to say during the past few months, and
which in itself to our minds constitutes a damaging attack upon
HE address of Louis F. Geissler, general manager of the Victor
the business interests of the country, Mr. Geissler said that his com-
Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., at the banquet of the pany had been one of the most active in the country in creating
National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers' at Atlantic City,
agitation against the passage of this bill, and an incident showing
which was reproduced in The Review of last week, was a remark-
how widespread is the feeling of the business men against the
able document—summing up in a most comprehensive manner busi-
Oldfield bill, he said that a number of Senators had written to his'
ness matters of vital importance.
company that not in their memory had there been a bill introduced
Mr. Geissler's utterances are of obvious interest to everyone
in Congress which had met with such widespread opposition as the
in the piano trade, for he is at the head of a gigantic organization
Oldfield measure.
carrying on extensive business interests round the world. He is
Mr. Geissler urged unremitting efforts against this bill. Of
not only in close touch with the affairs in the music trade industry,
his company's action he said:
but in the talking machine trade as well.
"We sent out some 27,000 letters upon the subject, and while
A few excerpts from Mr. Geissler's address are well worthy
we solicited no replies we received over 700 communications and
of reproduction, for they should be driven home in the minds of
most intelligent responses from all sections of the United States.
everyone interested in musico-industrial affairs.
It was but natural, as the interests of every corner of the country
His words are full of business substance, and for those people
are menaced by this bill. It is not like a tariff or other action,
who are pessimistic regarding the business outlook of the country
which may seem to affect only one section, but the fact is that
they should act as a stimulus.
every citizen of the United States would feel and observe the de-
Mr. Geissler said that the past year had surpassed all previous' terrent and damaging influences of this suggested law.
seasons in point of volume of Victor business. Continuing in an
"I will not dwell upon it longer, for you will receive, within a
optimistic strain he said:
few days, an article which we will issue in book form, which ema-
"The agreeable surprise, however, is that while the last six
nates from the plain and powerful pen of our president, Mr. John-
months of 1911 were our largest fall six months up to that period
ston, which article will be accompanied by a letter addressed to the
the first six months of 1912 have surpassed by a large percentage
trade, and which we propose to send to every trade name on our
those of the previous six months in dollars and cents, as well as
own lists, to every newspaper, magazine and other periodical pub-
in quantities and numbers of machines and records actually sold.
lished in America, and to every other large company operating
"As to the future—I am always an optimist. There is a small
under the patent laws, in hopes of encouraging editorial agitation
place in this magnificent country of ours for the pessimist. I am against this bill.
'bullish' on its prospects—as brokers say—for the long pull. In
"We must not cease our efforts, for while I have little fear
my opinion, a century more must elapse before we get through the
of the measure being passed upon favorably by the Senate, and,
cream into the skim milk of this country of ours, and then the
above all, getting by our intelligent, judicial President, we can
bears may have the better chance.
afford to take nothing for granted, and I beg you to study the
"Those of you who follow the physical and financial conditions
question, and when your Senators and Congressmen return to their
of our country, as' compared to others, must be impressed by the
homes this summer to make it your business to call upon them
wonderfully promising fundamental conditions throughout our
personally and present the case to them as you understand it. You
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