Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
she holds a pen ready to inscribe the award as
proclaimed. On either side of the shield are
flaming torches representing light or intelli-
gence. Beneath the shield and partially hidden
by it is the caravel, which is used to make a
unity or completeness of idea between the two
sides of the medal, the whole to commemorate
the four hundredth anniversary of the landing
of Columbus and the World's Exposition held
1892-1893.
.JgZHE WESTERN NUMBER of THE MUSIC TRADE
fft» REVIEW has been received in a manner
which is decidedly gratifying to us. The
Specials which we have published and propose
to publish until the series shall have been com-
pleted have been entirely different from anything
heretofore issued by the trade press. Those who
are engaged in selling musical instruments in
each section of the country will be dealt with in
turn. On these numbers neither pains nor ex-
pense will be spared to make them as nearly per-
fect as it is possible for a newspaper to become.
We have been in receipt of scores of compli-
mentary letters relative to our work of last week ;
also visiting representatives of this paper have
received personal words of the highest endorse-
ment regarding our publication. It is indeed
gratifying and shows that our humble efforts
are appreciated.
It is impossible for us to publish all of the
letters which we have received regarding the
Western number ; but among the entire corre-
spondence there is none which expresses a kinder
feeling than Mr. Daniel F. Treacy utters in a
recent communication, in which he says : " I
think really you are deserving of great credit,
and if you are not successful it certainly is not
for the want of attention, but there is no doubt
that such application to business and such en-
terprise is bound to succeed."
The Musical Courier pays us a graceful com-
pliment on our work when it says : '' Again
we are pleased to offer our congratulations to
Mr. Edward Lyman Bill on the production of
No. 2 of the special series of his paper, the
"Western Edition," which is another visible,
tangible proof that those who are willing to
work hard can produce a paper which reflects
credit upon themselves and their patrons."
H. Paul Mehlen writes: " I think you de-
serve credit for the way you have gotten up the
whole paper.''
Boardman & Gray say : " Your special num-
ber is received and makes an exceedingly
handsome paper.''
From all over the West we are receiving con-
gratulatory messages. Messrs. Steger & Co.
write: '' Your WESTERN NUMBER of THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW at hand. Allow us to compli-
ment you upon this splendid issue. The print-
ing and makeup of the whole is artistic. You
certainly deserve great credit for your enter-
prise. ''
The Chicago Musical Times prints the follow-
ing :
' ' The WESTERN NUMBER of T H E MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW is a very creditable publication,
and Mr. Bill is to be congratulated upon the
success which his idea met."
growth of profit-sharing throughout
this country and Europe is undoubtedly a
marked tribute to the ideas advanced years ago
and put in practice by our friend Mr. Dolge.
When he inaugurated his system of profit-
sharing it was deemed socialistic, etc., but aftej
the French Exposition—where Mr. Dolge's
theories and practical results were shown forth
in the very able book which he had specially
prepared on that subject—a marked change ot
sentiment in its favor took place and it has ever
since been on the increase. To-day profit-
sharing is being seriously considered by some
of the most eminent social economists in this
country, and, as can be judged from the quota-
tion below, public opinion is changing in this
favor in England and other European countries.
In a recent article apropos of strikes and other
troubles in the industrial world a leading London
newspaper comes out pretty boldly in favor of
profit-sharing as a solution of the industrial
enigma, and says : " The most important of the
suggestions put forward for the better drawing
together of capital and labor is that of profit-
sharing. Where it has been tried the results
have been most satisfactory. A man holding a
share in the business which employs him will
work with spirit and energy. If every work-
man were given an interest in the property he is
helping to build up—a share that he was en-
couraged and helped to increase—we should hear
little of dissatisfactions, strikes and discontent.
Such would undoubtedly prove the beginning of
the end of trade unionism, but it would replace
these one-sided organizations by a system con-
ferring infinitely greater benefits. The worker
would be not only an employee but an employer,
not only a laborer but somewhat of a capitalist
himself. Every property holder is a source of
strength to the community; the man with de-
sires and wants only, and no rights, a danger.
Once establish profit-sharing as a fixed prin-
ciple and the very words capital and labor would
cease to have any practical meaning."
SHOULD BE KNOWN BY ITS TRUE NAME.
HERE is only one way for a manufacturer
to do business successfully for any length
of time, that is by maintaining a clean record as
well as by making a good article and selling it
at a reasonable price. We do not desire to say
unpleasant things of the firm of Hardman &
LaGrassa. On the contrary, we are always glad
to assist in any way a legitimate enterprise in
the field which T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW tries
to cover in its editorial work. We think, how-
ever, one of the duties devolving upon the
editors of music-trade journals is to point out,
when opportunity presents itself, what seems
the proper course to be followed in certain cases.
We have abstained from remarking upon the
course of Hardman & LaGrassa since the decis-
ions of the Supreme Court of this State in the
recent suit in which they were defendants, be-
cause we thought that time would show Mr. La-
Grassa the unwisdom of maintaining the name
'' Hardman '' on his piano. When we say '' his
piano,'' we mean that the Hardman & LaGrassa
piano is made by Mr. LaGrassa, and that, as far
S
as we have been able to ascertain, Mr. Hugh
Hardman brings nothing to it in reputation or
skill, he being an old man and practically out of
the field of contemporary business. Mr. La-
Grassa, therefore, uses the name "Hardman"
for some reason which does not appear to be
sufficient. A careful analysis of the case neces-
sarily develops the belief that either Mr. La-
Grassa is forced to use this name by contract or
circumstances, or he does so to obtain a certain
amount of recognition which belongs honestly to
the Hardrnan piano alone, the Hardman piano
being exclusively manufactured by the old firm
of Hardman, Peck & Co. This, we think, is a
plain statement of the case, and without desir-
ing in any way to do injustice to Mr. LaGrassa,
our advice to him is to go before the trade of the
United States in his own character and with hifl
own piano, offering it for sale on its merits 01
its price, as he sees fit. Men who have been
brought up in business and who have money and
reputation to lose, are more sensitive than even
capital itself, and Mr. LaGrassa will find that it
is difficult to try to make experienced dealers in
the piano trade in this country buy a piano for
which excuses have to be made and injunction
suits have to be explained before a fair basis of
competitive argument is reached.
A persistent attempt to employ the name
" Hardman, " although legally used in conjunc-
tion with LaGrassa's at present, will, in our
opinion result in permanent disadvantage to Mr.
LaGrassa's instrument. The general sentiment
of the trade is entirely opposed to the method
adopted by Hardman & LaGrassa and persisted
in up to this time and, although manufacturers
generally might express no opinion, every one
of them in his imagination at least, puts himself
In the place of the makers of the Hardman piano
and opposes in spirit the efforts of Hardman &
LaGrassa. The dealers are outspoken, however,
and we mistake their intelligence as well as
sense of justice, it many of them who have any-
thing to lose, would care to occupy a false posi-
tion before the trade and public in their repre-
sentation of wares. The truth of this is shown
in the fact that two or three large dealers to
whom Hardman & LaGrassa pianos have been
sent, have asked for and had effected on the in-
struments a change in name from " Hardman &
LaGrassa " to " LaGrassa.'' These dealers
stated that they were unwilling to mix in any
way in a business which could only hamper
them in their work and possibly bring difficulty
and litigation to them. We feel that the entire
trade is in sympathy with us in the views we
have expressed, and we, therefore, in the most
friendly way, advise Mr. LiGrassa and Mr.
Hardman to do the only proper thing at present,
namely, give up a name which in spirit and in
fact is recognized by the trade, the press and the
public, as attaching only to the Hardman piano
itself.
MR. C. J. WHITNEY of the Whitney-Marvin
Co., Detroit, Mich., has sold the Whitney Opera
House block in that city to Stephen Baldwin
for $300,000. It is said that Mr. Whitney who
has some twenty theatres on his hands is going
to put more capital into the music business and
narrow down the number of his theatrical enter-
prises.