Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
" BUSINESS " AND THITMANIJFACTIJRER.
By COLONEL GEORGE POPE, President of the National Association of Manufacturers.
What is the justification for the constant attacks
of newspapers and individuals upon the integrity
of the great employing interests and especially the
manufacturers? What is the object of the gen-
eral destruction of confidence in everybody's sin-
cerity and honesty? What is there in business that
calls forth the wholesale denunciation of its most
essential factors?
Business, in a broad interpretation of the word,
means any activity conducted for profit. Many are
prone to consider "business" to mean only manu-
facturing—an impression that may have been
caused by the use of the senseless phrase "big
business," the application of which to industry is as
inappropriate as is that of the word "statesmen"
to all elected to represent their several States at
the capital of the nation.
Let me indicate, however, the position of manu-
facturing in the general scheme of the national
development.-
Manufacturing is the basis of all production.
Even the farmer cannot produce his crops without
the aid of the manufacturer, nor can such crops be
distributed without the aid of the transporting ap-
pliances that have been manufactured.
The merchant can neither sell, deliver, exhibit,
advertise, nor account for the goods produced and
transported without the aid primarily of the manu-
facturer.
The consumer cannot be housed nor reach a
market expeditiously, cannot even, if he could reach
a market, utilize the natural raw products without
those articles, produced by the manufacturer.
Light, heat and power, so indispensable to prog-
ress, depend not upon the farmer, the shipper, the
merchant, the consumer, but upon the energy and
ability of the manufacturer, and the wages paid b>
him, the means with which to purchase.
Why, then, these continual attacks upon that
body of citizens upon whom every man, woman
rnd child is dependent? Why this joy at every as-
sault upon the manufacturer? Why the unaccount-
able desire of so many legislators to penalize the
manufacturer, to tax him out of existence or re-
strict his freedom of commercial intercourse?
There can be but one answer. They are symbolic
of the exhilaration of prosperity and a consequent
ambition to destroy, typifying the lowest instinct of
nature.
I conceive the task of my administration to be to
create through our association a realization in the
minds of our members and manufacturers generally
of their duty as citizens irrespective of any politi-
cal or social affiliation. We are Americans first,
partisans last; and no matter what tariff legislation,
or class legislation, may be enacted, we owe to
those who are dependent upon the manufacturer a '
sincere, honest trial of that legislation. Because
we are not infallible, it might be—I repeat, that
there may be no misunderstanding, it might be—•
this nation would prosper under the proposed tariff
revision. It is also possible that those for whom
class legislation was enacted would be the first to
feel its oppression; that they who have caused its
enactment would insist upon its repeal in order
to preserve their own organization from the at-
tacks of another whose cardinal principles are mob
rule and anarchy.
In all the history of this nation there has never
been a time when the necessity for organization and
co-operation among manufacturers has been more
apparent than to-day. Assailed by the unthinking,
oppressed by the legislator, organizations such as
ours with its great constructive policies have been
made the football of politics and the target of the
mud-slinging newspaper.
If the great productive forces of the country are
to be unimpaired, if manufacturers are to realize
their importance as a class in the nation's welfare,
and if they are to protect themselves effectively
from the assaults from all sides upon their busi-
ness existence and thus preserve the general pros-
perity, they must stand together in purpose and
deeds.
WOULD AVOID CAR SHORTAGE.
W. A. Garrett, vice-president of the Chicago
Great Western, has issued a circular asking rail-
road employes and shippers to work together to
minimize a car shortage, which he says again con-
fronts the country.
Mr. Garrett says that agents can help the situa-
tion by giving immediate notice to consignees oi
the arrival of shipments, by insisting in prompt
loading and unloading, and by keeping cars in re-
pair. Trainmen and yardmen can help, he says,
by keeping loaded cars in motion and by cutting
out "empties." He would have shippers make re-
quests in writing for cars and take care not to
order more cars than are needed for immediate
loading.
"ONLY THE BEST"
9
C. W. CROSS SUCCEEDS W. J. BRENNAN
As Manager of the Bush & Lane Co. Store in
Detroit—Mr. Brennan's Health Impaired—
May Travel for Company—What Manager
Cross Says Regarding His Policy.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., September 10.—On the first oi
September C. W. Cross succeeded VV. James Bren-
nan as manager of the Detroit branch of the Bush
& Lane Piano Co. Mr. Brennan resigned about
two weeKS ago because, the close confinement of
continuous inside work has began to impair his
health. He will remain with the Detroit store until
January 1, as a salesman, and then, in all probabil
ity, go on the road for the Bush & Lane Piano Co.
in any event, it is understood that he is to have
outside work of some kind for the company.
Mr. Cross has been the manager of the Portland,
Ore., store of the Bush & Lane Piano Co. since
July 1, 1912. Previously he was with J. T. Wame-
link & Son, of Cleveland, agents in that city for
the Bush & Lane line. He is, therefore, thoroughly
familiar with the Bush & Lane product and able to
get the best results.
"The store will be conducted along the lines and
policies pursued by Mr. Brennan, unless some
emergency arises which demands a change," said
Mr. Cross. "The business here has been very suc-
cessful, and it is not good policy to interfere with
a winning combination of any kind."
MONEY FOR BErNNETT CREDITORS.
Unsecured Creditors of Bennett Piano Co.
Compromise for Twenty Per Cent, and Re-
ceive Checks for Amounts Due Them.
(Special to The Review.)
WARREN, PA., September 8.—Creditors of tne
Bennett Piano Co. have this week been receiving
checks for twenty cents on th« dollar in settlement
of their claims. Nearly three-fourths of the ninety-
three unsecured creditors have already received
their remittances and the remaining one-fourth will
receive their portions of the settlement within the
next few days.
In the early part of 1912 the Bennett Piano Co.
petitioned the Court of Common Pleas for the ap-
pointment of receivers and Glen Chapel and W. F.
Suender were named. Shortly afterwards three
creditors presented a petition before the Federal
Court in Pittsburgh, for involuntary bankruptcy.
This was referred to E. H. Beshlin, referee in
bankruptcy, and the proceedings dragged along for
several months. It was found that the company
was hopelessly insolvent and that there were ninety-
three unsecured creditors with amounts owing them
which aggregated $40,000.
It was only recently that a half dozen members
of the bankrupt company took up a subscription
among themselves and raised $8,000. A com-
promise for twenty per cent, was proposed to the
creditors and nearly all of them accepted without
hesitancy.
TAKING SEALED_BIDS ON VIOLIN.
DISCIPLINE
always maintained in our factory is another element
which assures the manufacturer and dealer of the
Uniformity in the Construction
of Strauch Actions
STRAUCH BROS., 20-30 Tenth Ave., New York
Manufacturers of
PIANO ACTIONS AND HAMMERS
QUALITY AND MERIT
How the Starr Piano Co. Are Disposing of a
Violin Taken in Part Payment of a Piano.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., September 10.—Pianos, organs,
ancient square pianos, players and talking machines
and automobiles would seem to cover about all that
a piano house would take in trade on the sale of a
new piano, but the Starr Piano Co. has a new one.
It is a violin. But it is a hundred and seventy-one
years old and a sure enough Stradivarius, which is
what makes it worth while in a piano deal. The
Starr Co. has it displayed in one of its windows and
is taking sealed bids on it, to be opened September
15. If some violinist who knows the real worth of
a Stradivarius makes an offer, it m;iy prove to be a
mighty good payment upon a piano.
The violin was taken in by the Starr agent in
Lansing. He got it from a farmer residing about
eight miles from the city. That party said it had
been in his family for several generations. There
being no one in the family who cared for it, the
farmer decided to convert it into a musical instru-
ment more suited to family temperament.