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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
UPHOLDS PRESIDENT WILSON ON EXPORT VIEWS.
E. H. Gary Says Benefit Will Accrue if the President's Suggestions Are Adopted—Obstacle in
Sherman Law—Repeal of Restrictions on Combinations for Foreign Trade Advocated.
E. H. Gary, chairman of the United States Steel
Corporation, which has -been conspicuously success-
ful in the development of the steel export trade,
expresses satisfaction with the stand which Presi-
dent Wilson has taken in favor of co-operative
effort in the fostering of our trade with other coun-
tries, as set forth at the recent meeting of the
United States Chamber of Commerce. He pointed
out, however, that if benefit was to be derived
from the President's attitude in this matter prac-
tical application must be made of the suggestions
which are made for the development of trade along
those lines. He said :
"The recent utterances of President Wilson con-
cerning his attitude toward business, and his ap-
proval of co-operation among business interests for
the development of trade, have had a good effect,
and will result in much benefit if practical applica-
tion is made of the suggestions offered. The Presi-
dent expresses a desire and intention to assist in
the direction indicated, providing full and equal
opportunity can be given to everyone having large
or small resources. As I view the question, there
should be no difficulty in complying with the pro-
vision. There is great opportunity for constructive
work which will be of universal ibenefit."
The next step toward the carrying out of the plan
for co-operative effort in the development of our
foreign trade through combinations of associations,
according to some of those who have longest been
interested in this plan for furthering this country's
commercial interests, is the exemption by law of
such combinations from the operation of the Sher-
man Anti-Trust act.
tirely possible to enact a law that would permit
combinations of exporters and manufacturers with-
out infringing on the application of the Sherman
law to domestic business, but the trouble would be
to persuade men interested in foreign trade to take
advantage of it.
"There is so much uncertainty among business
men about the laws now in force," said he, "that
another would only make them more cautious. It
seems to me that the members of an export com-
bination would fear at all times that their activities
were being scrutinized by the lawmakers, and senti-
ment of this sort would work to retard business.
"Along the same line of thought, it seems prob-
able that supervision of the efforts of export or-
ganization by a Federal board would also have an
unfavorable effect on trade. In fact, I ibelieve that
stimulation of foreign sales under the oversight
of such a board would bring failure to the enter-
prise, for shippers would not consent to passing
their transactions through the hands of a commis-
sion appointed to oversee their orders and prices.
"I doubt whether it would be possible to success-
fully form a general association of manufacturers
for export business with orders divided among
them on a pro rata basis. Some companies, nat-
urally, have greater resources and greater efficiency
than others, and- an effort in common in the export
trade would tend to reduce the results of higher
efficiency among the stronger organizations."
DETROIT MUSIC TRADE ASSOCIATION REJUVENATED.
Piano and Talking Machine Dealers Decide to Replace the Old Association with New One to Be
Conducted on Progressive and Broader Lines—New Officers to Be Elected.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., February 8.—A real, live issue
brought the piano dealers and the talking machine
dealers together in a meeting last Tuesday night,
and after the business which called them together
had been disposed of a new and greater music
trades association was organized, to include the
talking machine dealers of the city as well as the
piano dealers.
The issue which brought about this result is not
made public at this time, for diplomatic reasons,
but it served to demonstrate the truth of what was
said regarding the demise of the old Detroit Music
Trades Association—that it languished (because it
stood for nothing. Just the moment that some-
thing turned up for an association to stand for, a
new association came into being. Or perhaps it is
Necessity of Exemption.
One large manufacturer who has long worked the old association revived, for a good many mem-
on this proposal emphasized that point of view to bers of the old association were present, and it
will have the same name as the old one—Detroit
The Review this week when he said:
Music Trades Association.
"The Sherman law must be repealed so far as it
The meeting was called by A. H. Howes, of
applies to combinations for the development of
trade abroad. That is essential to the practical ap- Grinnell Bros., who was the last secretary of the
plication of the plan which President Wilson has old association. Of the members of the old asso-
approved in principle. Until that is done it will be ciation the following responded to the call: J.
useless from a practical point of view to discuss the Henry Ling, E. P. Andrew, of the J. L. Hudson
Co.; A. E. Trebilcock, of the Detroit Music Co.;
details of any plan which might be devised. That
field of activity is now closed to us. Until it is F. J. Bayley, who was president of the old associa-
tion ; A. H. Howes and S. E. Clark, of Grinnell
opened it is useless to discuss details.
"President Wilson said that such combinations Bros., and A. E. Noble, of the Noble Piano Co.
Two piano houses were represented which were
or associations should be formed in a way which
would assure equal opportunity to all. What is not members of the old association, the Starr Piano
needed is that equal opportunity under the law be Co., W. H. Huttie, manager, and Stanley & Sons.
given to all who may wish to form associations The following talking machine houses were repre-
through which to pool their interests in foreign
DEATH OF OLD-TIME PIANO MAN.
trade, but it would not be practical to make equal
opportunity take the form of an obligation on the James L. Johnson, Once Piano Manufacturer
part of any particular association to take in any
and Also Dealer in New York.
and everybody who might wish to join. The right
James L. Johnson, for over fifty years a resi-
would have to be allowed to such associations to
choose their own members. Those who were left dent of Greenpoint, N. Y., and formerly engaged
out, if any were, could form another association. in the piano manufacturing trade, died in his home
Business men could not be expected to join such in that city last week in his 88th year. Mr. John-
associations if through them they could foe forced son was born in New York City, and after attain-
into partnership with concerns with which they did ing his majority joined his uncle, John B. Dunham,
manufacturer of pianos. Some time afterward he
not care to deal.
"It is not enough that means be supplied for pro- conducted a piano store of his own in Union square.
rating the expenses of selling goods abroad. The
export business of the members of such associa-
RHODES MUSICjSHOP EXPANDS.
tions would have to be pooled. The association,
The Rhodes Music Shop, Des Moines, la., has
moreover, would have to command a volume of leased the room adjoining its present quarters,
trade which would put it in a position to keep ships thereby doubling the space available for its business.
steadily employed. That is the only way in which
the associations could be sure on one hand of ship-
GIVE PIANOjro FAIR.
ping facilities for the goods which they had for
sale, and on the other hand of satisfactory rates."
Martin & Adams, Wichita, Kan., the progressive
Thinks New Law Feasible.
piano dealers, contributed a piano to the recent fair
E. H. Outerbridge, of the shipping firm of Har- of the United Commercial Travelers' Association
vey & Outerbridge, said he thought it would be en- held in that city.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
sented : The Edison Shop, the Columbia Grapho-
phone 'Co.'s Detroit branch store, Jacob H. Gold-
berg, E. A. Teckman, Crowley & Milner, the talk-
ing machine department of Grinnell Bros., Henry
P. Rupp, manager, and Story & Clark. The latter
and J. Henry Ling handle both pianos and talking
machines.
Officers were not elected at this meeting, it being
desired to give this important matter more mature
consideration than could be accorded it on such
short notice. So a nominating committee was ap-
pointed to take up this detail, and a meeting called
for Tuesday, March 2, to elect officers and com-
plete other details connected with the reorganiza-
tion.
"The new association will be a mighty good
thing," said E. P. Andrew. "It will be large enough
under the new plan to create respect for itself both
among the members and among the public. The
old association was too small, lacked ginger and
had gotten into a rut from which all the efforts of
the officers failed to arouse it. We will start again
under ibetter auspices."
"The old association was not really dead, only
dormant," said A. H. Howes. "We are going ahead
now better than ever with all these new members.
Plans for a very lively year will be mapped out at
the next meeting."
"If the new association adopts a code of princi-
ples furnishing something really worth while to
stand for, it will be a success, as I always have
maintained regarding the old one," said J. Henry
Ling. "The old one stood for nothing, so of course
it became atrophied."
CONDITIONSJNJHE SOUTH.
Improved Cotton Situation Enabling Farmers to
Pay Their Bills and Buy Pianos.
Commenting on business conditions in the
South, O. C. Swanitz, manager of Phillips & Crew
Co., Atlanta, Ga., states that cotton is now bring-
ing eight to eight and one-half cents, and at such a
price the farmers can make money to pay their
bills and buy pianos.
Mr. Swanitz notices a decided improvement in
conditions and he believes that conditions will be
normal within the next few months. It is need-
less to add that Mr. Swanitz is devoting a tremen-
dous amount of energy toward the retail distribu-
tion of pianos, with results that are in every way
satisfactory.
DEATH OF HENRY S. ALTAI.
Henry S. Altai, proprietor of the Altai Sales Co.,
dealer in musical instruments at 874 Broad street,
Newark, N. J., and also promoter of the Chamber
of Commerce of that city, died suddenly in his
office last week from a stroke of apoplexy.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos