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Music Trade Review

Issue: 1920 Vol. 71 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JULY 3, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Executive Members of Music
Merchants' Association Meet
Executive Board, Advisory Board, Committee Members and State Commissioners of National Association of Music Merchants
Meet at Atlantic City and Prepare Progressive Program for the Activities of the Association During
the Balance of the Year—1921 Convention to be Held in Chicago in May
v.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., June 26.—The mid-Sum-
mer meeting of the executive board, advisory
board, committee members and commissioners of
the National Association of Music Merchants,
held at the Hotel Traymore yesterday and to-day,
was noteworthy for the broad spirit in which the
discussions were carried on and plans laid for the
future work of the Association. The merchants
have evidently grasped in full the spirit of
greater trade development and particularly the
significance of the movement for the advance-
ment of music and laid out a program that
should mean much to the men of the industry
as a whole.
The attendance was a representative one, only
two of the executive board being absent, due to
conditions over which they had no control.
Incidentally, the trade will be interested to
learn that the convention plans for 1921 have
been changed and with the endorsement of the
majority of the Association members, through
the medium of a questionnaire, the annual ses-
sion of the general body will be held in Chicago
during the month of May, probably during the
week of May 22, instead of the end of February,
as at first planned. It is also likely that a music
show will be held at the Coliseum, Chicago, dur-
ing the convention period, the date being se-
lected with that end in view.
With an active membership of over 1,200
music merchants and a working organization of
nearly 500 State and city commissioners in all
sections of the country the Merchants' Associa-
tion has developed into a body that appears to
be well qualified to undertake and carry out
the constructive program laid down for it at the
meeting.
tivities of the Association would prove the best
solution of the problem and that the small com-
mittee plan would be tried out.
Work of the Commissioners
M. V. DeForeest, first vice-president, next
spoke in relation to the work of the State and
city commissioners, there being forty-four of
the former and 434 of the latter already enrolled.
He declared that there must be laid out some
definite plan under which the State and city
commissioners could do their best and most ef-
fective work in their own localities for the pro-
motion of the various Association activities and
particularly for the advancement of music.
Working for Music Advancement
As chairman of the Committee on Music Ad-
vancement, C. A. Grinnell made an eloquent plea
for the full co-operation of the great body of the
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The Friday Session
The opening session of the meeting followed
immediately after an informal luncheon attended
by the officers, directors and State commission-
ers of the Association and their guests. Presi-
dent E. Paul Hamilton started the proceedings
by outlining the purpose of the meeting. He
E. Paul Hamilton, President
trade in putting the music advancement idea
across. He cited the success of the Music Week
in New York in February, but declared that the
music dealer could not expect continuous results
from only one such week a year; he must work
in his own locality to make every week a music
week.
Music advancement work must begin with the
child, said Mr. Grinnell, for the development
of a musical child means a musical home in the
future and business for the music merchant.
The work should be carried on through the
music supervisors, the schools, the churches and
the industrial institutions, but before beginning
such work the State commissioner should fortify
himself with facts and material regarding the
work as supplied by the National Bureau for
the Advancement of Music. The speaker told
of what had already been done to win over the
newspapers and outlined the opportunities that
lay in the direction of securing increased pub-
licity for music. In closing, Mr. Grinnell de-
clared that annual or semi-annual meetings of
M. V. DeForeest, First Vice-president
the Board of Control of the Association were
declared that the object was to determine by not sufficient but that the governing body should
what means the greatest results could be ac- come together more frequently to consider the
complished for the Association and the general work already accomplished and the new prob-
trade before' the next general convention and lems that arise constantly.
urged that the present well-organized ma-
; The Better Business Bureau
chinery of the Association be used in the most
Edmund Gram, as chairman of the Better
effective manner rather than be permitted to re- Business Bureau of the Association, was the
main idle and useless. Mr. Hamilton stated that next speaker and reviewed actions that had
the general sentiment appeared to be that small been taken and were pending, both before the
committees placed in charge of the various ac- Association and the constituted legal authorities,
against those of the trade charged with violat-
ing business ethics. Mr. Gram recommended
drastic Association action. George W. Pound,
general counsel of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, also spoke at some length on
the same subject.
After C. J. Roberts, chairman of the Press
Committee, reported on what had been done
and what was planned in the matter of Associa-
tion and music publicity, E. H. Droop, as chair-
man of the Legislative Committee of the Asso-
ciation, presented the following report:
Legislative Committee's Report
"While the Legislative Committee of our As-
sociation has not been called upon to perform
any special work, it may be apropos at this time
to say a few words respecting the work of
George W. Pound, general counsel of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, to whom all
legal matters that come up before our Associa-
tion are now referred.
"Mr. Pound is an indefatigable worker in the
interests of our industry and the highest com-
mendations are due him for his untiring efforts.
Since his last report of activities made to our
convention last February Mr. Pound has
traveled extensively through the country and
has brought the message of music to merchants'
meetings in Baltimore, Washington, Boston,
Norfolk, New York City, etc., in addition to
addressing other bodies on the same subject.
"In respect to legislative matters at Wash-
ington, he successfully opposed further internal
revenue taxation on musical instruments, in the
soldiers' bonus and other bills. Through his
efforts, the renewed propaganda against so-
called non-essentials in respect to our trade
was overcome. There was successful opposi-
tion to the proposal of the railway executives,
made to the Interstate Commerce Commission,
to put embargoes on freight shipping against
non-essentials. He gave strong support to the
Blakeley and other so-called 'misbranding' bills
pending in Congress. These bills would make
unlawful the false labeling or marking of goods
by manufacturers.
"Strong protest was made by Mr. Pound be-
fore the House Agricultural Committee in its
J. Edwin Butler, Second Vice-president
investigation of the packers' trust against the
practice started by them of going into the music
business—particularly small instruments and
musical merchandise generally.
"Arguments were made before the United
States Commerce Commission against the in-
creasing of freight rates on musical instruments
and the taking away of our present favorable
rates. A new bill was drafted having for its
(Continued on page 8)
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE
Music TRADE REVIEW
JULY
3, 1920
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF MUSIC MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION MEET—(Continued from page 7)
purpose the creation of a national conservatory selling and be accomplished by the exchange of the Fall with the co-operation of the State and
of music in Washington.
ideas for better sales methods, improved credit city commissioners and great results were ex-
"Our general counsel has been most helpful and collection systems, establishment of trade- pected from the drive.
by giving advice to music merchants all over in values, etc. This led to an exhibit of better
Progress of the Stamp Plan
the United States, and even Canada, in response business forms shown at the February conven-
P. E. Conroy, "father" of the official stamp
to ever-increasing requests for legal advice on tion, including bookkeeping and follow-up sys- plan for raising funds for music advancement
internal revenue, income and other problems. tems used by a number of leading music mer- and Chamber- of Commerce work, outlined
He has also attended to- the matter of the chants in various cities. These forms attracted briefly the history of the plan and the success
change of the m m e of the National Associa- much interest and a number of inquiries and with which it had met. He declared that al-
tion of Piano Merchants of America to the also caused favorable comment by the music though nearly 10O per cent of the manufacturers
trade papers.
National Association of Music Merchants.
and merchants were supporting the plan the
"While it is hardly in the province of the "A wider field of activity, covering adver- support would come from a full hundred per
legislative committee to make suggestions, it tising advisory service, cost accounting, develop- cent when the executives of the several associa-
nevertheless takes the liberty of doing so, and ment of uniform sales contracts, maintenance tions took the trouble to explain to the hesita-
we strongly urge that several speaking tours of improved credit conditions throughout the in- ting members of the trade just what the plan
should be planned for Mr. Pound for the early dustry, standardization of trade practices, agi- was designed to do and what it has already ac-
Fall. His appearance before the music mer- tation for better transportation facilities, and
other service looking to the general improve-
ment of the music industry, will be entered upon
as rapidly as possible.
"The Trade Service Bureau will draw on the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music
and the Legal Bureau, as well as contributors
in and out of the trade, for the development
of its work. As director of the Better Busi-
ness Bureau and secretary of the National As-
sociation of Music Merchants, the writer has
taken occasion to collect data and determine
upon channels of information and co-operation.
As soon as the work caused by the new com-
bination stamp and the mid-year conference of
the Merchants'^ Association has been cleared
away, the Trade Service Bureau will have early
attention."
Good Work for Music in Little Rock
One of the most interesting of the talks was
that of Col. F, B. T. Hollenberg, who, after
strongly urging support for the music advance-
ment campaign, told of what he had accom-
plished in his home city of Little Rock, Ark.,
in interesting the music dealers, heads of local
industries and others in a plan to bring Robert
Lawrence, the noted song leader and member
Carl A. Droop, Treasurer
of the staff of the National Bureau for the Ad-
complished.
In the course of his talk Mr. Con-
vancement of Music, to Little Rock to start and
guide a campaign for music in industry. Col. roy urged the appointment by the Chamber of
Hollenberg declared that statistics proved that Commerce of a committee, paid if necessary, to
C. L. Dennis, Secretary
chants' local associations undoubtedly is of far- when music was introduced into a manufactur- travel about the country and explain the stamp
reaching value and is probably the most effec- ing plant the efficiency increased 20 per cent plan fully and properly to the trade. Stamps
tive way of holding the industry in line; his and the labor turnover was reduced 50 per cent. should be placed on talking machines, band in-
struments and musical merchandise, as well as
Increase in Membership
appearance before other bodies is highly recom-
mended, for by so doing he carries the mes- Secretary Dennis offered a pleasing report pianos, he declared, and the annual revenue
sage of music and the dignity of the music in- regarding the membership increase of the As- should amount to at least a half million dollars.
The meeting then adjourned until Saturday
dustry to the general public, to the banker, the sociation. At the February convention the
congressman, the Rotarian, and so forth. It is membership totaled 1,138 and to date has in- afternoon for the purpose of enabling the vari-
this personal talk in the various cities with the creased to over 1,200. He stated that a strong ous committees to prepare and submit their re-
representative citizenship which counts and for membership campaign was being planned for ports.
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that reason this work should never be allowed
to slacken.
'"Our general counsel has a broad knowledge
of men and things and his enthusiasm for our
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cause is a valuable asset to our Association."
Immediately following the general meeting of of what the various commissioners eould and
In reporting,upon the proposed Trade Service Friday afternoon M. V. DeForeest, first vice- should do for the advancement of music,- deliv-
Bureau to be- established by the Association in president of the Association, called a meeting
ered an inspiring talk at the meeting of the
co-operation with the Chamber of Commerce,
of the State commissioners present, for the pur- State commissioners and pointed out that there
and of which John A. Turner "has been appointed
pose of discussing ways and means for co-oper- was available an abundance of tested Association
chairman, Mr. Dennis said: 1
ating in their local territories in carrying on machinery that could be employed most effec-
"The establishment of a trade service depart-
the work of the Association most effectively and tively in putting the Association work over
ment for the promotion of better business
particularly for carrying on the propaganda for locally.
methods Un the music trade, which was pro-
the advancement of music.
The'list of State commissioners, as announced
posed in a resolution passed by the National As-
Mr. DeForeest urged that the commissioners by Mr. DeForeest at the meeting, is as fol-
sociation ,df Music Merchants at the February
keep in close touch with the national officers lows:
i
convention and approved by the Music Indus-
Alabama—B. B. Burton.
tries Chamber,, of Cojnmerce, has been delayed and the heads of the various bureaus being oper-
Arkansas—J. D. Pope.
.
by pressure of other work and" the difficulties ated by the Association and the Music Industries
Colorado—Chas. E. Wells.
of transferring the, secretary's office from Mil- Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of learn-
ing of all new plans and gaining a proper con-
Connecticut—Alfred Fox.
waukee.
'"".•? ;• »•• • :
ception of what was expected of them. With
California (Southern)—E. A. Geissler.
"In the development of our plans it has
Cuba—John L. Stowers.
seemed advisable to elevate this- branch of the forty-six State commissioners and 432 city com-
service to the importance of a bureau, rather missioners already enlisted the Association has
California (Northern)—Frank Anrys.
than a department of the Better Business Bu- a working organization extending into all sec- Delaware—G. A. Gewehr.
tions of the country and which should prove a
reau, and to broaden its scope.
District of Columbia—Jno. C. Conliff.
"The first proposal contemplated a construc- most efficient, medium for the carrying out of
Florida—Boyesen H. Chase.
tive educational work with the trade, to replace the various trade campaigns.
Georgia—L. A. Russell.
C. A. Grinnell, who at the general session told
former destructive methods of advertising and
Iowa—A. P. Griggs.
Meeting of State
FC 1 '-? ••'ONC, aiZtWJTY
AN V L A S T INC
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ACCOMPLISHMENT "
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The WERNER INDUSTRIES CO. Cincinnati
Commissioners
P I A N O S
AND

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