Music Trade Review
Issue: 1905 Vol. 41 N. 1 - Page 6
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6
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN
Editor and Proprietor,
J. B. S P I L L A N C , Managing Cait«r.
EXECVTIVE AND REPORTORIAL STAFF:
GEO. B. KELLER,
WM. B. WHITE,
W. N. TYLER,
EMILIE FHANCIS BAUER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
A. J. NICKLIN,
GEO. W. QUERIPEL.
BOSTON OPPICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OPFICB:
II. W. KAUFFMAN.
CHICAGO OFFICE
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 1362 Monadnock Block.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TOHREY.
READER asks in a communication directed to T H E REVIEW :
"Do you believe that a trade paper man is doing right when
he receives from a manufacturer moneys for personal work which
he may do among dealers in his advertisers' behalf ?"
We had supposed that our views were too well understood upon
this subject to need repeating, but since our friend has asked us a
plain question he is entitled to a fair reply'.
In the first place we do not believe a newspaper man is acting
within his rights when he receives money or an enlarged advertis-
ing appropriation for special promoting work which he may do for
any firm or corporation. It amounts to nothing more nor less than
bribery and graft, and the man trading ostensibly under the banner
of journalism who will sell his services to one man will betray that
man with equal ease to the next one who offers a higher price for
his alleged services.
5T. LOU 15 OFFICE
CHAS. N. VAN BUEEN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-427 Front. St.
Publiaked Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year ; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman B11L
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. I t has a special circulation, and therefore
augments materially the Talue of The Review to advertisers.
_.______„
|
P A N r t The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
uinr.i.iUKY «r riAno f oun< j o n another page will be of great value, aB a reference
MANVFACTUR.ER.S
f or dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPIONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCT.
YORK. JULY 8, 19O3.
B
USINESS during the first half of the year has been somewhat
variable. The first three months showed a material disap-
pointment in shipments. During the last three months there has
been a steady betterment in music trade conditions everywhere, and
June ranks as the banner month of the year, from the manufacturing
and distributing standpoints. Of course, it is expected that there
will be a slowing up of trade during the summer, but there is nothing
in: the situation, as we view it, to indicate a long period of dulness.
The six months which have now closed have been, on the whole,
characterized by excellent conditions—conditions which have been
steadily improving as the year has grown older. It is true that
some of the more sanguine anticipations which prevailed at the open-
ing of the year have not been realized to their full extent, but manu-
facturers and dealers have had no reason for feeling dissatisfied
over the general trade conditions, and there is nothing in the present
outlook to. indicate anything but a favorable condition of trade dur-
ing the balance of the year. With excellent prospects for the crops,
and in view of the prosperous conditions generally prevalent the out-
look for the remainder of the year is decidedly encouraging.
I
A
T certainly is unusual to have such an increased demand upon the
manufacturers as has been evidenced during the past month,
and we have now rounded July with but little accumulated stock on
hand to meet the requirements of early fall.
A good many of the dealers make it a point to visit principal
trade markets some time in August, so that they may complete their
arrangements to take care of the early fall business, and they are
anxious to catch the best-favoring trade breezes, and they realize
that if they do this satisfactorily that there must be on hand plenty
oi new attractive stock.
As a matter of fact the general conditions were never more
healthy than at the present time. There is a greater reserve strength
with the people than ever before, and business failures for the past
month have been very much less, according to the mercantile agency
reports, than they were for June of 1904. The bank clearings have
shown an increased percentage in comparison with last year. In
fact, the entire trade outlook is of such a nature that business men
are justified in making every preparation to take care of a good fall
trade that is bound to come.
r
I ^ H E R E is about this entire promoting scheme the element of
-I-
graft and greed which should not be associated with trade
journalism. T H E REVIEW receives money only for straight adver-
tising purposes, for which we render a fair equivalent, and we most
emphatically denounce that form of piano brokerage which has
been adopted by some who are conductors of trade journals. They
are simply using journalism as a convenient covering to carry on
grafting methods.
It has been said that certain men have made through promot-
ing schemes several times as much as they have made in regular
trade paper work.
That may be possible. We have no doubt that some vastly in-
crease their revenues through illicit means, but promoting and brok-
erage never should be confounded or confused in the slightest with
legitimate newspaper work. Those engaged in journalism who
have been delivering honest values have had this kind of competition
to meet for years, for the men who have given large appropriations
for alleged personal services in their behalf have been known to cut
down on their regular trade paper appropriations.
N
OW, this sort of promoting may be all right from a legal view-
point, but the man or men who engage in it should not trail
the fair name of trade journalism in the mud of dishonor and be-
spatter it with intrigues. They had better doff the cloak entirely
and hang out their sign plainly, so that he who runs may read:
"Promoters, deals arranged, agencies placed for a consideration."
But to carry on such work and call it journalism is debasing a pro-
fession which should be maintained on a high and dignified plane.
It is an honorable calling, and should not be pulled down by tricks-
ters who auction off their services to the highest bidder and then in
the end prove false to the one to whom they have sold their "influ-
ence.
I
T has been said for years that some men have actually been draw-
ing weekly salaries from trade institutions. It has been said
that percentages have been received from salesmen who every month
have paid a certain portion of their salaries into the promoters' hands.
It has been said that large sums of money have been paid to pro-
moters for placing pianos with certain agents. A great many
things have been said regarding the under-practices of certain alleged
journalists. All of these practices have been charged up to jour-
nalism, and Heaven knows it has had to stand for enough. Let us
do away with the whole system of graft of all kinds. The men
who encourage it are aiding and abetting a system which is demoral-
izing the entire industry.
T
H E Equitable scandal, with its subsequent disclosures of gross
mismanagement, has done more to shatter the faith of the
people in the management of great corporations than anything which
has taken place for years.
While discussing this matter recently, Col. E. S. Con way re-
marked : "More than twenty years ago I was convinced that there
must occur some day a great upheaval in insurance affairs which
would disclose an inner condition which would be simply appalling.
The vast funds which reach a fabulous amount which have been
steadily piling up in the treasuries of these great concerns have been a
menace to legitimate business. They have drained the savings of
the people into these great insurance concerns which have been con-
trolled by great speculative interests. They have been conducive
to corruption from the starting point, and T claim that there is no
6
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN
Editor and Proprietor,
J. B. S P I L L A N C , Managing Cait«r.
EXECVTIVE AND REPORTORIAL STAFF:
GEO. B. KELLER,
WM. B. WHITE,
W. N. TYLER,
EMILIE FHANCIS BAUER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
A. J. NICKLIN,
GEO. W. QUERIPEL.
BOSTON OPPICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OPFICB:
II. W. KAUFFMAN.
CHICAGO OFFICE
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 1362 Monadnock Block.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TOHREY.
READER asks in a communication directed to T H E REVIEW :
"Do you believe that a trade paper man is doing right when
he receives from a manufacturer moneys for personal work which
he may do among dealers in his advertisers' behalf ?"
We had supposed that our views were too well understood upon
this subject to need repeating, but since our friend has asked us a
plain question he is entitled to a fair reply'.
In the first place we do not believe a newspaper man is acting
within his rights when he receives money or an enlarged advertis-
ing appropriation for special promoting work which he may do for
any firm or corporation. It amounts to nothing more nor less than
bribery and graft, and the man trading ostensibly under the banner
of journalism who will sell his services to one man will betray that
man with equal ease to the next one who offers a higher price for
his alleged services.
5T. LOU 15 OFFICE
CHAS. N. VAN BUEEN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-427 Front. St.
Publiaked Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year ; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman B11L
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. I t has a special circulation, and therefore
augments materially the Talue of The Review to advertisers.
_.______„
|
P A N r t The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
uinr.i.iUKY «r riAno f oun< j o n another page will be of great value, aB a reference
MANVFACTUR.ER.S
f or dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPIONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCT.
YORK. JULY 8, 19O3.
B
USINESS during the first half of the year has been somewhat
variable. The first three months showed a material disap-
pointment in shipments. During the last three months there has
been a steady betterment in music trade conditions everywhere, and
June ranks as the banner month of the year, from the manufacturing
and distributing standpoints. Of course, it is expected that there
will be a slowing up of trade during the summer, but there is nothing
in: the situation, as we view it, to indicate a long period of dulness.
The six months which have now closed have been, on the whole,
characterized by excellent conditions—conditions which have been
steadily improving as the year has grown older. It is true that
some of the more sanguine anticipations which prevailed at the open-
ing of the year have not been realized to their full extent, but manu-
facturers and dealers have had no reason for feeling dissatisfied
over the general trade conditions, and there is nothing in the present
outlook to. indicate anything but a favorable condition of trade dur-
ing the balance of the year. With excellent prospects for the crops,
and in view of the prosperous conditions generally prevalent the out-
look for the remainder of the year is decidedly encouraging.
I
A
T certainly is unusual to have such an increased demand upon the
manufacturers as has been evidenced during the past month,
and we have now rounded July with but little accumulated stock on
hand to meet the requirements of early fall.
A good many of the dealers make it a point to visit principal
trade markets some time in August, so that they may complete their
arrangements to take care of the early fall business, and they are
anxious to catch the best-favoring trade breezes, and they realize
that if they do this satisfactorily that there must be on hand plenty
oi new attractive stock.
As a matter of fact the general conditions were never more
healthy than at the present time. There is a greater reserve strength
with the people than ever before, and business failures for the past
month have been very much less, according to the mercantile agency
reports, than they were for June of 1904. The bank clearings have
shown an increased percentage in comparison with last year. In
fact, the entire trade outlook is of such a nature that business men
are justified in making every preparation to take care of a good fall
trade that is bound to come.
r
I ^ H E R E is about this entire promoting scheme the element of
-I-
graft and greed which should not be associated with trade
journalism. T H E REVIEW receives money only for straight adver-
tising purposes, for which we render a fair equivalent, and we most
emphatically denounce that form of piano brokerage which has
been adopted by some who are conductors of trade journals. They
are simply using journalism as a convenient covering to carry on
grafting methods.
It has been said that certain men have made through promot-
ing schemes several times as much as they have made in regular
trade paper work.
That may be possible. We have no doubt that some vastly in-
crease their revenues through illicit means, but promoting and brok-
erage never should be confounded or confused in the slightest with
legitimate newspaper work. Those engaged in journalism who
have been delivering honest values have had this kind of competition
to meet for years, for the men who have given large appropriations
for alleged personal services in their behalf have been known to cut
down on their regular trade paper appropriations.
N
OW, this sort of promoting may be all right from a legal view-
point, but the man or men who engage in it should not trail
the fair name of trade journalism in the mud of dishonor and be-
spatter it with intrigues. They had better doff the cloak entirely
and hang out their sign plainly, so that he who runs may read:
"Promoters, deals arranged, agencies placed for a consideration."
But to carry on such work and call it journalism is debasing a pro-
fession which should be maintained on a high and dignified plane.
It is an honorable calling, and should not be pulled down by tricks-
ters who auction off their services to the highest bidder and then in
the end prove false to the one to whom they have sold their "influ-
ence.
I
T has been said for years that some men have actually been draw-
ing weekly salaries from trade institutions. It has been said
that percentages have been received from salesmen who every month
have paid a certain portion of their salaries into the promoters' hands.
It has been said that large sums of money have been paid to pro-
moters for placing pianos with certain agents. A great many
things have been said regarding the under-practices of certain alleged
journalists. All of these practices have been charged up to jour-
nalism, and Heaven knows it has had to stand for enough. Let us
do away with the whole system of graft of all kinds. The men
who encourage it are aiding and abetting a system which is demoral-
izing the entire industry.
T
H E Equitable scandal, with its subsequent disclosures of gross
mismanagement, has done more to shatter the faith of the
people in the management of great corporations than anything which
has taken place for years.
While discussing this matter recently, Col. E. S. Con way re-
marked : "More than twenty years ago I was convinced that there
must occur some day a great upheaval in insurance affairs which
would disclose an inner condition which would be simply appalling.
The vast funds which reach a fabulous amount which have been
steadily piling up in the treasuries of these great concerns have been a
menace to legitimate business. They have drained the savings of
the people into these great insurance concerns which have been con-
trolled by great speculative interests. They have been conducive
to corruption from the starting point, and T claim that there is no
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