Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 29 N. 8 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWENTY-FIRST YEAR.
• EDWARD LYA1AN
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION including postage), United States,
Mexico and Canada. $3.00 per year ; all other countries,
|joo.
ADVERTISEflENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
great New York houses to the fact that he
had received a special order from a cus-
tomer who desired an oak piano stained to
almost an ebony hue and dull finished as
well.
It was thought a few years ago, when
the trade swerved around from the old
ebony and rosewood cases to all shades of
light woods, that it would never revert
again to the dark colors; but history re-
peats itself, and we find there is a growing
tendency towards darker woods.
TRUSTS AND STRIKES.
No doubt organized labor has honest
grievances, and there can be no doubt but
that it is also at times unjust in its demand.
Capital is frequently unjust also, and the
result of these two conflicting forces must
be a national arbitration board which must
be something more than a mere name.
The rapid changes which have taken
place in our industrial life are radical,
amounting to a revolution almost, and we
have not completely adjusted ourselves to
the changed situation. Under the present
condition there must be clashes, and many
workmen will go to extremes and employ
methods which will defeat the very object
which they desire most to attain. Then
again by their incendiary actions they will
quickly lose the sympathy of the public,
which has through the trust octopus been
enlisted in their favor.
One of the most striking illustrations of
public sympathy we find in the great strike
at Cleveland. Think of a whole city walk-
ing to demonstrate its sympathy with the
strikers.
It would seem as if manufacturers had
endured hard enough times during the
past few years without having their busi-
ness interests jeopardized and seriously
crippled by strikes during the early dawn
of prosperity. Still, the manufacturing in-
terests of the country will never be free
from that sort of disturbances, but all de-
mands should be tempered with reason,
and there should be no trouble in making
a satisfactory arrangement with men who
wish to act fairly without resorting to for-
cible and revolutionary means.
Workmen should understand that manu-
facturers cannot be reasonably expected to
make ridiculous concessions. They cennot
make unreasonable demands without ex-
pecting retaliatory measures in return. In
the words of Patrick Henry, "there are
blows to be received as well as blows to be
given."
'"THUS far during the year with one or
two exceptions this industry has been
Entered at the New York Post Office as Seamd Clast Matter.
entirely free from the incursion of strikers,
NEW YORK, AUGUST 19, 1899.
and it is to be hoped that the generous
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745-EIGHTEENTH STREET.
treatment which piano manufacturers have
THE KEYNOTE.
extended to labor will continue to be ap-
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
preciated and respected.
and musical features which have heretofore
In the strikes which have recently oc-
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
curred
in the different industries, there has
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
been a noticeable materialization of inter-
trade paper.
est on the part of the public with the
DARK WOODS IN DEMAND.
strikers. This interest in some instances
\\7E are gradually drifting back again to has reached the point of active and organ-
the sombre woods in piano casings. ized sympathy.
Black wood-work in furniture is having a
That the intensified interest of the public
tremendous vogue now, and where once in the strikes that have occurred has
all was white and gold all is now of darker originated in the colossal formation of
hue and sometimes of ebony, when the entire industries into trusts there can be
house-owner can afford it.
no doubt. The enormous growth of trusts
There is a marked tendency toward the has given a hint to labor to expand its or-
mediaeval, and walls of heavy beams, ^re- ganization in order to form a successful
place, door and window frames of darkened bulwark of opposition. Or in other words,
oak are affected, and the furniture must be to meet colossal organizations of capital by
similar organizations of labor.
of a consistent tone.
In a recent talk with a representative of
The trust and strike problems are seri-
one of the most fashionable furniture ous ones, and although the trusts can fur-
stores in New York, he said: "We are nish goods at the cheapest possible rates,
supplying to-day a demand for dark fittings the fact remains that they have driven tens
for almost every room including, at times, of thousands out of business, and bid fair
boudoir as well as parlor and dining-rooms, to change the whole complexion of our
and as for hall effects, they are usually modern business life. Like all organiza-
very dark."
tions which have great power they are
There is also a demand for plainer ef- strongly tempted to abuse that power in
fects. Much of the heavy and ornate em- order to increase profits. At times this
CONDITION OF STOCK.
bellish.nent is now of the past. The Colo- temptation is too strong to be resisted, and ''THERE will not be enough pianos to go
nial arid Chippendale styles are specially in such abuse frequently affects the working-
around this fall. Travel over the
man and makes him feel through its auto- country, note the depleted stocks, and also
demand.
We have already seen a marked tendency cratic dictation that he has no rights which see how buoyant the feeling is everywhere
in thi9 direction in the demand for plainer capital is bound to respect.
regarding the business outlook; come back
casings in pianos. Nearly every firm in
But the most of the strikes originate in and look through the various factories for
America now has Colonial styles where two real or supposed grievances. Is there not accumulated stock, and then figure how
or three years ago they were a rarity, and an evident desire on the part of many of you are going to make the two harmonize.
in new styles there is a noticeable absence the strikers to dictate terms to employers
The facts are, there is comparatively
of the lavish embellishments which charac- without a fair consideration of their po- little stock manufactured ahead. Business
terized the piano architecture of two years sition and of their rights?
has been so active during the summer, and
ago. In other words, it is plainness in
The question comes to mind, are the the demand has been so frequent upon
everything.
Plainness, with a decided labor classes revolutionary? Or do they piano manufacturers that they have been
tendency toward sombre hues.
create trouble because they honestly feel unable to accumulate the reserve which the
It was only this week that our attention that they are not dealt with fairly and trade indications would seem to warrant
having for the early fall demand.
was called by a salesman of one of the justly?
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TWENTY-FIRST YEAR.
• EDWARD LYA1AN
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION including postage), United States,
Mexico and Canada. $3.00 per year ; all other countries,
|joo.
ADVERTISEflENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
great New York houses to the fact that he
had received a special order from a cus-
tomer who desired an oak piano stained to
almost an ebony hue and dull finished as
well.
It was thought a few years ago, when
the trade swerved around from the old
ebony and rosewood cases to all shades of
light woods, that it would never revert
again to the dark colors; but history re-
peats itself, and we find there is a growing
tendency towards darker woods.
TRUSTS AND STRIKES.
No doubt organized labor has honest
grievances, and there can be no doubt but
that it is also at times unjust in its demand.
Capital is frequently unjust also, and the
result of these two conflicting forces must
be a national arbitration board which must
be something more than a mere name.
The rapid changes which have taken
place in our industrial life are radical,
amounting to a revolution almost, and we
have not completely adjusted ourselves to
the changed situation. Under the present
condition there must be clashes, and many
workmen will go to extremes and employ
methods which will defeat the very object
which they desire most to attain. Then
again by their incendiary actions they will
quickly lose the sympathy of the public,
which has through the trust octopus been
enlisted in their favor.
One of the most striking illustrations of
public sympathy we find in the great strike
at Cleveland. Think of a whole city walk-
ing to demonstrate its sympathy with the
strikers.
It would seem as if manufacturers had
endured hard enough times during the
past few years without having their busi-
ness interests jeopardized and seriously
crippled by strikes during the early dawn
of prosperity. Still, the manufacturing in-
terests of the country will never be free
from that sort of disturbances, but all de-
mands should be tempered with reason,
and there should be no trouble in making
a satisfactory arrangement with men who
wish to act fairly without resorting to for-
cible and revolutionary means.
Workmen should understand that manu-
facturers cannot be reasonably expected to
make ridiculous concessions. They cennot
make unreasonable demands without ex-
pecting retaliatory measures in return. In
the words of Patrick Henry, "there are
blows to be received as well as blows to be
given."
'"THUS far during the year with one or
two exceptions this industry has been
Entered at the New York Post Office as Seamd Clast Matter.
entirely free from the incursion of strikers,
NEW YORK, AUGUST 19, 1899.
and it is to be hoped that the generous
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745-EIGHTEENTH STREET.
treatment which piano manufacturers have
THE KEYNOTE.
extended to labor will continue to be ap-
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
preciated and respected.
and musical features which have heretofore
In the strikes which have recently oc-
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
curred
in the different industries, there has
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
been a noticeable materialization of inter-
trade paper.
est on the part of the public with the
DARK WOODS IN DEMAND.
strikers. This interest in some instances
\\7E are gradually drifting back again to has reached the point of active and organ-
the sombre woods in piano casings. ized sympathy.
Black wood-work in furniture is having a
That the intensified interest of the public
tremendous vogue now, and where once in the strikes that have occurred has
all was white and gold all is now of darker originated in the colossal formation of
hue and sometimes of ebony, when the entire industries into trusts there can be
house-owner can afford it.
no doubt. The enormous growth of trusts
There is a marked tendency toward the has given a hint to labor to expand its or-
mediaeval, and walls of heavy beams, ^re- ganization in order to form a successful
place, door and window frames of darkened bulwark of opposition. Or in other words,
oak are affected, and the furniture must be to meet colossal organizations of capital by
similar organizations of labor.
of a consistent tone.
In a recent talk with a representative of
The trust and strike problems are seri-
one of the most fashionable furniture ous ones, and although the trusts can fur-
stores in New York, he said: "We are nish goods at the cheapest possible rates,
supplying to-day a demand for dark fittings the fact remains that they have driven tens
for almost every room including, at times, of thousands out of business, and bid fair
boudoir as well as parlor and dining-rooms, to change the whole complexion of our
and as for hall effects, they are usually modern business life. Like all organiza-
very dark."
tions which have great power they are
There is also a demand for plainer ef- strongly tempted to abuse that power in
fects. Much of the heavy and ornate em- order to increase profits. At times this
CONDITION OF STOCK.
bellish.nent is now of the past. The Colo- temptation is too strong to be resisted, and ''THERE will not be enough pianos to go
nial arid Chippendale styles are specially in such abuse frequently affects the working-
around this fall. Travel over the
man and makes him feel through its auto- country, note the depleted stocks, and also
demand.
We have already seen a marked tendency cratic dictation that he has no rights which see how buoyant the feeling is everywhere
in thi9 direction in the demand for plainer capital is bound to respect.
regarding the business outlook; come back
casings in pianos. Nearly every firm in
But the most of the strikes originate in and look through the various factories for
America now has Colonial styles where two real or supposed grievances. Is there not accumulated stock, and then figure how
or three years ago they were a rarity, and an evident desire on the part of many of you are going to make the two harmonize.
in new styles there is a noticeable absence the strikers to dictate terms to employers
The facts are, there is comparatively
of the lavish embellishments which charac- without a fair consideration of their po- little stock manufactured ahead. Business
terized the piano architecture of two years sition and of their rights?
has been so active during the summer, and
ago. In other words, it is plainness in
The question comes to mind, are the the demand has been so frequent upon
everything.
Plainness, with a decided labor classes revolutionary? Or do they piano manufacturers that they have been
tendency toward sombre hues.
create trouble because they honestly feel unable to accumulate the reserve which the
It was only this week that our attention that they are not dealt with fairly and trade indications would seem to warrant
having for the early fall demand.
was called by a salesman of one of the justly?
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