Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
• »• E D W A R D LYMAN
Edltor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
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NEW YORK, MAY 21, 1898.
TELEPHONE NUMBER,
I745--EIO.HTEENTH STREET.
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review wil)
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
THE COMING CONVENTION.
of Boston and one of the ablest organizers
in Massachusetts, will talk upon the sub-
ject of "Organization."
Mayor Quincy comes from distinguished
ancestry, he being the third of the name
to occupy the position of Mayor of Boston.
He is considered one of the best posted
men upon organization of the present day,
and has taken a material interest in the
business development of his native city.
The Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale,
author of the work ' ' A Man Without a
Country," will say something of a patriotic
character, bearing particularly upon his-
toric Boston and its people. There will
be other distinguished names to add to
the list which will be announced later.
The Boston Music Trade Association,
which organization should not be con-
founded in the slightest way with the
National Association, will tender a banquet
to the visiting members of the Association
and invited guests at the Hotel Tuileries
on Commonwealth Avenue on the evening
of the 7th. This will be an elaborate
affair, and will be held in the Napoleon
Banquet Hall of that celebrated hostelry.
The Boston organization has also ap-
pointed a committee to entertain the offi-
cers and members of the National Associa-
tion, and their guests at lunch on June
8th. It is also stated that they will give a
tally-ho ride to the visiting members as a
sort of finale to the Convention.
This
will be on June 9th. Thus it will be seen
that the Boston trade and the members of
the National Association, who have the
Convention arrangements specially in
charge are planning for one of the largest
affairs that has ever occurred in the annals
of the music trade. Nearly every State
where pianos are manufactured will be
represented.
A S announced in The Review last week,
there is to be no postponement of the
National Convention of Piano Manufactu-
rers, which will be held next month in
Boston.
It seems to us that the members have
acted wisely in permitting no postpone-
ment to occur. The national interest is
thoroughly aroused in the Association and
to postpone the important meeting might
result in diminishing rather than accen-
tuating it. President H. F. Miller re-
marked this week to us in Boston: '' We
propose to hold the Convention, even if
the Spaniards are bombarding our city at
the time. It will be, I believe, a success-
ful affair from every point of view."
Now there is a good straight ring about
that and it means that the element of suc-
The membership of the Association is
cess is there.
A glance at the list of the various com- steadily increasing and now includes a
mittees which appears in another portion large proportion of the manufacturing
of this paper will show that competent element of the country. There are some
men have the Convention arrangements in points in the West which are not repre-
charge, and that intense interest is mani- sented, but it is hoped that they will re-
fested in the successful outcome of the spond promptly to the secretary's call,
thus making the affair more comprehen-
meeting.
It is understood that the business meet- sive in scope.
ing will take place on the morning of June
Invitations have been extended to the
8th. It is probable that this will be con- officers of the music trade associations in
fined entirely to members of the organiza- the different cities of the country, such as
tion, while in the afternoon of the same Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis and
day a convention will be held which will Milwaukee. The members of the music
be open to the members of the press and trade press will be invited. John H.
guests of the Association.
Fahey, secretary of the Associated Press
In the evening of the same day, the Na- of New England, will be present, also an
tional Association banquet will be held at invitation will be extended to the presi-
the Hotel Brunswick. A number of emi- dent of the Manufacturers' Association of
nent men will respond to toasts on that America.
occasion. Josiah Quincy, present Mayor
There is evidenced a strong desire on
the part of the piano manufacturers to
co-operate with dealers throughout the
country in endeavoring to bring a1 out
better conditions in the trade. That the
legitimate dealers of the country arc also
anxious to do all that lies in their power
to assist toward trade betterment is fully
evidenced by the sentiment contained in
the many letters which have been received
at The Review office, many of which have
been published in reply to our query
"What is the Remedy? "
Studying the trend of trade events, we
are firmly of the opinion that 1898 will be
a memorable year in many particulars.
First, we believe that the association, in
a variety of ways, will have a beneficial
influence upon the trade of the country.
There is no mistaking the fact that it is
knitting the various elements closer to-
gether, and that when men get settled
down to the serious contemplation of busi-
ness problems, they find that they can de-
rive more benefit by working together
than by swaying apart.
While some are pessimistic regarding
the association's future and tend to throw
disparagement upon its workings, yet we
believe that they must acknowledge the
honesty of purpose and the seriousness of
intent of those who are actively engaged
in furthering the association's interests
and extending its lines of operation.
It is easy to be pessimistic when optim-
ism means hard work. It is easy to stand
aside and say of this runner that he limps,
and of that one that his stride is ungainly,
and that no race can be won with such
running. It is quite another thing, how-
ever, to be in line with the rest, running
like the rest, toiling with the rest, straining
every faculty of strength to win the goal.
Success and development are to come, but
they will not come of idle waiting, nor by
criticising the sincerity of those actively
engaged, or lamenting over the impossi-
bility of doing anything in this particular.
The Association has come to stay, and
that it will work out its own destiny which
will result in trade benefit, we have no
doubt. It is true the results may be ac-
complished slowly because traditions must
be overcome and prejudices removed, all of
which will be achieved in time.
One great stumbling block in association
matters is this: People expect too much
in too short a time, forgetting that the ex-
isting condition of affairs must be over-
thrown before they can be replaced by a
new structure built upon the ruin« of the
old.
While there are many who may have
pet theories regarding this or that mat-
ter, they will be afforded an opportunity