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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
5
MIRRORING THE INNER CONDITIONS.
(Continued from page 3.)
trade, if it be a trade newspaper, would accept; and while we blame yellow journals for their lurid
performances, yet if the public did not accept them depend upon it their policy would have to be
changed. The appetite exists for certain foods, else it would not be devoured so eagerly.
Just the same I have argued, in the days when hold-up journalism was rampant in this trade,
that if the trade really and honestly desired to see its extinction it would be accomplished, but that
kind of journalism mirrored forth a condition which existed in the industry, and unless it actually
did exist no such cowardly reflection could have been made. So a paper, after all, is a mirror,
imperfect at times, but nevertheless a mirror of conditions as they are developing in this world of
ours.
It is a powerful piece of mirror machinery which reflects the life of a trade, of a people and of
a nation. It is a mirror in which it is possible for all readers to gaze, and I think it would be dif-
ficult to locate a stronger power.
Take simply one branch—advertising. That mirrors forth the accomplishments of man, and
tells millions of readers what they should read, what they should have in their homes, what they
should eat for breakfast, what they should wear at various times and seasons, what they should sleep
on when they retire.
It mirrors forth the industrial accomplishments of a world, and is a powerful constructive
force in our modern civilization—a force which should always be maintained along high-minded
lines and not exist through deceit and misrepresentation by permitting dishonest publicity.
The Piano Manufacturers' convention held at Chicago this week mirrors forth association con-
ditions in the music trade industry. The trade papers in publishing the reports reflect to a vastly
larger audience than could be gathered in one city, but the conditions are absolutely unchanged by
reason of the papers' printed accounts. They mirror the actual proceedings.
If in the minds of the piano manufacturers there was a demand for a larger and more compre-
hensive organization, it would be brought into existence, because there would be men strong enough
to convince others of their belief in the upbuilding of organization.
If men actually believed in the great results to be secured by trade co-operation on a vaster
scale, depend upon it that co-operation would come. A universal danger which threatened all would
bring them together, but at the present time that danger is not imminent — hence the association
gatherings mirror forth, or reflect, the present conditions existing in this industry.
If interest be lacking it is plainly reflected, and if great achievement is necessary there will al-
ways be found men who with unfaltering purpose will strive on until successful accomplishment
crowns their efforts.
. .
• - -•
.
" / /fnotp the goal to high achievement lies
'
Through the dull pathway of self-conquest first',
And on the stairs of little duties done
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Perchance, in passing by, thine eyes may smile."
N a very practical and valuable article in this issue of The
Review, Ellis Hansen, a window display expert of long
experience in the music trade, reaffirms the statement frequently
made in these columns to the effect that piano merchants are far
behind dealers in other lines in taking proper advantage of their
windows for exploitative purposes. Mr. Hansen does not content
himself with pointing out the shortcomings of the trade in this
respect, but gives some decidedly helpful suggestions that piano
merchants everywhere would do well to heed. The writer gives
specific directions for some effective and artistic displays which
any piano merchant can build even with the means available in a
small town. He also describes and illustrates some remarkably
fine trims he has recently made for the large house with which he
is connected and which have created something like a sensation in
Chicago because of their unusual excellence. A careful perusal
of Mr. Hansen's article should prove decidedly helpful to every
live piano merchant of the country.
I
BELIEVER in foreign trade, and a house which is putting
this belief into practical action, is the J. P. Seeburg Piano
Co., of Chicago. Within a year important connections have been
made in South American countries, and in last week's Review it
was stated that this enterprising Chicago institution will be one of
those to show Illinois-made products in an exhibit to be established
A
in the Russian capital city by the Illinois Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, which will be managed by Mr. Hill, formerly of the Associa-
tion of Commerce.
The Seeburg orchestrions and "automatic pianos have already
won quite a vogue in Europe, and it is expected that during the next
five years there will be a tremendous field opened up in Russia for
such distinctive musical instruments as are manufactured by the
Seeburg Co.
Mr. Seeburg is a man who believes in looking ahead. He has
traveled through the South and through Europe extensively, and
he knows the needs of the various countries to which he intends to
cater. He believes in working along careful and progressive lines.
It is men of the type of Mr. Seeburg who will help to make Ameri-
can products more widely known the world over, because they have
made a clo-e study of the trade situation in other countries and
know whereof they speak.
T
HE income tax and its elucidation by the Internal Revenue De-
partment and the courts is a source of never-ending mystifi-
cation. Business men find it hard enough to comply with the h\v
as originally launched, but last week, for instance, the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue at Washington ruled that "bad debts are not
deductable from income tax returns." Surely bad debts cannot by
any stretch of imagination be considered income. What next? '