Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
64
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PRIZE WINNING COLUMBIA SINGERS
PRICE MAINTENANCE ISSUE NOT AFFECTED BY DECISION
H. A. Herrick, of the Columbia Staff, Arrives
in New York With Four, Successful Contest-
ants in Recent Song Contests
Says American Fair Trade League, in Statement Discussing the Recent Action of the United
States Supreme Court, in the Victor-Macy Case—Some Conclusions of Interest to the Trade
H. A. Herrick, who is in charge of the mu-
sical contests inaugurated by the Columbia
Graphophone Co. in Denver some time ago, ar-
rived in New York this week, accompanied by
the prize winners of two contests which were
recently held in Des Moines, la., and Louis-
ville, Ky.
These contests are attracting considerable at-
tention, as they have for their object the general
uplifting of music, the increased appreciation of
Miss Mary D. Marks and Clarence Wolff
music, and the stimulating of activity in the
study of this subject by amateur singers. The
Denver contest was a signal success, and the
fact that the successful contestants make a rec-
ord, a part of the proceeds of which is donated
to a scholarship fund, has added to the interest
evinced in these contests.
In Louisville the contest was held under the
auspices of the Evening Post (Richard G. Knott,
musical critic), working in conjunction with the
Columbia Graphophone Co. The winners of
this contest were Miss Mary Dowling Marks,
contralto, Danville, Ky., and Clarence Wolff,
baritone. There were 367 entries, with over
seventy counties in the State represented. Mr.
Miss Maurine Gibson and Clifford Bloom
Wolff, who is twenty-two years old, is a pupil
of John Sample, a well-known teacher in Louis-
ville. Miss Marks is twenty-six years of age,
and a pupil of the Louisville Conservatory of
Music. They visited the Columbia laboratories
last week and made a record which will be
placed on sale shortly; 25 cents from the sale
of each record will be devoted to the Kentucky
Scholarship Fund, for the education of these two
prize winners.
The judges in the finals in the Louisville con-
test were Mrs. Emily Davison, Louisville; Miss
Carolina Bourgard, Louisville; Mrs. Americus F.
Callahan, Chicago; Miss Myrna Sharlow, Chi-
cago; and Reinald Werrenrath, New York.
In Des Moines the contest was held under
the auspices of the Des Moines News (W. E.
Eattenfield, editor), working in conjunction with
the Columbia Graphophone Co. The winners
of this contest were Miss Maurine Gibson, Des
Moines, contralto, and Clifford Bloom, Des
Moines, tenor; both of whom are pupils of
Drake University. There were 381 entries in this
contest, representing 116 towns in the State of
Iowa. The winners have made a record at the
Columbia laboratory, which will soon be placed
on sale; 25 cents from the sale of each record
will be devoted to the Iowa Scholarship Fund,
for the education of the two prize winners.
The judges in the finals in the Des Moines
contest were Archibald Bailey, instructor of
vocal music, Iowa State College; Dean Hilmes
The American Fair Trade League, which is now hold that the Victor system of licenses is
advocating passage by Congress of the Stephens unenforceable.' Our opponents must be sorely
Standard Price Bill, to prevent branded and in need of comfort when they attempt to seek
trademarked merchandise from being used as it by such perverse implications. It is a signifi-
cut price leaders, which it clairrtte deceives and cant fact that Judge Brandeis, who appeared in
injuries the public^gave through its secretary-, "tfavor^of the Stephens bill, is one of the majority
fifeasjprer^drrfignd A. Whittier, astatemenj: coff- who now hold that the Victor system is unen-
cerniJig the decision of the United States Su- forceable, but it is only significant of Judge
preme Court, by a divided vote of 6 to 3, declar- Branfleis' consistency with his position from the
ing invalid the so-called patent license selling start. In a few words, his position has always
system of the Victor Talking Machine Co. The appeared to be that he opposes extension of
patent rights as unnecessarily strengthening an
statement in full follows:
actual monopoly and that lje favors legislation
"A reading of the full text of the decision of
the United States Supreme Court in the Victor- legalizing freedom of contract along the lines
Macy case proves that it simply follows the of the Stephens Standard Price Bill, which con-
precedents of previous decisions in patent cases tains the following stringent provisions: 'Such
concerning the right of patent owners to con- vendor shall not have any monopoly or control
trol resale price by a license or notice system. of the market for articles belonging to the same
It does not involve at all the broad general prin- general class of merchandise as such article or
ciple of contract right embodied in the Stephens articles of commerce as shall be covered by such
bill. The attempt of the opponents of standard contract of sale; nor shall such vendor be a
price legislation to create a contrary impres- party to any agreement, combination, or under-
sion is not surprising, but they have not the standing with any competitor in the production,
slightest ground on which to base their conten- manufacture, or sale of any merchandise in the
tions. Throughout the decision in the Victor- same general class in regard to the price at
Macy case, as well as the Motion Picture Pat- which the same shall be sold either to dealers
ents case, handed down the same day, and which at wholesale or retail or the public'
must be considered in connection therewith, the
"Justice Brandeis has always based his advo-
language of the court repeatedly and sharply cacy of standard price legislation upon the pub-
differentiates between rights create.d by private lic's need of protection against cut throat com-
contract as distinguished from those of the patent petition, which, as he has repeatedly pointed out,
law' and several times emphasizes the fact that is the chief weapon of monopoly. Attempts to
it is to the latter, and not the former, that the create the impression that Justice Brandeis'
questions under consideration in both cases are agreement with the majority of the Supreme
confined.
Court on questions concerning a patent right
"Counsel for R. H. Macy & Co. is quoted in monopoly indicate a change of attitude on the
the newspapers as saying: "It is a significant standard price question, fail to recognize the
logical consistency between his past utterances
fact that Judge Brandeis who appeared in favor
of the Stephens bill, is one of the majority who and the view expressed in his patent decision."
Cowper, Dean Conservatory, Des Moines; Miss
B. A. Cooper, instructor of vocal music, State
University of Iowa, Iowa City; Miss H. Case,
instructor of vocal music, Iowa State Teachers'
College, Cedar Falls; Mrs. G. S- DeGraff, in-
structor of vocal music, Highland Park College,
Des Moines; Dean A. H. Engstrom, Gfinnell
College, Grinnell; Dean Ellis Rhodes, Simpcox
College, Simpcox.
Both of these contests were indorsed by the
Music Teachers' Association in the two States.
Governor Harding, of Iowa, introduced the win-
ners in the Des Moines contest, and Mayor
Brushaber, of Louisvile, introduced the winners
in the Louisville contest.
NEW DOMESTIC LINE ON THE MARKET
Domestic Talking Machine Corp. Announces
Many Novel Features in Its New Line of
Talking Machines—To Exhibit at Chicago
PHILADELPHIA, PA., April 23.—The new line of
Domestic talking machines are ready for the
market and they certainly represent an interest-
ing addition to the talking machine field. Many
new and atractive features have been incor-
porated in the new line, and as the bulk of them
are proprietary with the Domestic Talking Ma-
chine Corp, in view of being covered by patents
granted and in process, the Domestic people
have every reason to expect a large volume of
business.
Among the many interesting features on the
new Domestic line is an automatic brake acting
directly on the motor in connection with the
tone arm. It is positive in its operation, needs
no adjustment and is so constructed that there
is hardly a possibility of its getting out of order
even when used by the most careless operator.
The new motor is another Domestic achieve-
ment. It was designed in the Domestic labora-
tory and is built throughout in the Domestic
factory. One feature for which the Domestic
Co. claims superior construction throughout is
the fact that they build all parts of their ma-
chines in their own plant under the direct super-
vision of talking machine experts.
The slogan which the company has adopted
and prepared to demonstrate is that the new
Domestic line represents "The Standard for
Musical Tone," and from the clear, brilliant na-
ture of the sound reproduction whereby they
secure large volume and at the same time pre-
serve detail they certainly have a most attrac-
tive line of instruments.
The company has taken large space at the
National Music Show to be held in Chicago in
May where they expect to exhibit the full line
and they are extending to the music trade a
most cordial invitation to visit them.
OPENS BRANCH IN TORONTO
Otto Heineman Phonograph Co. Plans Active
Canadian Campaign—C. T. Pott in Charge
The Otto Heineman Phonograph Supply Co.,
New York, has announced the opening of a
branch office in the Canadian Pacific Building,
Toronto, Canada, under the management of
C. T. Pott.
Paul Wood, formerly head of the service de-
partment at the Heineman factory in Elyria, O.,
has joined the Toronto headquarters in a similar
capacity. Mr. Wood will co-operate with the Ca-
nadian manufacturers, rendering them practical
assistance in producing their phonographs.
The Columbia Graphophone Co. has leased the
entire building at 55 Warren street, New York
City, for a term of years.