Music Trade Review
Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 26 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
in the advertising columns of the daily
papers, would-be purchasers are lured to
certain establishments to inspect "slightly
used" pianos "by reputable makers" which
"must be sold on account of party break-
ing up house," or "going to Europe," or
"pressed for money," etc., but which are
in reality the poorest kind of stencilled
trash worth less than one-half the price
usually asked for them.
A recent important case in this "house
sale" connection has come up in Boston
where the wife of C. D. Blake, a piano
dealer of that city has been held to answer
a charge of larceny brought against her by
parties to whom she sold a piano, under
what we may term a private house adver-
tisement sale.
The advertisement which th» plaintiff
answered announced that the piano was
"a $500 instrument," but owing to the fact
that the lady "desired to attend the Paris
Exposition she would sell it for $165."
Without entering into the preliminary
court details, this case is apparently one of
the old-time house sale schemes which have
been worked for so many years in many
cities, only now the wife of a proninent
dealer in Boston has to face the charge of
larceny through her connection with a
transaction which appears on its face fraud-
ulent and deceitful. The case is one which
will interest the entire trade, and it is well
that it should have all the publicity that it
is possible to bring to bear upon it.
Illustrations of this kind cannot be too
heartily condemn 3d, or too much notoriety
given to them. How presumably reput-
able dealers can become parties to this sort
of business is really surprising. There
are so many ways of obtaining a fair liveli-
hood in the piano world without recourse
to trickery and deceit, it is astonishing
that such methods obtain even to a limited
extent.
It is necessary that all influences be
brought to bear to preserve the purity of
the trade; and why should not the National
Association take a decided action against
any music dealer whose connection with a
fraudulent transaction of this kind is once
proven in a court of law? Publicity and
action on the part of the Association would
do more than aught else to stamp out this
obvious evil. It is necessary that the ac-
cused be given a fair trial, and we do not
believe in this or any other case of estab-
lishing a newspaper jury to try an accused
party, but in the event of the case being
proven against the Blakes, would it not be
the correct procedure to take definite action
regarding this and other cases which may
occur in the future?
We have frequently urged that proper
action be taken by local legislatures re-
garding the house or fake sale methods,
but if the progressive element of trade
does not take some decided move to stamp
out the "house sales" evil, why, it will al-
ways exist. Trade sentiment should be
so strong in condemning this sort of frau-
dulent deals that they would be remov«d
entirely from the industry.
An example should be made of a case
clearly established, where a regular dealer
has so far deviated from legitimate trade
channels and has adopted methods in dis-
posing of his wares which are plainly
branded fraudulent. The members of the
industry themselves hold the key to the
situation.
Will they close permanently the door
through which fraud and deceit have en-
tered? Or wilf the desire to dispose of pi-
anos sweep over the barriers of mercantile
discretion as to the moral worth of those
to whom they sell them?
I T is marvelous how the manufacturing
department of the business has kept up
during the summer. Even though we are
on the threshold of July, we know of plen-
ty of factories that are driving ahead at a
rattling holiday pace.
THE SUBSTANCE.
IN the special government report to The
Review, which appears in another por-
tion of this paper, are stated facts which
must appeal strongly to the practical side
of American character. Forty million dol-
lars worth of manufactures were exported
from this country in the month of May,
the highest record ever reached, assuring
a total exportation of manufactures in the
fiscal year, 1900, of at least four-hundred
and twenty five millions. Prior to 1893
imports of manufactures always exceeded
exports.
Such reassuring figures of American
prosperity constitute the strongest kind of
political argument for the continuance of
the present administration for another
four years. McKinleyism means plenty-
ism, and we are of the opinion that the
American republic will not take a retro-
grade step to the soup kitchen era of
1894 and 1895. As the prosperity of the
business institution is judged by practical
results, so should a political administration
of a great party be judged according to
the prosperity which reaches the masses
under its guidance. We have the sub-
stance to-day, and we are of the opinion
that the people would be rather loath to
relinquish that for the shadow.
QOMETIMES an advertisement seems as
innocent as the dew of Heaven, but
there are ads. like those of Blake, of Boston,
which have a tremendous kicking power.
DOLD ORGANIZING.
F AST week we made reference to the
movement on the part of Chas. Dold,
business agent of the Piano & Organ
Workers' Union of Chicago, to organize
unions in different cities. Mr. Dold has
now visited Cincinnati, Cleveland and
Buffalo, where he has sought to extend his
organization in every possible way.
We understand that he has been fairly
successful in increasing membership in the
local unions. To-day he will address the
piano workers of New York and later will
proceed to Boston.
There is no mistaking the fact that Dold
is a live, active force in the ranks of labor
and that he is working energetically to
promote the interest and increase the
membership in the Piano Makers' Union.
It is his intention to form the whole into a
national union, with local branches in
every point where there are piano workers
so that a strike in one locality would be
sure to tie up the entire industry. The
only way to meet organization is with or-
ganization, and if the manufacturers them-
selves occupy an isolated position they
will be wholly unprepared to meet the de-
mands of labor which are sure to come.
We do not for one moment question the
right of labor to organize. In truth, we
believe in organization, whether in work-
ingmen or manufacturers; but labor should
not be permitted to arrogantly dictate to
manufacturers how they shall run their
business or whom they shall employ. The
interests of the workmen can be promoted
intelligently through organization, pro-
vided there are honest, patriotic and con-
scientious officials at its head. On the
other hand, it can cause vast loss and
great suffering by its insolent, arrogant
demands upon manufacturers, which, if
acceded to, would practically mean the an-
nihilation of industry.
While these preparations for organiza-
tion are going steadily on, what are the
manufacturers going to say or do about it?
Are they going to sit quietly by until fac-
tory after factory becomes unionized and
then have their business crippled later on
by men of the character of Dold? Or will
they sniff the battle from afar and knit
themselves into a compact organization for
trade weal?
A DETAILED account of the musical
exhibit in the French section of the
Paris Exposition will be found in the re-
port of our spec'al correspondent which ap-
pears in another part of this paper.
I S it not about time that official cogniz-
ance was taken by the trade coroner of
the condition of the stencil?
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
in the advertising columns of the daily
papers, would-be purchasers are lured to
certain establishments to inspect "slightly
used" pianos "by reputable makers" which
"must be sold on account of party break-
ing up house," or "going to Europe," or
"pressed for money," etc., but which are
in reality the poorest kind of stencilled
trash worth less than one-half the price
usually asked for them.
A recent important case in this "house
sale" connection has come up in Boston
where the wife of C. D. Blake, a piano
dealer of that city has been held to answer
a charge of larceny brought against her by
parties to whom she sold a piano, under
what we may term a private house adver-
tisement sale.
The advertisement which th» plaintiff
answered announced that the piano was
"a $500 instrument," but owing to the fact
that the lady "desired to attend the Paris
Exposition she would sell it for $165."
Without entering into the preliminary
court details, this case is apparently one of
the old-time house sale schemes which have
been worked for so many years in many
cities, only now the wife of a proninent
dealer in Boston has to face the charge of
larceny through her connection with a
transaction which appears on its face fraud-
ulent and deceitful. The case is one which
will interest the entire trade, and it is well
that it should have all the publicity that it
is possible to bring to bear upon it.
Illustrations of this kind cannot be too
heartily condemn 3d, or too much notoriety
given to them. How presumably reput-
able dealers can become parties to this sort
of business is really surprising. There
are so many ways of obtaining a fair liveli-
hood in the piano world without recourse
to trickery and deceit, it is astonishing
that such methods obtain even to a limited
extent.
It is necessary that all influences be
brought to bear to preserve the purity of
the trade; and why should not the National
Association take a decided action against
any music dealer whose connection with a
fraudulent transaction of this kind is once
proven in a court of law? Publicity and
action on the part of the Association would
do more than aught else to stamp out this
obvious evil. It is necessary that the ac-
cused be given a fair trial, and we do not
believe in this or any other case of estab-
lishing a newspaper jury to try an accused
party, but in the event of the case being
proven against the Blakes, would it not be
the correct procedure to take definite action
regarding this and other cases which may
occur in the future?
We have frequently urged that proper
action be taken by local legislatures re-
garding the house or fake sale methods,
but if the progressive element of trade
does not take some decided move to stamp
out the "house sales" evil, why, it will al-
ways exist. Trade sentiment should be
so strong in condemning this sort of frau-
dulent deals that they would be remov«d
entirely from the industry.
An example should be made of a case
clearly established, where a regular dealer
has so far deviated from legitimate trade
channels and has adopted methods in dis-
posing of his wares which are plainly
branded fraudulent. The members of the
industry themselves hold the key to the
situation.
Will they close permanently the door
through which fraud and deceit have en-
tered? Or wilf the desire to dispose of pi-
anos sweep over the barriers of mercantile
discretion as to the moral worth of those
to whom they sell them?
I T is marvelous how the manufacturing
department of the business has kept up
during the summer. Even though we are
on the threshold of July, we know of plen-
ty of factories that are driving ahead at a
rattling holiday pace.
THE SUBSTANCE.
IN the special government report to The
Review, which appears in another por-
tion of this paper, are stated facts which
must appeal strongly to the practical side
of American character. Forty million dol-
lars worth of manufactures were exported
from this country in the month of May,
the highest record ever reached, assuring
a total exportation of manufactures in the
fiscal year, 1900, of at least four-hundred
and twenty five millions. Prior to 1893
imports of manufactures always exceeded
exports.
Such reassuring figures of American
prosperity constitute the strongest kind of
political argument for the continuance of
the present administration for another
four years. McKinleyism means plenty-
ism, and we are of the opinion that the
American republic will not take a retro-
grade step to the soup kitchen era of
1894 and 1895. As the prosperity of the
business institution is judged by practical
results, so should a political administration
of a great party be judged according to
the prosperity which reaches the masses
under its guidance. We have the sub-
stance to-day, and we are of the opinion
that the people would be rather loath to
relinquish that for the shadow.
QOMETIMES an advertisement seems as
innocent as the dew of Heaven, but
there are ads. like those of Blake, of Boston,
which have a tremendous kicking power.
DOLD ORGANIZING.
F AST week we made reference to the
movement on the part of Chas. Dold,
business agent of the Piano & Organ
Workers' Union of Chicago, to organize
unions in different cities. Mr. Dold has
now visited Cincinnati, Cleveland and
Buffalo, where he has sought to extend his
organization in every possible way.
We understand that he has been fairly
successful in increasing membership in the
local unions. To-day he will address the
piano workers of New York and later will
proceed to Boston.
There is no mistaking the fact that Dold
is a live, active force in the ranks of labor
and that he is working energetically to
promote the interest and increase the
membership in the Piano Makers' Union.
It is his intention to form the whole into a
national union, with local branches in
every point where there are piano workers
so that a strike in one locality would be
sure to tie up the entire industry. The
only way to meet organization is with or-
ganization, and if the manufacturers them-
selves occupy an isolated position they
will be wholly unprepared to meet the de-
mands of labor which are sure to come.
We do not for one moment question the
right of labor to organize. In truth, we
believe in organization, whether in work-
ingmen or manufacturers; but labor should
not be permitted to arrogantly dictate to
manufacturers how they shall run their
business or whom they shall employ. The
interests of the workmen can be promoted
intelligently through organization, pro-
vided there are honest, patriotic and con-
scientious officials at its head. On the
other hand, it can cause vast loss and
great suffering by its insolent, arrogant
demands upon manufacturers, which, if
acceded to, would practically mean the an-
nihilation of industry.
While these preparations for organiza-
tion are going steadily on, what are the
manufacturers going to say or do about it?
Are they going to sit quietly by until fac-
tory after factory becomes unionized and
then have their business crippled later on
by men of the character of Dold? Or will
they sniff the battle from afar and knit
themselves into a compact organization for
trade weal?
A DETAILED account of the musical
exhibit in the French section of the
Paris Exposition will be found in the re-
port of our spec'al correspondent which ap-
pears in another part of this paper.
I S it not about time that official cogniz-
ance was taken by the trade coroner of
the condition of the stencil?
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).