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52
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
MAY
18, 1918
CONDUCTED BY B. B. WILSON
the trade was the main objective of the associa-
tion, and the gradual success of our efforts was
reflected in the receipts of the publishers. The
association then had to fight for each little re-
form, each little improvement, with the result
that many members lost heart and dropped out
of the organization. The final blow was deliv-
ered by the publishers when they not only re-
instated some of the discarded dealers but also
opened new accounts of the most worthless kind.
"The publishers have apparently not learned
yet the value of true co-operation. They are
toying with that word on their lip's, but their
methods are still lightly nailed to the good old
slogan, 'Each one for himself and let the devil
take the hindmost.' They are the troglodytes
in the world of modern business, and until some
benevolent crush will make them change their
tactics an association of retail music dealers in
New York cannot exist.
"Of course, the music dealers are not without
blame. But, as I have repeatedly pointed out
in my circulars, they are a poor lot—in more
than one sense. Out of 300-odd dealers only
forty enlisted as members—and this in spite of
the fact that every dealer benefited materially
through the' activity of the association. The
majority of them cannot read; those that can
do not understand what they are reading and
the understanding ones have not the courage to
part with the 50-cent monthly dues. There are
some good ones among them, but—vide Scrip-
tures about weeds throttling the corn. A few
dealers, though, managed to turn the tables on
the weeds.
"A handful of members decided to stick to-
gether as a social organization, paying dues and
meeting occasionally, waiting patiently for the
above-mentioned 'crush.'"
PERSHINQ WANTS SONG LEADER
EARL CARROLL AS AN AVIATOR
W. Stanley Hawkins Going to France as Song
Leader for the Expeditionary Forces at
Earnest Request of Commanding General
Composer Now Training for Commission at
Camp in Texas
PASSING OF MUSIC DEALERS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
Various Dealers Supporting the Organization Give Up the Struggle to Improve Trade Conditions
After Two Years of Effort—Food for Thought in President Arison's Valedictory
The Music Dealers' Association of New York
is no more, according to the official announce-
ment of the president, Theodore Arison. The
various dealers about town have worked hard
to bring about certain reforms badly needed in
the trade. Lack of support has served to dis-
courage their efforts. In announcing the dis-
solution of the association, President Arison has
addressed a letter to the trade that should give
considerable material for thought on the part
of both publishers and dealers. He says:
"After two years of most arduous struggling
for the elevation of the retail music business in
New York the association is now compelled to
lay down its weapons and declare itself beaten
by the incessant onslaught of the publishers and
by the apathy and crass ignorance of a majority
of the dealers.
"The publishers—some of them—did not live
up to their original promise to give the new as-
sociation their unstinted support and co-opera-
tion. The trade in New York was suffering
from an overwhelming number of tiny, dirty
'side-line' music dealers, whose methods of mer-
chandising could not be viewed without disgust.
There were also a few 'marauding' teachers en-
joying trade discounts, who contributed not a
little toward the demoralization of the trade.
The publishers had realized from the begin-
ning the danger of such an unhealthy state of
affairs, and had adopted the formula that it is
more profitable to have a limited number of good
accounts than hundreds of bad ones. To at-
tain this end the complete elimination of the
undesirable element was necessary, and the as-
sociation was organized for that purpose.
"But after the first enthusiasm cooled,off some
of the publishers began to look askance at the
activity and growing strength of the associa-
tion. Some of them catered very largely to
that pernicious element whose elimination from
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CAMP DIX, WRIGHTSTOWN, N. J., May 13.—W.
Stanley Hawkins, director of camp singing for
the army Y. M. C. A. since the early days of
Camp Dix, has been chosen, in response to the
urgent appeal of General Pershing, to lead the
singing of American armies in France. An-
nouncement of his acceptance of the post was
made to-day and he will hurry "over there" as
soon as he can complete arrangements.
General Pershing is said to have found that
singing is even more important to the morale
of the men at the front than in the rookie days
in the training camps, and the selection of Haw-
kins to head all singing activities of the Ameri-
can expeditionary forces is the direct result of
the General's request that he might at once have
the service of the most successful song director
available in this country. The matter was re-
ferred to the War Work Council, which imme-
diately selected Hawkins.
"AMERICA" FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM
Alabama Congressman Would Sidetrack "Star
Spangled Banner" in Favor of American Ver-
sion of "God Save the King"
WASHINGTON, D. C, May 13.—A joint resolu-
tion to make the words of "America," as writ-
ten by Samuel Francis Smith and set to music
of "God Save the King," the official national
anthem of the United States, has been intro-
duced by Representative Bankhead, of Ala-
bama.
Representative McFadden, of Pennsylvania,
introduced a resolution recently to make "The
Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem.
HAS TWO SUCCESSFUL MARCHES
"Wilsonian" and "With the Colors" Marches
Being Featured by C. L. Barnhouse
C. L. Barnhouse, music publisher of Oska-
loosa, la., reports a heavy and constantly grow-
ing demand for the two latest marches added to
h's catalog, namely, the "Wilsonian" and "With
the Colors" marches. Both were composed by
Einar V. Sorensen, bandmaster in the regular
army, and are quite unusual in their appeal. It
is the intention of Mr. Barnhouse to publish
"With the Colors" as a song within a short
time, and he believes in that form it will enjoy
still more popularity.
As is generally known in trade and profes-
sional circles, Earl Carroll, the well-known com-
poser and librettist, enlisted in the United States
Army shortly after the declaration of war last
year, and for some months past has been train-
Earl Carroll and His Talented Wife
ing with considerable success in Texas for a
commission as an aviator.
The accompanying photograph shows Mr. Car-
roll immediately after the conclusion of a trial
flight. The young lady seated on the edge of
the machine is Mrs. Earl Carroll, professionally
known as Marcelle.
r
J
ERO11E
H
p
Sensational Song Hit
SONGS
"SWEET LITTLE BUTTERCUP"
"ON THE ROAD TO HOME SWEET
HOME"
"DON'T TRY TO STEAL THE SWEET-
HEART OF A SOLDIER"
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO
HELP THE BOYS?"
"BING BANG BING 'EM ON THE
RHINE"
"YOU'RE IN STYLE WHEN YOU'RE
WEARING A SMILE"
"BLUEBIRD"
"SOME SUNDAY MORNING"
"FOR YOU A ROSE"
"SO LONG MOTHER"
"WONDROUS EYES OF ARABY"
"CHEER UP FATHER
CHEER
UP
MOTHER"
"DERBY DAY IN DIXIE"
•THERE'S A LUMP OF SUGAR DOWN
IN DIXIE"
JEROME H. REM1CK * CO.