Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, THE
arcade-museum.com
digitized with support from namm.org
MUSIC TRADE -- REVIEW.
226
THE SILVER COINAGE QUESTION AND
THE WORKING MEN.
The working men are taking the silver coinage
ever affects the prosperity of the country affects
those whose hands and brains are laboring at daily
toil. If we speak to the so-called "working" men
•concerning the silver coinage question we do it
from the stand-point of working, laboring men ;
for whether we write editorials, or labor at the
bench, we are equally toilers striving for our daily
"bread. But in the common use of the term " work-
ing "men it is sought, by those who advocate an
inflation of the currency, to designate those whose
toil is almost purely manual and whose compensa-
tion does not equal that of those who back brain
power with intellectual training. To the men at the
bench and at the machine, to those who are hewers
of wood and drawers of water, the demagogues of
parties, who labor in behalf of an inflated currency
appeal. The men whose hard and honest hands labor
in factory and field, are the mighty masses of the
millions of this land, and by the stimulating cry of
" higher wages" the demagogues hope to rouse their
sympathy, and add them to the list of their con-
stituents. This clamor for an inllated currency I
consider as ill advised as some of the outcries raised
by other demagogues to excite the passions of labor
against capital; and the working man, who is de-
ceived by the glittering arguments of the inflation-
ist will eventually find that ho has bartered his vote
and his judgment for a sorry mess of pottage.
I cannot believe the argument that the pre-
sent improved condition of labor is due to the
-expansion of coinage through the silver currency.
Indeed this expansion has rather retarded than ad-
vanced the improved condition, for to-day a vast
amount of capital lies idle through the fear of
further expansion.
The condition of labor has
mainly been improved because, during the sudden
and unexpected "boom" of 1879 to 1882, the market
was so overstocked with goods of every description,
that nearly four years were required to dispose of
this surplus, and now that a demand has once more
set in, the working man is reaping the fruits of a
moderate state of prosperity. But if I cared to go
deeply into this part of the subject, I might not
only enquire and explain how the condition of labor
has been improved, within a few months, but I
might draw conclusions and a moral from the ex-
planation. The fear of the popular vengeance that
surely and rightly overtakes the man who moral-
izes, alone deters me from the latter course.
Let me ask the working men of the music trade
in what way is labor improved, in what way have
they individually been affected by the improvement ?
Are their wages higher than during the depression
of from 187!) to 1882 ? Hardly. More workmen
have been engaged, but I am not aware that wages
have been increased to any appreciable extent. We
may rejoice that many a man who has lain idle for
many months, is once more in receipt of steady
wages, but that does not give us the right to assert
that the policy of providing a use for the product
of innumerable silver mines is materially improving
the condition of labor; that comes only with an in-
creased demand on the part of the public, for staples
first and luxuries afterward. The interests of capital
and labor are one and indivisible, and the capital-
ists in the music trade will tell you, and truly, friend
workingman, that, while the condition of business
has Improved it is only in the quantity of goods pro-
duced, not In the advance of the prices obtained for
them. I fear that the old saying that " competition
is the life of trade," will soon have to be changed
to, " competition is the bane of trade," for its cut-
throat policy in prices is bringing many a producer's
nose to the grindstone. There are few large manu-
facturers, publishers, or dealers in the trade, who
will not say that they are having a fair share of
business, but they will hardly claim that the prices
they obtain are what they are entitled to.
A people can only become prosperous by slow and
sure means, and any speculative attempt—and an in
Hated currency, or free coinage are such—to force
prosperity, is certain to work evil and often down-
right disaster.
* »
THE.WORLDS FAIR OF 89.
As we draw near to the time for the proposed
Who shall say that the nation was not materially
advanced by these privileges?
The exhibitions of '84-5 and '85-6 at New Orleans,
in spite of several disagreeable, or worse features,
have, in the main, been productive of good. The
beneficial results have been more nearly local than
national, yet it has made people keenly alive to the
resources of the south, and when business prosperity
is established upon a firm basis, capital Is more than
ever likely to seek to exert its power in that section.
By all means, let us have a WOULD s FAIR in New
York City, in 1881), on these conditions: That there
shall be honest, intelligent, and capable men to di-
rect it; that, if there is to be competition for awards,
the conduct of juries shall be carefully scrutinized;
that the selection of a site shall be determined by its
accessibility, and not by the wishes of a grasping ring
of land speculators; and that every detail be carried
out in the most perfect manner, in which liberality
shall be tempered by a judicious sense of economy.
Such a fair should be the grandest and most com-
plete the world has ever known, or it will be unwor-
thy of our great city. We should have the best or
none at all, and New York herself should be radiant
in holiday garb, and spare no pains for the appropri-
priate entertainment of the strangers within her
gates, for they will come as much to enjoy the won-
ders of the nation's metropolis, as to gaze upon the
myriad wonders of the fair.
Success then to the WORLD'S FAIR of 1889, if its pro-
moters use their best efforts to deserve our good
wishes, and I trust that, at the proper time, the mu-
sic trade, in all its branches, and in every part of the
United States, will be among the first to give it hearty
WORLD'S FAIR, to be held in New York in 1889, the and substantial encouragement.
* *
subject naturally attracts increasing interest, and
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
the pros and cons are discussed with vigor by busi-
An indication of the feeling in some circles, con-
ness men. I use the words "draw near the time,"
for the reason that three years pass with incredible cerning the revival of business during the pre-
swiftness to those who have in hand the development sent spring, may be gained from the apprehen-
of such an enormous enterprise as the one proposed. sion felt among the builders in New York and
Three years offer little enough scope for the arrange- Brooklyn, which apprehension is so great that some
ment of the vast number of details which are neces- prominent contractors are refusing to negotiate for
sary to the successful carrying out of such a scheme. spring building. All over the country this same
Why there should be objections to it I cannot pos- conservatism exists on the part of builders.
This apprehension is not due to any doubt that busi-
sibly understand ; that is, objections upon legitimate
grounds. A fair of this kind, even where unwisely ness may not revive, it is a fear of labor disturb-
managed, has brought incalculable good. The Cen- ances from the eight hour movement which is likely
tennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876 caused to start about May l,and from the aggressive demands
many exhibitors, disappointed in their efforts to grasp for higher wages which workman are almost sure to
a coveted prize, to hurl maledictions on all great ex- make if business becomes active. Besides this,
hibitions, but I have yet to learn that the public com- material will cost more.
Possibly the same grounds of apprehension are
plained of what th«y saw at Fairmount Park, or that
the thrifty people of Philadelphia grumbled at the felt inother trades besides the builder's. We are on the
torrent of good money suddenly poured into their eve of great prosperty if we rightly use our oppor-
tunities. Prosperity may and in all probability will
city.
Undoubtedly it was a pity that exhibitors should come, if it is not bound hand and foot by the im-
have had cause for complaint, for an exposition perious and unseasonable demands of the workmen
without exhibitors would be like the play of " HAM- just as it is gaining strength to stand alone. Give
LET " with the part of Hamletleft out. In a measure, the manufacturers time to feel the effects of a re-
I must insist that it was their own fault, and while vival of business and tako such advantage of it that
giving a large proportion of them due credit for elab- they can afford to accede to the reasonable demands
orate displays and great enterprise, I must admit of their employes. I should say to manufacturers
that, in their unbounded zeal to obtain the coveted that it is a good time to make their contracts now.
prizes, they did many things which tended to bring There is promise of great activity in railroad con-
struction, which will cause a heavy demand for all
mammoth fairs into disrepute.
The Centennial Exposition was a liberal education kinds of materials, with the natural effect of increas-
%*
to more people than a good many of us may imagine. ing prices.
They came from the remotest corners of the United
LUDDEN & BATES AGAINST SCHREINER
States to see art works, mechanical devices, the pro-
ET AL.
ducts of man's ingenuity, skill and labor, the fruits and
The controverBey between Messrs. LUDDEN &
natural treasures of the earth, and to wonder at the BATES and Mr. H. L. SOHREINEK, of Savannah,
habits, costumes, and peculiarities of every civilized Ga., goes on with unflagging vigor. As nearly
nation of the globe. Their ideas were enlarged by as we can make out, it was a fight that had its origin
travel, and their minds stimulated by a fuller and in a newspaper office, and was the result of an
freer intercourse with their fellow men than they had attempt to set two parties by the ears, in the hope
ever known before.
that journalistic enterprise might be rewarded with