Music Trade Review
Issue: 1886 Vol. 9 N. 20 - Page 3
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Music Trade Review.
The Only Music Trade Paper in America, and the Organ of the Music Trade of this Country.
Cr-a_l^r,
X 8 T 9.
NEW YORK, MAY 20 TO JUNE 5, 1886.
VOL. IX. No. 20.
PUBLISHED * TWICE * EACH * MONTH.
W E L L E S & BILL,
have no trouble with our men, and do not anticipate
any.
The day is not long enough to suit them, instead
of too long.
Yours truly,
EDITORS AND PROPBIETOHS.
WHITNEY OBGAN CO.
WILL. G. CARR,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR.
FBOM THE A. B. CHASE COMPANY.
22 EAST 17th STREET, NEW YORK.
SUBSCBIPTION (including postage) United States and Canada,
13.00 p#r year, in advance; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per incb, single column, per insertion;
unless inserted upon rates made by special contract.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
WORKINGMEN PLEASE READ.
W
E published in our last issue the views of
some of the leading piano and organ manu-
facturers on the eight-hour movement. Al-
though the question has been amicably adjusted, so
far as the piano makers are concerned, the following
letters will doubtless be interesting, and we trust
may show the workmen where they are doing them-
selves an injury by their request for shorter hours.
FROM AN EMPLOYEE.
CHICAGO, May 7, 1886.
THE MUSIC TBADE REVIEW:
You ask for our position, " regarding the eight-
hour movement of the piano workmen, also I he effect
it will have upon the trade at large."
Admitting that lumber and other materials remain
as at present, a rise of 25 per cent, in wages means a
15 per cent rise in the cost of an organ. We do not
believe that 15 per cent, profit has been realized by
the trade during the past years, therefore the selling
price must advance. Several years ago, when prices
of musical instruments declined till only a fair
legitimate profit remained, the sales multiplied, and
the business of manufacturing grew into vast pro-
portions. The conclusion is irresistible, that when
an unwarrantable advance is made the trade will be
correspondingly depressed. This will make it neces-
sary to reduce the working force and add to the mul-
titude of idle men. The only point unsettled is,
what is an unwarrantable advance ? When facilities
for production have largely increased, and stocks
have accumulated largely, and sales negotiated with
such feverish anxiety that six to eighteen months'
time is granted on doubtful paper, any rise, based
solely on a man's desire for more wages or profit, is
unwarrantable.
If a day's work could be defined, and its duration
established in every workshop in the country on a
given signal, much of the difficulty of dealing with
the labor movement would be avoided. Employers
n one section could not coin money on the misfor-
tunes of those in another.
Your question, if in our opinion "this demand of the
workingmen for eight hours is the first step towards
another demand for increase of wages," has been
fully answered by the men themselves, who make
both demands at the same time !
EMPLOYEE.
WHITNEY OBGAN CO.
May 4, 1886.
J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
DEAB SIB : In reply to your letter, would' ;( &ty",' ^V
NOBWALK, 0., May 4, 1886.
EDITOBS MUSIC TBADE EEVIEW :
GENTLEMEN : We have been so busy that we have
hardly had time to think about the eight hour move-
ment. Ours have been ten to fifteen hour move-
ments for the last thirty days. If a man is not able
to work over eight hours, he ought not to be com-
pelled to do so. If he gets his work done in eight
hours, he should be allowed to rest from his labors
the balance of the day. That is about the way we
feel about it now.
In our State we have an eight hour law, which
went into effect the first of this month. We held a
consultation with our workmen at the factory on the
matter, and the result was as we had anticipated.
They all, without an exception, said they considered
ten hours an honest day's work, and preferred to
work ten hours a day rather than less. We have a
very intelligent set of workmen, who realize that
whatever is for our interest is for their interest.
They take an honest pride in the success of our
factory. We pay them every week well for the work
they do, according to the quantity and quality of
the same. We furnish every convenience and com-
fort in our power, to enable them to do this work
easily, expeditiously, and perfectly. They appreci-
ate it, and are satisfied. We do not anticipate any
trouble. Many of our workmen belong to the
Knights of Labor, but would leave the organiza-
tion rather than see it interfere with the operation
of our factory.
This labor question is too big a thing to discuss in
a short letter to your paper. I can see no benefit to
arise to the laborer out of these strikes or the eight-
hour system, and none to the manufacturer; only
a loss of time, of confidence, and in too many cases
of valuable property and business.
So long as we manufacture more goods than we
consume in our own country, we must seek a market
abroad for the surplus; we then come in direct com-
petition with foreign labor at a low price. This is
the case with our organ and piano business to-day.
Should the cost of manufacture materially increase,
exports must cease and imports of foreign instru-
ments increase, and goods of our own manufacture
to that extent will be crowded out of our home
market, thus throwing out of employment many
men who are now living comfortably.
If prices of labor and material can remain as they
are to-day, a fair export trade may be carried on,
and a growing business be built up, which will give
employment to thousands of skilled mechanics.
Could this fact be clearly shown to the workmen in
our factories, it would go far toward checking the
feeling of discontent so violently manifest in many
sections of our country. Labor organizations will be
a good thing if they teach the principles of political
economy, and the true relations of labor to capital,
and of the people to our government. If they are
used simply as instruments of'power and coercion,
they will work! Tttih to 1 every 1 el"ettteh«&f civilization,
Y.n«-nu*...
aiid-of hippy
n
to
ii.l
*3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 16 CENTS.
CHASE BBOS. TIANO CO.
GBAND RABIDS, MICH., May 7, 1886.
J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
DEAB SIB : Replying to your favor, would say that
we are working ten hours, and with one or two ex-
ceptions our men wish to do so. They need the pay
for ten hours, and are willing to work for it. Our
rent and general expenses would be the same for
eight as for ten hours' work, and the production
twenty per cent, less, which we could not stand with
the close margins at which pianos are sold now. We
expect to continue at ten hours.
Very respectfully,
CHASE BEOS. PIANO CO.
MALCOLM LOVE & CO.
WATEBLOO, N. Y., May 4, 1886.
J. D. B I L L :
DEAB SIB : Replying to yours of the 30th ult., we
would say that here the eight hour question does not
affect us at all. Our workmen are all perfectly wil-
ling to work ten hours a day. We have never had
any labor trouble in our shop, and do not apprehend
any. Our manufactory is considered one of the most
desirable ones to work in in this vicinity, from the
fact that we run steady all the year, never shutting
down in the winter time, as many other shops do.
We believe, however, that the present labor agita-
tion has greatly injured business, and will continue
to do so as long as it continues. Our sales for April
show an increase of twenty-five per cent over last
year, where we had looked for an increase of fifty
per cent. We hope that your office boy will not
strike at this critical time, and prevent the issue of
your paper.
Very truly yours,
MALCOLM LOVE.
OPPOSED TO "MR. HUSTED'S HALF HOLIDAY
BILL.
HE Clearing House Committee have sent the
following letter to Speaker Husted of the As-
sembly :
"The Clearing House Association of this city have
had under consideration the bill introduced by you
providing for a half holiday on Saturday. The re-
sult of their deliberations is that they are opposed
to the bill as impracticable and calculated to introduce
great confusion, and cause serious loss and injury to
the banks in this city in their transactions, as well
as to the commercial interests of the City and State
of New York. The association, therefore, earnestly
protest against the bill, and respectfully request that
it be referred back to the Judiciary Committee of the
Assembly, so that they may have the privilege of
appearing there, and stating fully why the bill should
not be passed. This letter is addressed to you in
pursuance of the unanimous action of the Clearing
House Association, at a meeting thereof called for
the purpose. We are, dear sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servants,
J. D. VERMILYE, President Merchant's National
Bank.
E. H. PEBKINS, Jr., President Importers' and
Traders' National Bank.
F. D. TAPPAN, President Gallatin National Bank.
ED. D. RANDOLPH, Presidental Continental Na-
tional Bank.
WILLIAM A. NASH, Corn Exchange Bank,
Committee,
T
Music Trade Review.
The Only Music Trade Paper in America, and the Organ of the Music Trade of this Country.
Cr-a_l^r,
X 8 T 9.
NEW YORK, MAY 20 TO JUNE 5, 1886.
VOL. IX. No. 20.
PUBLISHED * TWICE * EACH * MONTH.
W E L L E S & BILL,
have no trouble with our men, and do not anticipate
any.
The day is not long enough to suit them, instead
of too long.
Yours truly,
EDITORS AND PROPBIETOHS.
WHITNEY OBGAN CO.
WILL. G. CARR,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR.
FBOM THE A. B. CHASE COMPANY.
22 EAST 17th STREET, NEW YORK.
SUBSCBIPTION (including postage) United States and Canada,
13.00 p#r year, in advance; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per incb, single column, per insertion;
unless inserted upon rates made by special contract.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
WORKINGMEN PLEASE READ.
W
E published in our last issue the views of
some of the leading piano and organ manu-
facturers on the eight-hour movement. Al-
though the question has been amicably adjusted, so
far as the piano makers are concerned, the following
letters will doubtless be interesting, and we trust
may show the workmen where they are doing them-
selves an injury by their request for shorter hours.
FROM AN EMPLOYEE.
CHICAGO, May 7, 1886.
THE MUSIC TBADE REVIEW:
You ask for our position, " regarding the eight-
hour movement of the piano workmen, also I he effect
it will have upon the trade at large."
Admitting that lumber and other materials remain
as at present, a rise of 25 per cent, in wages means a
15 per cent rise in the cost of an organ. We do not
believe that 15 per cent, profit has been realized by
the trade during the past years, therefore the selling
price must advance. Several years ago, when prices
of musical instruments declined till only a fair
legitimate profit remained, the sales multiplied, and
the business of manufacturing grew into vast pro-
portions. The conclusion is irresistible, that when
an unwarrantable advance is made the trade will be
correspondingly depressed. This will make it neces-
sary to reduce the working force and add to the mul-
titude of idle men. The only point unsettled is,
what is an unwarrantable advance ? When facilities
for production have largely increased, and stocks
have accumulated largely, and sales negotiated with
such feverish anxiety that six to eighteen months'
time is granted on doubtful paper, any rise, based
solely on a man's desire for more wages or profit, is
unwarrantable.
If a day's work could be defined, and its duration
established in every workshop in the country on a
given signal, much of the difficulty of dealing with
the labor movement would be avoided. Employers
n one section could not coin money on the misfor-
tunes of those in another.
Your question, if in our opinion "this demand of the
workingmen for eight hours is the first step towards
another demand for increase of wages," has been
fully answered by the men themselves, who make
both demands at the same time !
EMPLOYEE.
WHITNEY OBGAN CO.
May 4, 1886.
J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
DEAB SIB : In reply to your letter, would' ;( &ty",' ^V
NOBWALK, 0., May 4, 1886.
EDITOBS MUSIC TBADE EEVIEW :
GENTLEMEN : We have been so busy that we have
hardly had time to think about the eight hour move-
ment. Ours have been ten to fifteen hour move-
ments for the last thirty days. If a man is not able
to work over eight hours, he ought not to be com-
pelled to do so. If he gets his work done in eight
hours, he should be allowed to rest from his labors
the balance of the day. That is about the way we
feel about it now.
In our State we have an eight hour law, which
went into effect the first of this month. We held a
consultation with our workmen at the factory on the
matter, and the result was as we had anticipated.
They all, without an exception, said they considered
ten hours an honest day's work, and preferred to
work ten hours a day rather than less. We have a
very intelligent set of workmen, who realize that
whatever is for our interest is for their interest.
They take an honest pride in the success of our
factory. We pay them every week well for the work
they do, according to the quantity and quality of
the same. We furnish every convenience and com-
fort in our power, to enable them to do this work
easily, expeditiously, and perfectly. They appreci-
ate it, and are satisfied. We do not anticipate any
trouble. Many of our workmen belong to the
Knights of Labor, but would leave the organiza-
tion rather than see it interfere with the operation
of our factory.
This labor question is too big a thing to discuss in
a short letter to your paper. I can see no benefit to
arise to the laborer out of these strikes or the eight-
hour system, and none to the manufacturer; only
a loss of time, of confidence, and in too many cases
of valuable property and business.
So long as we manufacture more goods than we
consume in our own country, we must seek a market
abroad for the surplus; we then come in direct com-
petition with foreign labor at a low price. This is
the case with our organ and piano business to-day.
Should the cost of manufacture materially increase,
exports must cease and imports of foreign instru-
ments increase, and goods of our own manufacture
to that extent will be crowded out of our home
market, thus throwing out of employment many
men who are now living comfortably.
If prices of labor and material can remain as they
are to-day, a fair export trade may be carried on,
and a growing business be built up, which will give
employment to thousands of skilled mechanics.
Could this fact be clearly shown to the workmen in
our factories, it would go far toward checking the
feeling of discontent so violently manifest in many
sections of our country. Labor organizations will be
a good thing if they teach the principles of political
economy, and the true relations of labor to capital,
and of the people to our government. If they are
used simply as instruments of'power and coercion,
they will work! Tttih to 1 every 1 el"ettteh«&f civilization,
Y.n«-nu*...
aiid-of hippy
n
to
ii.l
*3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 16 CENTS.
CHASE BBOS. TIANO CO.
GBAND RABIDS, MICH., May 7, 1886.
J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
DEAB SIB : Replying to your favor, would say that
we are working ten hours, and with one or two ex-
ceptions our men wish to do so. They need the pay
for ten hours, and are willing to work for it. Our
rent and general expenses would be the same for
eight as for ten hours' work, and the production
twenty per cent, less, which we could not stand with
the close margins at which pianos are sold now. We
expect to continue at ten hours.
Very respectfully,
CHASE BEOS. PIANO CO.
MALCOLM LOVE & CO.
WATEBLOO, N. Y., May 4, 1886.
J. D. B I L L :
DEAB SIB : Replying to yours of the 30th ult., we
would say that here the eight hour question does not
affect us at all. Our workmen are all perfectly wil-
ling to work ten hours a day. We have never had
any labor trouble in our shop, and do not apprehend
any. Our manufactory is considered one of the most
desirable ones to work in in this vicinity, from the
fact that we run steady all the year, never shutting
down in the winter time, as many other shops do.
We believe, however, that the present labor agita-
tion has greatly injured business, and will continue
to do so as long as it continues. Our sales for April
show an increase of twenty-five per cent over last
year, where we had looked for an increase of fifty
per cent. We hope that your office boy will not
strike at this critical time, and prevent the issue of
your paper.
Very truly yours,
MALCOLM LOVE.
OPPOSED TO "MR. HUSTED'S HALF HOLIDAY
BILL.
HE Clearing House Committee have sent the
following letter to Speaker Husted of the As-
sembly :
"The Clearing House Association of this city have
had under consideration the bill introduced by you
providing for a half holiday on Saturday. The re-
sult of their deliberations is that they are opposed
to the bill as impracticable and calculated to introduce
great confusion, and cause serious loss and injury to
the banks in this city in their transactions, as well
as to the commercial interests of the City and State
of New York. The association, therefore, earnestly
protest against the bill, and respectfully request that
it be referred back to the Judiciary Committee of the
Assembly, so that they may have the privilege of
appearing there, and stating fully why the bill should
not be passed. This letter is addressed to you in
pursuance of the unanimous action of the Clearing
House Association, at a meeting thereof called for
the purpose. We are, dear sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servants,
J. D. VERMILYE, President Merchant's National
Bank.
E. H. PEBKINS, Jr., President Importers' and
Traders' National Bank.
F. D. TAPPAN, President Gallatin National Bank.
ED. D. RANDOLPH, Presidental Continental Na-
tional Bank.
WILLIAM A. NASH, Corn Exchange Bank,
Committee,
T
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