Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
meant what they said at the various con-
ventions in New York, then there is a right
spirit behind the move.
The dealers' organization bears a signifi-
cant and high sounding title, but that alone
will have no impelling power unless sup-
ported by hard work on the part of the ex-
ecutive committee. If the highest point
gained by their organization will be a meet-
ing with the manufacturers once a year to
enjoy a good dinner and an exchange of
pleasantries, why, then, it is all in the name,
but if they propose to become something
more than a social annex to the manufac-
turers' organization, then there must be
plenty of hard and persistent work behind
the move. There are excellent reasons for
the existence of this organization, and it
should not be permitted to lapse on account
of antagonism and indifference.
A beautiful statue may be concealed in
every block of marble, but it requires plenty
of talent and hard chiseling to cut away
the extraneous outside matter, and so, there
may be hidden away in the retail department
of this industry a magnificent organization
which shall extend its influence from ocean
to ocean, but it will require unremitting
labor to bring it forth.
It is rather hard, after having worked for
so many years for the enactment of a na-
tional bankruptcy law, to have one in force
so full of loopholes for the dishonest debtor
to escape his obligations.
There is scarcely a state in the Union but
that grants a debtor a certain amount of
exemption; many of its people have ob-
tained credit by giving notes and waiving
their exemption, and have uniformly met
their obligations; but now, if they don't
care to pay, they simply take advantage of
the present bankruptcy law, set aside all
claims, make their waive note void and non-
collectable.
It is well known to all ordinary observers
that a large percentage of mankind acts
honestly and fairly, and those who are not
by nature honest, are made so by certain
restraints of the law, but now the new bank-
ruptcy law affords a convenient asylum for
all men to seek evasion of the payment of
their just debts.
them to a realizing sense of the dangerous
scheme in which they were being attracted.
For some time the stock market is likely
to be left to the professionals and to those
who are wealthy enough to engage in the
exciting sport without fear of consequences.
The attention of others will probably be di-
verted during these prosperous times to
ventures which are considered not quite so
hazardous as stock speculating. The busi-
ness of the country has gone on uninter-
ruptedly, and the only trouble at present
possible on the industry horizon is the fear
of a great strike. There are strong hopes
that this may be averted by mutual con-
cessions. Should it come and extend so that
many industries will be affected, naturally, it
must have a depressing effect upon the busi-
ness interests of the country, and this indus-
try in the manufacturing and retailing de-
partments must suffer in a like proportion
with others.
M OT grumble but grit is the thing that is
|_J ANDEL POXD paid the music trade
needed to accomplish business success.
press a graceful tribute in his opening Thus we say to the young dealer from the
address last Wednesday, and it was further West who wrote to The Review in a very
complimented by an invitation extended to despondent vein.
The conditions are all
John C. Freund to respond to the trade about and of that consistency to make as
press at the banquet Thursday night.
distinct a piano success as have others, but
Although Mr. Freund's name was not grumbling or fault-finding usually make
THINGS TALKED ABOUT.
down among the printed list of speakers, things worse. They amount to almost busi-
Legislation against
T X some of the states
department stores —
yet
his was a formal speech, carefully pre- ness neglect.
The Bankruptcy Law
of the Union there
—The Trade Press -
pared, as were the introductory remarks of
Convention Work — have been court decis-
""THE positive statement made by the
Mr. Pond.
The Sto k rtarket —
ions which show legal
Will the strike extend
Courier Extra that the W. W. Kim-
—Business interests.
obstruction to any sys- \\I F., question if there was a visiting mem-
ball Co. manufacture a Fischer piano, will
ber of the trade who took active part
tem of special taxation on department stores.
find few, if any believers, yet no matter
Such a measure is class legislation of the in the convention of last week, who was
how great the firm, it cannot afford to ig-
most obvious character. Our merchants will not heartily glad when it was over. We
nore a public and unequivocal assertion of
have to find some other means than through do not mean this in the spirit of criticism,
this character. The honor of the Kimball
our legislatures with which to combat the but such an amount of work, hustle and
Co. has been attacked, the personal sincer-
department store. They are having trouble excitement as was compressed in that
ity of Mr. Conway is impugned, and as
in Germany over the same source of worry brief period of time, makes tremendous
president of the National Association of
to the small merchant, and a department store stress upon one's nerve force, and vitality.
Piano Manufacturers, we do not believe that
tax has been in force ever since last July. Three days' continuous round of business
he will permit a charge of this kind to pass
Various articles of merchandise have been and excitement, compassing a review of the
by unheeded. His position is such that he
grouped under separate heads, and in deal- trade for a year, intermingled with a serious
cannot afford to do so.
ing in more than one group forms the ground consideration of many matters, interlarded
for the collection of a special tax. These with festivities, place the ordinary man in T F we were to reproduce all of the con-
classifications are proving a great obstacle such a condition that sayings which would
gratulatory letters which we have re-
to houses of medium size—the very ones ordinarily illuminate even the gloomiest cor- ceived and personal praise expressed to us
for whose protection the law was designed. ners of a Chinese graveyard, if placed there concerning The Review work of last week, it
This kind of tax seems doomed, and, in in the darkest midnight hour, would pass would require an extra form of the paper;
the long run, it will be damned as heartily by unheeded and un-appreciated after the but we do not believe in parading matters
by friends as by foe.
continuous excitement of convention week. of that kind. We will leave that to others
HP HE present national bankruptcy law 'T'HE recent panic in the stock market is to fill their columns with self-laudations.
commonly regarded as beneficial rather That The Review produced three gigantic
should have suitable amendments so
that it cannot form a garment which can than injurious to the country at large. The issues last week, aggregating 122 pages,
be assumed at will by the dishonest indi- losers, of course, cannot think so; to them eclipsing all of its competitors, is a matter
vidual, who seeks to evade the payment of it was an overwhelming calamity, but it will of history. In trade journalism this record
his honest obligations. Under this law as undoubtedly do good, and so profit the peo- has never been exceeded. We have made
it now exists a temptation is offered for ple who, in increasing numbers, were being our chalk line on the wall, and if others can
people to act dishonestly, and from it there drawn in the whirlpool of stock speculation. mark a little higher they have the opportu-
is no appeal for protection to creditors. A shock of this kind was needed to awaken nity.