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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PROPER RECOGNITION NECESSARY FOR THE MUSIC TRADE
Washington Officials Must Be Convinced That the Music Trade Is an Essential Industry, to Pre-
vent Curtailment of Sources of Supplies and Transportation Facilities
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 15.—The music the trade would bring about some sort of a
trade is likely to find itself with its back to compromise whereby substitutes might be dis-
the wall in a war-time commercial crisis that is covered for some of the raw materials of which
rapidly approaching in the United States. The it was proposed to deprive the industry and ar-
trade must fight and fight hard if it is to gain rangements made so that whatever readjust-
recognition at Washington as an "essential in- ments were deemed absolutely necessary could
dustry." The situation was not in the least be made gradually and in a manner to disturb
exaggerated in the leading editorial in last as little as possible the established trade struc-
week's issue of The Review. If anything, the ture.
contrary was the case. The recent ruling of the
A stitch in time will do a whole lot at Wash-
War Industries Board denying the use of open- ington in these trying times. When the sugar
top freight cars to the musical instrument in- famine came down upon us a few weeks a g o '
dustry was a straw that shows which way the the Food Administration cut off absolutely the
wind is blowing, but it was only one straw and supply of sugar going to candy factories and
others are coming thick and fast.
confectionery establishments. But when repre-
Before long it is going to be, not merely a sentatives of the affected industry promptly
case of skirmishing for freight cars for musical made vigorous representations at Washington,
shipments but of getting labor for music trade indicating that hardship would be imposed upon
factories, obtaining the needed raw materials an important section of the business community,
and, most vital of all, securing the coal required the Food Administration very promptly modified
to operate the manufacturing plants.
Uncle its tone and arranged a compromise whereby 50
Sam is just about ready to grapple in earnest per cent, of normal requirements in sugar is
with the question of what is non-essential busi- delivered to each manufacturer. Such a com-
ness in this country, with the idea of with- promise in the case of the musical industry
drawing, if need be, labor and materials from would be a whole lot better than what some
the industries that are deemed non-essential. music men have feared.
The Value of Compromise
Coming on the heels of an announcement of
There is good sense in the suggestion emanat-
policy whereby Governmental influence is to be
brought to bear to deter the banks from grant- ing from Waddill Catchings, of the Council of
ing loans for the construction of new theatres, National Defense, that every industry ought to
amusement parks and other enterprises that af- have its War Service Committee to devise ways
ford an outlet for musical instruments it will and means for meeting the present emergency
be seen that there is no rank pessimism, but and keeping the industry intact during the war.
merely a calm facing of the facts in the giving Music trade men, if they will only marshal their
of the alarm that the music trade must be up forces, have plenty of ammunition with which
and doing if it is to retain its proper place on to combat any move looking to the drastic re-
striction of music trade activities.
the business map.
That the whole attitude of the Government,
The Chamber of Commerce of the United
States has this past week recommended that even in the case of industries that are finally
before any business is classified as "non-essen- construed to be non-essential, will be one of
tial" a hearing should be granted at Washing- moderation is indicated by the latest statement
ton to duly accredited representatives of the from the Fuel Administration, which is to the
industry who may desire to convince the Gov- effect that whereas action will be taken in the
ernment authorities that a mistake of policy is immediate future to curtail shipments of coal
to be made. It is understood that executives to plants using coal in the production of non-
of the music trade associations will hold them- essentials there will be "curtailment rather than
selves in readiness to respond to such a call elimination" in order that the general situation
may be disturbed as little as possible.
to "show cause."
Government Recognizes Music Value
Even though spokesmen for the music trade
might not be able to wholly win the Federal
authorities to the view that musical instruments Richardson Illustrating Co. Offers Information
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threatened a frank conference between the
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DISCUSSION OF j>AJENT QUESTION
The next meeting of the National Institute of
Inventors will be held at the Broadway Central
Hotel, New York, on Friday, December 7. At
a meeting held last Thursday Benjamin B.
Thayer, a member of the United States Consult-
ing Board, and Orville Wright, the aeroplane in-
ventor, were elected honorary members. The
secretary reported that the institute had grown
to 1,427 members, with 130 applications pending.
The question of guaranteeing the validity of
patents by the United States Government was
discussed, and a committee was appointed to go
into the matter more thoroughly.
The Chappell Music Co., of Salina, Kan., is
moving to a new location on Santa Fe street.
Operators Piano
Company
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, Pre«.
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.