Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From the Editor's Note Book.
BLUMENBERQIA—A PECULIAR DISEASE.
HE pathway to journalistic
distinction may be paved with
good intentions, but the pleas-
ure of a promenade is now
and then disturbed by the
presence of thorns which will
penetrate the most pachydermic coverings
of all kinds. In my opinion Mr. Blumen-
berg metaphorically stepped on a large
thorn of great penetrating power in con-
nection with the convention affairs at
Manhattan Beach.
In order to make my position apparent
in this, I must bring before my readers a
retrospective view of my esteemed contem-
porary's actions during the past few
months.
In the first place since the division of
the musical and trade departments of the
Courier a marked success has not been
noticeable in the business department of
the latter. By its free distribution of
copies it flagrantly violated the ethics
of journalism. Even Mr. Blumenberg's
warmest friends criticised his wisdom in the
divorcement of the trade and musical de-
partments, claiming that the Courier with
its musical prestige was a great musico-
journalistic institution.
That granted. From the steady con-
traction which has been going on in the
advertising columns of the Trade Extra it
has been obvious that the Courier has
materially lost a strength which was for-
merly attributed to the original publication
It has been openly remarked in the trade
that the Courier was shrinking both in
influence and in point of business patron-
age. In other words that Mr. Blumenberg
was steadily slipping from his pedestal of
power. Somehow or other the old methods
would not win. For inexplicable reasons
the members of the trade failed to respond
to their names promptly when Mr. Blumen-
berg called the roll. The captain's desk lack-
ed a long file in waiting. So it has gone on
for months, and the business department
of the paper to the casual observer has
not shown material increase. Mr. Blumen-
berg himself has devoted more time to the
trade than before for years, but plainly his
power, as far as business augmentation,
seemed to have weakened and even his cun-
ning attacks on Wessell, his sly thrusts at
Freeborn G. Smith, his roasts of Behr, flings
at Miller and at others failed to meet with
that appreciation which was fondly looked
for by the originator of the method. The pen
attacks which in former days seemed
resistless, now figured as naught.
Time moved on, the waning influence of
the Courier must be revived, and if pos-
sible a little patronage infused in someway
into its drying arteries! The body must
be resuscitated, and the convention at
Manhattan Beach would afford an oppor-
tunity. Letters were sent to members of
the trade who had signified their intention
of being present at the convention asking
for their photographs.
By the reproduction of photographs, time
given to correspondence and all that sort
of thing a great deal of money was ex-
pended. But it must not be understood
that Mr. Blumenberg would expend a few
hundred dollars without striving for im-
mediate returns for the investment. While
one hand was beckoning for the photographs
the other was outspread for business
patronage, but most singular in this as in
many other ways the trade failed to respond
with alacrity when Mr. Blumenberg press-
ed the button.
It must not be understood that he favored
the association for trade reasons, but as a
source of revenue for himself. Articles
which have appeared in the Courier sarcas-
tically referring to the association show
what the real purpose of the manipulator
was. Further it is said through his personal
influence members of the trade in Boston
and Chicago failed to attend the conven-
tion.
The subtle cunning of the man, with one
hand attacking the association, with the
other striving to call in funds to carry on
his campaign of education, but with all the
labyrinthine rhetoric and argumentative
lore of Mr. Blumenberg, the business patron-
age was not forthcoming.
they were not invited in a business sense,
an insult to the organization?
In a strictly newspaper sense they had no
right to be present. The New York asso-
ciation invited one representative from each
newspaper to be its guest at the banquet,
but lo, the entire Courier staff rushes in
and camps in front of the windows, doors,
buttonholing members of the convention
everywhere.
In the first place was this journalistic
work?
Secondly, was not their very presence
there an insult to the members of the or-
ganization who had expressed themselves
openly and unmistakably that they desired
no extended public report of the business
proceedings given out?
Was not the Courier's presence there in
direct violation of the ethics of journalism
and decency as well?
Did Mr. Blumenberg seek to overawe the
convention by his presence there supported
by his entire staff?
It is a question which perhaps he can
best answer, and he might state also just
what card he held up his sleeve to play,
provided he could gain admission to the
convention. All these things would form
interesting reading, unwritten history—
but then—
*
*
*
•
Now with all his peculiar weaknesses
Mr. Blumenberg is a resourceful man.
Realizing that he had lost at every point
he saw that he had one more card to play,
and that must be declaring in his paper
that he upheld the very position to which
his actions of Wednesday were diametrically
opposed.
Because if it was not the intention of
Mr. Blumenberg to occupy a prominent
position at the convention why did he have
There was another card to play before the a stenographer at his beck and call all day?
*
*
*
*
game was lost. Repairing to Manhattan
Beach, the day previous to the convention,
Again, the banquet was entirely an in-
he opened an office in a room adjoining the formal affair, and in all conventions of a
Convention Hall. Bright and early con. similar nature reporters are usually ex-
vention morning the entire staff of the cluded.
Courier was ensconced therein.
The editors of the various papers were
Up to this time he fondly hugged the invited not to take part in any of the dis-
delusion that newspaper men would be ad- cussions that would naturally follow a ban-
mitted to the convention.
quet, they were invited purely out of compli-
Why? His invitation was only extended ment to their profession, which is closely
to one representative at the banquet.
allied to the piano industry. ' Their invita-
Is it wrong to deduce the idea that it tion was not a personal compliment. It
was Mr. Blumenberg's plan to dominate the was a compliment to their profession, and
convention? In other words, had he not the mistake was that through the actions of
a play to make, else why should he have disgruntled journalists that both comic
opera and pyrotechnics of a peculiar char-
been represented by such staff numbers?
acter
were brought about after the menu
Was not the presence of the members of
the Courier's staff at a point to which had been discussed at length.