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FEBRUARY 12,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1921
OHIO DEALERS PLANNING FIGHT ON INCREASED TAXES
State Association Leaders Prepare Tentative Plan to Oppose Proposed Legislation Whereby Tax
on Musical Instruments Will Be Increased—News of Interest Concerning the Cleveland Trade
CLEVELAND, O., February 7.—Combining with the
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio and fol-
lowing the appeal of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, that immediate action be
taken by piano merchants individually and col-
lectively to forestall the passage of legislation
that will result in increase of the excise tax from
5 per cent to 10 per cent on musical merchan-
dise, members of the Cleveland Music Trade As-
sociation are preparing to act. A tentative plan
of action for Ohio piano dealers has been out-
lined by President O. E. Westerticld and Secre-
tary Rexford C. Hyre, of the State Association.
In the bulletin of news of the Association Sec-
retary Hyre has reviewed the workings of the
excise tax, and shows plainly that music is not
a luxury, but that it is a necessity in the home,
religious and public life, essential to proper edu-
cation of children and a vital part of industry in
sustaining the morale of the worker.
Cleveland's part in the campaign against this
proposed tax increase probably will take the
form of a giant petition to be prepared and dis-
tributed among all members of the local As-
sociation for the obtaining of signatures of
music teachers and all persons interested direct-
ly in music, as well as the general public. This
work probably will be taken up under the leader-
ship of Otto C. Muehlhauser, new president of
the Cleveland Music Trade Association, and
George M. Ott, retiring president.
Meanwhile all Ohio merchants will urge a re-
vision of the State law which, as it now stands
on the statutes, prevents the piano dealer from
being protected in the event of fraud on the
part of the purchaser. This move finds its in-
ception in a special meeting of the State organ-
ization at Youngstown, where Charles H. Yahr-
hng, of that city, pointed out the evil of the
law as it is at present.
The law, according to Secretary Rexford C.
Hyre, considers the secretion or sale of chattel
mortgaged property only a misdemeanor, pun-
ishable only by a workhouse sentence or fine.
This gives a purchaser of a piano, upon which
enly a small amount has been paid, the oppor-
tunity, if he so desires, to move the piano to
another State, sell it, and as long as he remains
out of Ohio be immune from court action, as the
offense is not extraditable.
Merchants now want this law changed to
constitute a felony, which carries with it a
penitentiary sentence and would also permit the
evildoer to be brought back into this State. The
proposal has the united support of dealers in
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Day-
ton and all the big cities of the State. An
effort will be made by State Association mem-
bers to have the law revised at the coming
Legislature, for if this is not done now two
years must elapse before such revision can be
made again.
Turning to lighter things, the members of the
Cleveland Music Trade Association were well
prepared for the twelfth annual banquet and
entertainment that accompanied the installa-
tion of officers .for this year. The event
was held at the Hotel Cleveland. An elabo-
rate menu was well digested, along with plenty
of musical numbers and dancing by girls.
Speakers slated for the evening to discuss per-
tinent topics for the members included: Re-
tiring President G. M. Ott, Incoming President
O. C. Muehlhauser, W. W. Wirth, George R.
OARDMAN
GRAY^
IANOS
ESTABUSHED~IN~I83Z
ALBANY, N. Y.
Madson, the Cheney Phonograph Sales Co.; F.
N. Goosman, Toledo, vice-president the Ohio
Association; Charles H. Yahrling, Youngs-
town; C. H. Randolph, vice-president the Cleve-
land Association, and visitors from branches of
the industry. The event was arranged by A. 1>.
Smith, Walter S. Raeder, M. E. Smith, Rex-
ford C. Hyre and C. H. Kennedy.
Strong support for music in Ohio is included
in the plan of administration of Harry L. Davis,
new Governor, according to A. L. Maresh, of
the Maresh Piano Co., following his return from
Columbus, where he attended the inaugural
ceremonies.
The Governor informed Mr.
Maresh that he proposes the establishment of
bands in all cities, to have music recognized as
one of the regular studies in schools and the
development of public interest in community
choruses and the like.
Contract for a $12,000 organ soon will be
awarded by the Hough Avenue Congregational
Church, according to announcement by Rev.
H. S. Fritsch, pastor. A campaign for the fund
has been started, under leadership of D. V. Ex-
line. The church recently completed the build-
ing of a fine new edifice, following a fire a few
years ago which destroyed the original church
property. The new building is complete ex-
cept for the organ.
If piano merchants in this section during 1921
do not do as good business as, or even better
than, they did in 1920 they will have only them-
selves to blame. This is not the way he puts it,
but this is what he means when R. E. Taylor,
district manager, the Starr Piano Co., offers a
hint as to what is in store for the industry dur-
ing this year Revision of methods of closing
business will have to be made, he asserts, but
when this is accomplished the rest ought to be
comparatively easy, is the belief of Mr. Taylor.
His recipe includes hut two ingredients—a
strong organization and use of old-time selling
methods. He points out that people no longer
will buy—they have to be sold. A strong or-
ganization, with real salesmen who really sell,
will get them to buy now, says Mr. Taylor. He
urges good pay for the producers and the weed-
ing out of drones. Mr. Taylor bases his prog-
nostication for good 1921 piano business on the
fact that January figures for the Cleveland Starr
organization are likely to show up equal to, if
not better than, those of January last year, which
was one of the biggest months in the history
of the piano industry.
A change of importance, and of interest to
Cleveland piano merchants, is the announcement
that J. O. Raeder, one of the oldest and best-
known members of the trade in these parts, has
been appointed manager of the Cleveland A. B.
Smith Piano Co. Few members of the trade
here are better liked or more popular than Mr.
Raeder, and his previous work in other con-
nections here will be duplicated in the Smith
organization, his friends assert.
Cleveland members of the Music Merchants'
Association of Ohio soon will have another im-
posing document to frame and hang in their
stores, for the certificate of membership in the
State organization is off the press and presently
will be distributed from the offices of Rexford
C Hyre, State Association secretary.
Victrola No. 80, $100
Mahogany, oak or walnut
Other styles $25 to $1500
Victor
Supremacy
The universal recog-
nition of Victor suprem-
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assets of every Victor
retailer.
With Victrolas in such
splendid variety, Victor
retailers can satisfy every
demand, and the volume
of business is limited
only by the individual
effort of each retailer.
"Victrola
is the Registered Trade-
mark of the Victor Talking Machine
Company designating the products of
this Company only.
Warning: The use of the word
Victrola upon or in the promotion or
sale of any other Talking Machine or
Phonograph products is misleading and
illegal.
Important Notice. Victor Records
and Victor Machines are scientifically
co-ordinated and synchronized in the
processes of manufacture, and should be
used together to secure a perfect re-
production.
Victor Talking
Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., u. s. A.
JOE MANN HELPS HOOVER FUND
BALTIMORE, Mi)., February 7.—Joseph M. Mann,
head of the Mann Piano Co., this city, is one of
the active workers for the Hoover Fund for the
relief of the starving children of Europe and in
order to aid the cause has been devoting all his
regular advertising space to personal pleas for
contributions.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
IL4J