Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
TH
MUSIC
TRADE
on account of their protest that the joint committee of manufac-
turers and dealers were appointed to consider the exposition mat-
ter. The report rendered embodied a rejection of the exposition
plan. Surely, unless the atmosphere is clarified materially the
result of this difference of opinion may have a far-reaching effect
upon organization work.
To begin with, the exposition idea was not at all popular with
the trade. It was hastily considered and rushed through at Put-in-
liay without due consideration, so many affirm. At least there
were many who strongly opposed it at that time, and their ranks
have steadily become augmented, and the manufacturers who nat-
urally would be the ones to support the exposition move have
strongly opposed it. They could not figure out just where they
would profit by a trade exposition, which must necessitate a con-
siderable monetary outlay on their part. They could not determine
just exactly where they could make good all of the expenses and
annoyances incident to an exposition outlay.
GREAT many dealers, too, were bitterly opposed to such an
exposition, and the more the matter was considered by the
Washington dealers the more unfavorably it was viewed. They
did not want an exposition, and said so plainly. Some dealers
figured that if the wishes of the Washington piano men were not
respected this year, and they suffered by reason of the convention
legacy, the following year, instead of bidding for the exposition,
there would be at once opposition developed to keep it away from
certain cities where the dealers would fear a repetition of the
Washington experience.
Viewed at this time, it must be considered that the exposition
idea in conjunction with the regular trade convention has fallen
decidedly to a low state. There has developed the strongest kind
of opposition to it at Washington, and the opposition is spreading
from that city, and it finds a responsive echo in all parts of the
country.
A
T
H E R E are many who believe that the only way to handle the
exposition is to separate it entirely from convention work
and make it an annual feature, the same as has been conducted by
the furniture and other trades.
It might be worth the while to try at least one exposition.along
broad lines, but in order to give it even a fair test there would
be required a considerable sum of money to secure the necessary
quarters and to pay the expenses incident to the gathering in and
the locating of trade exhibits.
The furniture men are heartily sick of the whole annual ex-
position scheme, and they for two or three years have been trying
to break it up entirely, and there are many of the leading furniture
men who assert that it will be dropped entirely within the near
future.
T
l I E formal opening of Wanamakers piano store did not occur
this week, owing to delays incident to the finishing of the
rooms. Next week, however, everything will be in perfect condi-
tion, and the entire second floor of the new Wanamaker building
will be given up to a most artistic display of pianos. Xo expense
has been spared in the equipment of the various rooms, which are
finished in accordance with the forms of various art periods, and
every piano man visiting New York will be well repaid by an
inspection of these new palatial piano quarters, which must be
viewed in order to be fully appreciated.
T
HE bacillus of jealousy seems to be universal. It is apparent
in every division of life, and this industry, in line with some
others, has been a splendid incubating ground for the engendering
of trade jealousies.
In professional life, perhaps, there are more feuds and jeal-
ousies existing than in any other lines. This is marked among
musicians, particularly among physicians and journalists—of course
eliminating music trade journalists, who have a tender and almost
affectionate regard for each other. Wherever there are sentimental
values existing there always seems to be cause for the building
iij) of a jealous feeling, and it cannot be denied that there is a
sentimental value attached to pianos.
Nor do we believe it is well to separate that sentimental feel-
ing from a consideration of the king of musical instruments. Men
carefully guard a good reputation, and sometimes absurd jealousy
REVIEW
is created in the minds of the opposing forces and differences of
opinion will always arise concerning the just means by which men
have achieved success.
To many people the fact that a man is successful in trade and
commerce is proof positive that he is a tyrant and a robber. At
least, unsuccessful men are prone to criticise him. l'ut strong
men everywhere make enemies. We find them not onlv in business,
but also in politics, in science and in literature.
M
OST minds are too small to see that we have led men into
the very conditions that are apparent in very many lines.
They have succeeded; but is not that the gospel every intelligent
man and woman is teaching? The market abounds with volumes
and titles on "Success," "How to Win It," "Success Is For You,"
"Famous Leaders," "Eminent Men," "Captains of Industry."
Years ago some of the successful men of those times read
these books, and they had a chance to try the advice, and now
we find it difficult to tolerate their presence. They are ahead of
us, and that is a condition that is as galling as it is true. So long
as we measure greatness by the amount of money a man possesses,
so long will there be millionaires. The hero in American life is
the man who has achieved the distinction in business operations.
And it is also true that in the struggle for commercial supremacy
we find exhibited some of our finest virtues of self-sacrifice, indus-
try and heroism—qualities that we would fain do without.
T
H E centralization of money in the hands of a few has received
immense encouragement from the insurance companies.
These companies are supported by the very people who condemn
the trusts. The insurance companies are the great depositories of
gold and silver, which they, of course, cannot use themselves, and
their profit lies in loaning large sums to the speculator, who uses
the money to enslave the people who supply it.
The people forget, however, that these trust organizers pay
good interest for the use of that money. It is comforting to know
that our millionaires have once been poor, but by a concentration
which is rare, by a perseverance that recognizes no defeat, and by
prudence that shames a Solomon, they have built tunnels into the
mountains of ignorance and dynamited the rocks of doubt.
I
T must be admitted that capital is necessary to carry on a big
business, and that articles of food become cheaper in propor-
tion as they are manufactured on a large scale. It is the same,
too, with articles of trade and commerce.
Compare what we term the commercial piano of to-day with
the high-grade piano of fifteen or twenty years ago; and compare
the prices of the instruments which were offered for sale twenty
years ago and the instruments of our time.
It must be at once admitted that the manufacturing on a
larger scale has benefited the people. It costs less to purchase
luxuries to-day than it did to buy comforts fifty years ago, and
wages are higher and comforts are more numerous.
The average citizen who has not achieved success is too prone
to criticise our millionaires (and we have some in the piano trade)
in the most superficial manner. In this country, where liberty
of thought and deed is strongly applauded, it is but natural that
some men through favored conditions should arise above the many.
A
S a matter of fact, while we may have some millionaires of
a mean type, yet the successful American business man,
broadly speaking, has never been neglectful of his debts to human-
ity. If he has made liberally, he has given liberally; and there are
few individuals who have protested against accepting "tainted
money." There was, however, a recent protest of some Boston
clergymen against accepting the one hundred million given by
Rockefeller for missionary purposes.
The protest recalls a story of Thaddeus Stephens, the Repub-
lican leader in the House at Washington during the war. The
great Radical was ascending the steps to the Capitol one morning
after "sitting in" all night at a poker game. He had a comfortable
roll in his pocket as the result of a fat "jackpot." He was met bv
a committee of pious folks from his district with the request for a
contribution to a fund for building a church in their town. Taking
out his winnings, this satirical old commoner handed them all
over, quoting grimly the lines of a familiar hymn : "God moves
in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."