Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
SPECIALTY TALKS.
suffer. Everything—anything, to create a
business disturbance, if that will put his
party in power and the other one out of it.
QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED BY THE "REVIEW" UPON THE LIVE MATTERS OF THE DAY AND From the Executive of our nation down to
ANSWERED BY LEADING MEN IN THE TRADE.
the Alderman of our city it is party before
principle, office before patriotism, for no
one that is selfish has principle, and they
Interview XI.—B. H. Janssen.
that seek gain when the country must suf-
fer are not patriots.
NDER the above head THE REVIEW mation received from what I believe the
Protection—Tariff Reform—Free Silver
proposes to give weekly the expressed best source—the trade itself.
—Free Trade—the Monroe Doctrine—Cu-
views of some members of the trade upon
i. You ask, "What, to your way of
ba—it matters not what, as long as planks
matters which are of live interest.
It thinking, are some of the chief causes of for platforms are made, subjects created for
should be understood that the answers to present day commercial depression?" I discussion that lead to power. Elections!
these inquiries will be published in every have given the matter of "causes of the Elections! Elections!—City, State and Na-
instance without editorial criticism. In present
day depression"
considerable tional, and each tending to demoralize, for
other words, every "specialty talk" will thought, and in my estimation they can be the time being, the interests of the busi-
fairly express the sentiment of the individ- classified about as follows:
ness world. We prepare for three years to
ual under whose name it appears, rather
i st. The politics of our country.
elect a President—the year before the nomi-
than the editorial belief of THE REVIEW.
2nd. The concentration of all lines of nation, the year of the nomination, and
There will be no distortion; no boiling business and industries—better known as the year of the inauguration, and the rest
down. The answers will be published with- trusts.
of the time is devoted to destroying the
out change or comment, and in every case
3rd. The similar concentration of all work of the previous legislation, be it good
the individuality of the one whose opinions kinds of labor, better known as Trades or bad. First the McKinley tariff; then the
are written will be preserved. We propose Unions or Federations.
Wilson, and now we have prospects of
in this way to build one of the most interest-
either the former or else a ruinous currency
ing features which a trade paper can offer
law. Nothing is given a fair trial to de-
to its readers. This week Mr. Janssen
monstrate either its benefits or disadvan-
favors us with a talk.
tages. What would be thought of a busi-
ness house that engaged a manager and
authorized him to make such changes and
Your very kind invitation to furnish to
regulations as would add to the prosperity
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW my opinions and
of the concern, and when, after four years
ideas on the present aspect of the music
hard work, he had about perfected arrange-
trade and musical affairs generally is high-
ments that would bring about the desired
ly appreciated by me, although I realize my
result-—then he is dismissed and with him
inability to properly answer many of the
all his appointments, and all his rules are
questions to which you desire a reply. As
changed by his successor, who in time is
my friend Tom Harms would say, when
treated in a similar manner. How long
asked about anything he was not sure of,
could
any house stand tactics so utterly de-
"What I know about this matter you know,
moralizing
as these? Yet this is our govern-
and you have a further advantage in
ment.
No
other country but ours could
knowing a great deal that I don't."
have
stood
it
as long as it has—ours will
That's my case exactly. Your reference to
not
stand
it
much
longer. The natural re-
me as "a man of many parts, and whose ex-
sources
of
our
country
have been its main-
perience in the music trade has been varied
stay,
nothing
else.
Their
immensity was
and valuable, "is apt to create wrong impres-
ts
safeguard,
for
despite
adverse
legisla-
sions, and in the first instance ally me with
tion,
government
changes,
the
burdens
of
some of those "gentlemen" who find the
war
and
reconstruction,
our
country
pros-
piano trade easier game and a better field to
pered, simply because it had to. But to-
work in than the profession of bank burg-
B. H. JANSSEN.
day
the conditions are changed. Our re-
lary, green goods, gold bricks, etc., etc.
sources, while still great, have not the mar-
The music trade offers better inducements
4th. Overproduction.
kets that once were ours. New countries
and no risk.
5th. Suburban land speculation.
with resources as great as our own have
I will admit, though, that I have a
First cause: I have put the "politics of been found, and where once we had but to
"past, "and permit me to state here that it's our country" as the primary cause, De-
offer to sell we now have to meet competi-
a "corker;" sort of a reminiscent affair that cause it appears to me the chief evil. "Too
tion of every kind.
awakens you at night; that ofttimes induces much politics" is a curse for any country.
Let us elect our President every eight or
you to try and blow the foam off from a It has always been, and will always be, and
glass of water; one of those pasts that mir- when, as in our countr) 7 , the entire gov- ten years, for one term only, and minor
age themselves in the clouds that float from ernment is in the hands of politicians who offices every four or five years. Make the
a "fiarcia," while you muse in your big toss it about as best suits their own ambi- Senate an elective body by the people di-
arm-chair at home, and when only the ashes tions and purposes, then ruin must be the rect, and let every citizen take an active in-
remain you sigh for the days that have natural and only result.
If we look at the terest in the political game, not only dur-
been and wonder how you ever escaped various bodies that go to make up this gov- ing a campaign but always, and see to it
alive. Sweet dreams—sometimes; and ernment of ours, how many statesmen do that only men of honor are elected to rep-
again, nit.
we find—men to whom the country's wel- resentative places, then the causes of such a
As regards my varied and valuable ex- fare is everything; their own—a secondary depression as we suffer under to-day will be
perience, I will admit the former, but as to consideration. You will find few. The few and far between.
U
the latter that to me is a question rather
doubtful, inasmuch as I realize every clay
how very much I have still to learn. How-
ever, I will try to edify your readers with
at least candid opinions based on persona. 1
observation rather than study, and on inf or
politician rules to-day—rules as a politician
always will, to further his own ends.
What cares he for commerce or trade?
What to him is the manufacturer, merchant,
importer, dealer? Absolutely nothing if
they stand in his way—if his interests will
Second cause: Of the distress caused by
Trusts I need not speak. We all know that
"competition is the life of trade," and when
you crush out that main element of busi-
ness it naturally follows that depression
must ensue. Take whatever Trust you