Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Jfusic (J/iaJ
REVIEW
Established 1879
CARLETON CHACE, Editor
Alex H. Kolbe, Publisher
V. T. Costello
Associate Editor
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Alexander Hart
Technical Editor
Mary Louise Kauffman
Circulation Manager
Published monthly at 510 RKO Building, Radio
City, 1270 Sixth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y.
Telephone: Circle 7-5842-5843-5844
Vol. 110
DECEMBER. 1951
No. 12
Business—As We See It
I
T was in September, ]908, to be exact the day
after Labor Day, that we became associated with
the music industry. To look ahead from that
point, it seemed a long time to 1951. To look back
on those 43 years, however, it doesn't seem so long
after all. It has taken that length
of time, however, for us to wit-
ness something that has never
ocurred to our knowledge in the
industry. It has always been
customary for the presidents of
the various associations in the
industry to send to the members
of the associations of which they
are the heads a year-end message.
As a rule, these messages treat of
CARLETON CHACE
trade problems, problems which
have occurred in the past and
predictions of problems which may occur in the
future. This year, however, for the first time to our
knowledge the year-end message of the President of
the National Association of Music Merchants is de-
10
voted to pointing out the urgency for every member
of the industry to use the franchise of every Ameri-
can citizen to work for a better government, and the
philosophy — "The best government is the least
government". "If we concern ourselves," says Presi-
dent Ray S. Erlandson of the National Association of
Music Merchants, "with the problems of better
government in the ward, city and county levels in
which we live, we will bring a better government to
the state and nation. Unless we protect the govern-
ment we have and return it to the principles of free
enterprise and the right of personal initiative, there
will be a time when our music business will not be
worth pursuing, and that time may not be too far
off." It is interesting to note that in scanning over the
pages of other trade papers, which go to the mer-
chants of other industries, there have been many
thousand words written during the last few months
along the same lines by some of the prominent mem-
bers of those industries. As a rule, a trade paper's
function is to treat of trade problems. Very seldom
has a trade paper taken a political stand, even on the
national level, in its editorial columns. So, with
the present attitude of trade paper editors throughout
the country, it is gratifying to note that through these
mediums hundreds of thousands of business men
are being awakened to the fact that in their indus-
tries, as in the music industry, "unless we protect the
government we have and return it to the principles
of free enterprise and the right of personal initia-
tive", there will be a time when the business in which
they are engaged will not be worth pursuing. 1952
will be a year of great decision, we agree emphat-
ically with Mr. Erlandson, and we also urge the
readers of the REVIEW to take an active part in civic
affairs at the local level, and impress upon their
neighbors, their business associates and all of those
with whom they come in contact the importance of
exercising that franchise, which as in America, per-
haps, as in no other country, can decide whether the
American way of life shall continue as we have en-
joyed it in the past and as we would like to see it con-
tinue in the future.
Where Do We Go From Here?
W
HEN it comes to the point that it is revealed
that the American people have paid more
Federal taxes during the present adminis-
tration than during all the other administrations
combined, and in practically every daily paper there
is revealed a new scandal of corruption at the
national level, what is John Q. Citizen supposed to
do? After all, it is his worry and also it is he who
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, DECEMBER, 1951