Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
trict Attorney, and should be brought to
his attention.
From time to time facts have been
brought to our notice which demonstrate
the extent of this evil. These frauds on
the public have not only been practiced in
the auction rooms, but to-day they are
carried on through private house sales,
aided and abetted by advertisements in the
daily papers.
The old saying has it that "every lane
has a turning" and we are pleased to notice
that our efforts to throw light on the im-
posture are at last meeting with success.
The closing days of last week the Septem-
ber Grand Jury handed to Judge Fitzgerald
a strong presentment condemning the
practices indulged in by these auctioneers,
and, as a result of their investigation, in-
dictments were found and bench warrants
issued for the arrest of probably six or
more auctioneers.
A number of the men indicted were ar-
rested and arraigned this week in the
Court of General Sessions and committed
for trial. The specific charge upon which
the arrests were made is that "cheap pianos
were delivered in place of the high grade
pianos sold."
Assistant District Attorney Battle speak-
ing of these indictments a day or two ago
said that there were fully half a hundred
bogus auctioneers in active business in
this city, and that the work of the Grand
Jury in finding indictments against a
number of these men was only a beginning.
We are certainly pleased to see this
matter of "fake" auctions being taken up
so vigorously. It is entirely in line with
our suggestions.
The matter of private house sales should
also be investigated. There must be an
enormous trade transacted in this illegiti-
mate way in this city, and it must not be
overlooked that every such sale injures
the legitimate piano trade.
The exposure of the parties engaged in
this fraudulent work will do much to warn
the purchasing public against being fooled
or imposed upon, and we trust that the
law covering this matter will be strictly
enforced. We understand that the mak-
ing of false representation as to the quality
of goods put up at auction is a misdemeanor
and is punishable by a fine of five hundred
dollars or a year's imprisonment or both.
Now let the good work go on.
#
#
When a man, a music trade editor, for
instance, boasts about the success of his
business, the greatness and extent of his
circulation, the stupendous growth of his
advertising patronage, in fact that he is
just metaphorically wiping the floor with
the rest of the music trade papers, and in
the next breath strikes you for an advertis-
ing payment in advance, or for a little
loan, or to discount a note, don't you know,
what do you think? Either that there is
a large sized colored gentlerr.an secreted in
the woodpile somewhere, or that the state-
ments are just about as windy—well, what
word shall we use, anyway?
#
#
No trade=paper bulldozing.
No advertising payments in
advance.
No monetary loans to support
newspaper mendicancy.
#—#
It may be journalism, but hardly trade
journalism, to publish the obituary of a
man before death claims him.
We learn that Ex-Governor Levi K.
Fuller, than whom no man in the music
trade is more respected, is lying at the
point of death in his Vermont home.
#
#
Will L. Bush, manager, manufacturer,
musician and monologue artist, gives THE
REVIEW readers a treat this week in a
"Specialty Talk. " Mr. Bush is a raconteur
of the first water, and he talks talk every
time.
I
T has been for some time a matter of
comment as to just where Freeborn G.
Smith, the millionaire piano manufacturer
passes his vacation. I learned the other
day that this summer he has been the
rounds of the hospitals in Brooklyn. The
immense amount of suffering which he saw
there caused him to think that there could
be no truer philanthropy than to give di-
rectly something that would alleviate the
suffering and add to the pleasures of the
poor unfortunates who were confined with-
in the hospital walls.
Mr. Smith has ordered a large number of
invalid chairs, specially manufactured, to
be presented to the hospitals. He will ex-
pend a large sum of money in thus alleviat-
ing the sufferings of distressed humanity.
Mr. Smith's action in this matter is
worthy of the highest praise. After all
there can be no truer charity than to give
directly to those who we know are in need.
I learned last week at the Fair at
Mineola, L. I., there was a pugilistic en-
Knabe & Co
counter between the representative of a
ERDINAND MAYER stated to the New York retail piano concern and the
manager of Messrs. Jacob Bros.' booth. The
REVIEW yesterday: "So far as busi
manager
of Jacob Bros, was chatting with
ness is concerned, there are decided signs
a
lady
relative
to the sale of a piano, her
of activity not only in New York, but with
daughter
was
standing
near by, when a
our representatives. Mr. Win. Knabe is
salesman
of
the
other
house
came up and
making a tour of the Eastern States (the
endeavored
to
engage
the
daughter's
atten-
territory managed from New York), and is
tion.
This
enraged
Jacob
Bros.'
man
to
s'ending in lively orders. There is cer-
such
an
extent
that
he
immediately
laid
tainly an encouraging improvement in re-
the other fellow out in such a manner that
tail trade with us."
the space around Jacob Bros.'booth resem-
Mr. Mayer is evidently well posted on the
bled a butcher's shambles; in other words,
political situation, and spoke quite enthu-
he knocked the would be interloper clean
siastically of his firm belief in McKinley's
out and laid him up for repairs. There
election.
were those present who enjoyed the matter
" T o my way of thinking-," said Mr.
immensely, and were in such sympathy
Mayer, "the assured feeling of confidence in
with the action of Jacob Bros.' man that
McKinley's election is every day becoming
they really had forgotten just who the
more and more pronounced. Only yester-
slaughtered man's opponent was when th
day I had two prominent Chicagoans call in
policeman came around to make investiga-
to see me, and they absolutely ridiculed the
tions.
idea of Bryan carrying Illinois. As you
are doubtless aware, the National Republi-
can Committee are about to make stren-
The members of the supply trade have
uous efforts in the West and South, and a truly been the bulwark of the piano trade
very vigorous campaign is planned. I during the trying times through which we
carefully read both sides of the question, have passed; and among its progressive
and endeavor to form an unbiased opinion and energetic members may be numbered
of the general situation, and I prognosti- Robt. M. Webb, of this city. A tireless
cate that McKinley will carry the country worker, he has built up an excellent busi-
by from 260 to 270 electoral votes."
ness both as a manufacturer and importer,
which is conducted on honorable lines.
JOHN D. PEASE returned from a Western The future holds much in store for Mr.
trip last Friday.
Webb, and his many friends in the trade
F