Music Trade Review

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VOL. LXIV. No. 19 Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York. May 12, 1917
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Trade Conventions
W
ITHIN a week the members of the various piano trade associations and their friends will begin
their pilgrimage to Chicago for the several annual convention meetings, the manufacturers going
first, and the merchants and travelers following to take up their association duties.
An unusually large number of representative men in the trade plan to attend the meetings in
the Western metropolis, according to reports reaching The Review office. Chicago has always been a good con-
vention city, so far as the piano trade is concerned, and the attendance this year should go to prove that
assertion once again. There will perhaps be some dropping off on the part of the Eastern dealers, those who
may consider the journey too long, but on the other hand that falling off will be more than offset by the
gathering of Western men who find it inconvenient to attend the convention sessions when they are held in New
York City.
There is much this year to arouse among the thinking members of the trade an earnest desire to meet
with their fellow members to discuss and if possible to formulate definite plans regarding conditions in this coun-
try that in many respects are extraordinary, and being extraordinary, demand a plan of handling that will prove
more than ordinarily efficient.
The piano man who goes to Chicago next week, whether manufacturer, dealer or traveler, should go there
with open mind; with a desire to co-operate for the benefit of the industry as a whole; with a willingness to put
aside a personal hobby when that hobby may perchance interfere with united action. It is no time for quibbling.
There is much to be done and little enough time to do it. Let the work of the coming meetings be constructive
from the first drop of the gavel.
It is a time when the trade, as well as the nation," should show a united front, and the conventions offer a
most excellent opportunity for giving a physical demonstration of that united spirit.
There are evils in the trade—too many of them, perhaps—but some of these evils have been in existence
from time immemorable. They have been discussed and argued over and fought over without apparent
definite result. There are some evils that have become more persistent in the last few months, or years, but
let the attention be directed towards these latter evils and let the former take care of themselves. It is not
the past nor yet the present that demands the most attention and consideration. It is the future, and the
immediate future at that. Means for building up a larger and better piano business are what are demanded.
There has been put into successful operation since the last convention the National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music. If the work the bureau is doing is considered by the majority to be the proper
work demanded at this time, let it be encouraged to the limit. If the work of the bureau represents only a
part of the effort that members of the trade consider desirable and necessary to develop the industry, let other
means be formulated, but let those who propose other means come prepared with a definite idea upon which
to work—an idea that can be clearly presented, understood, and accepted by the majority without hesitancy.
If the Better Business Bureau has in the few months of its existence justified its support and continuance
let that support be granted freely. If its corrective program can be enlarged to include also the constructive
side, let that be done, but let it be done intelligently and with a definite purpos.e.
Whatever is done in the direction of trade betterment, let it be upon a concentrated basis. Too many
committees, bureaus, or other subdivisions serve to confuse association activities. As separate divisions they
utilize energy that, if all directed toward one common purpose, might secure hitherto unhoped for results.
Above all things, let this war-time convention, if we may so call it, set a mark for genuine accomplishment,
with aimless discussion superseded by definite and well-directed effort.
**
Meanwhile, for the better part of a fortnight, all roads will lead to Chicago, so far as the piano men
are concerned, and they are roads well worth following.