Music Trade Review
Issue: 1907 Vol. 45 N. 16 - Page 49
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
47
VBLISHINe
ISIDORE WITMARK_ANSWERS REMICK.
Takes Exception to Some Statements Made in
a Recent Interview—Store Methods and
Copyright Matters Discussed.
have been no American Music Stores to-day but
for the actions of Mr. Remick. Therefore we
may yet be grateful to him after all, for I see
in the American Music Stores the saviour of the
popular music publishing business.
With regard to Mr. Remick's declaration that
prices should be placed on a better basis, I ask
how such a thing is possible when he is the
first to cut to ten cents in a big city where a
healthy condition existed. Why make such an
assertion when with the next breath an order
is given to slash? Such blowing hot and cold
cannot last. If the American Music Stores are
following the methods that Mr. Remick states
the publishers condemned him for a year ago, the
American Music Stores readily concedes it to
him as the one who established the precedent,
and also blames him for forcing us in such a
position. We did not want to own departments.
Mr. Remick ambiguously states that "if it
were not for the 'cheap' store prices, we would
not print so much music." Comparatively speak-
ing, Mr. Remick printed up more music before
the "cheap" music condition than he does now,
and that was when he flooded the market, send-
ing music out in thousand lots on sale when
he couldn't get them in at a then cheap price.
Mr. Remick on copyright bill: To answer Mr.
Remick on this is why my reply is written. I
mention in the first part of my letter [printed in
last week's Review.—Ed.] that an out-of-the-
ordinary precarious condition exists at present.
A condition "where the vital interest of a large
community is in the balance." I then referred
to the very copyright bill that means so much
to us all, and of which this gentleman makes
so light. I mean the copyright bill which he
meant to protect the interests with which he is
entrusted. He says "He believes the publishers
are going to be beaten," and dismisses, with a
brush of the arm, or perhaps with knitted brow,
as if he had arduously labored with the publish-
ers day and night to accomplish success. He be-
lieves "they are going to be beaten" instead of
declaring "we will win." He believes it because
of his ignorance of the real situation. He did
not meet personally with the publishers once in
their entire campaign last summer when appar-
ent failure, due to the lethargy and non-interest
of such leaders as he considers himself, was
turned into most gratifying and encouraging
success.
New York, Oct. 14, 1907.
Editor of The Music Trade Review:
Dear Sir—I have read a recent interview pub-
lished in The Music Trade Review with Jerome
H. Remick, and under ordinary circumstances
should believe in ignoring it; but just at this
time, when the vital interest of a large com-
munity is in the balance, I must positively take
exception to some of the statements made by Mr.
Remick.
The American Music Stores, of which I have
the honor of being a director and officer, is quite
able to take care of itself; this will be clearly
demonstrated any time Mr. Remick feels like
cutting prices to nine cents, as he threatened to
do in his interview. In this connection it may
be well to refresh Mr. Remick's memory. Prices
in Chicago were up to a fair standard had he not,
in exploiting his Rothschild department, slashed
popular music down to ten cents, thus bringing
about a condition which will undoubtedly lead
to a rate war that Chicago has not been plagued
with in years.
Mr. Remick refers to the Knox stores. We
do not sell the Knox stores and Mr. Knox will,
I am sure, concede this; but these various stores
have not been the cause of the many evils which
have appeared since Mr. Remick invaded the
music publishing field. Let me say here that
very little, if any of ours, or many of the other
publishers' prints are found at the Knox stores
while there is constantly a supply of Remick
numbers at their various stores. In some of
the Knox stores numbers have been found re-
cently published by Mr. Remick, and this con-
dition has been widely discussed by publishers.
Mr. Remick says in his interview, "We do
not propose to "permit our trade to slip away."
His circulars to the trade at large, when we
sold the Knox stores a bill of goods, were not,
as he alleged, for the benefit of the business at
large, but for his own benefit. No one in the
trade need go to Mr. Remick or anyone else
for our standing. We are proud of our history
and of our record for maintaining the music
business on as high a plane as possible; but it is
necessary occasionally to fight a man with his
How can he give an opinion when he does not
own game, and it is most likely that there would know the facts? How can he offer the proper
Vesta Victoria's New Hit
POOR
JOHN!
By
the writers of
'* WAITING AT THE CHURCH"
FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
15 West 30th Street
NEW YORK
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
Is of Interest to all dealers—we furnish
you with any quantity of our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish "The Good Old U. S. A.,"
"Just a Little Rocking Chair and You."
"Keep on the Sunny Side," and other
big hits.
Let us get In touch with you—write us.
ISIDORE WITMARK.
Jos. W. Stern & Co. have secured the sole
American rights of the present waltz hit of
Paris, entitled "Priere du Tzigane" (The Gipsy's
Prayer), which is said to be even a greater num-
ber than the celebrated "Valse Blue." They have
a number of other hits in hand.
VICTOR KREMER CO.
LIVE DEALERS RIGHT NOW ARE
REALIZING PROFITS SELLING COPIES OF
CHICAGO
59 Dearborn St.
THE MOST POPULAR
MANDOLIN FOLIO
NEW YORK
1431 Broadway
PUBLISHERS
Published in tKe following books
1st Mandolin dist 50c Introductory 2Oc
2d Mandolin
" 50c
"
20c
Guitar Ace.
" 50c
"
20c
Piano Ace.
" 50c
"
22^c
|^"Send for complete descriptive circular and
thematic booklet. Don't delay. Write at once.
HINDS, NOBLE <& ELDRXDGE
51.33.35 West 15tK Street, New York City
"Under the Tropical Moon," "Won't You
Let Me Put My Arms Around You,"
"Cinderella," Inst. and Song. "Not Be-
cause Your Hair Is Curly," "Will t h e
Angels Let Me Play," "Paddy," "Can You
Keep a Secret," "Vanity Fair," "I Never
Can Forget You Dear," Kremer's Mandolin
Folio, No. 1, etc., etc.
KEEPINLINEWITH THE SUCCESSES
EVERY
ONE
WILL
SOON BE
SINGING
"Somebody's Been Around Here Since I've Been Gone"
MAUDE RAYMOND'S Greatest Success in " T h e Gay White W a y "
"When You Steal a Kiss or Two"
Sung by LOTTA FAUST in Field's All Stars Co.
"Vordoo Man," "Fairies"
Sung by CECELIA LOFTUS in " T h e Lancers"
"Does It Pay?"
EVA TANGUAY'S latest whirlwind song, at Hammerstein's Victoria
PUBLISHED BY
F. B. Haviland Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
suggestions when he doesn't as much as interest
himself to find out whether our counsel was
not earning the large retainers which on ac-
count of his interest he did not charge and for
which Mr. Remick thought we required a lawyer
of national eminence? If Mr. Remick had kept
in touch with the situation I do not believe
he would have proffered such advice. I certainly
take exception to Mr. Remick's saying that "the
whole matter so far has been handled—well,
it could not have been worse," which he imme-
diately follows up with "at the same time I am
not particularly interested." What right has he
to cast a reflection on what has been done and
what has not been done when he has done noth-
ing himself?
The workers know what has been accomplished
and they perform their part unselfishly for the
betterment of the music publishing trade. It is
an easy matter to criticise and then dismiss
the matter by saying "I am not interested," but
is it fair to the men who have put their shoul-
ders to the wheel earnestly? Does not the ut-
terance "I am not particularly interested" so.und
peculiar from a legitimate publisher, or are such
words rather expected from those who did not
want the reform copyright, and does it seem rea-
sonable that a publisher who should have the
interests of his authors and composers in mind
is "not particularly interested" in a bill that is
to their interest and that would mean to them
a deserved income from an invasion that is
menacing the authors as well as publishers more
and more each day?
How can an author or composer place his in-
terests in the hands of one who is not "particul-
arly interested?" Does it show the proper spir-
it? I say no—emphatically no. It is unsym-
pathetic and intolerable. Mr. Remick suggests
each firm putting up from two thousand to five
thousand dollars towards a copyright campaign.
I have heard of similar suggestions before and
without action. We are prepared to cover any
amount Mr. Remick subscribes.
I close, asking your pardon for taking up so
much of your valuable space, yet protesting.
M .
New
York:
WITMARK
Chicago
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
47
VBLISHINe
ISIDORE WITMARK_ANSWERS REMICK.
Takes Exception to Some Statements Made in
a Recent Interview—Store Methods and
Copyright Matters Discussed.
have been no American Music Stores to-day but
for the actions of Mr. Remick. Therefore we
may yet be grateful to him after all, for I see
in the American Music Stores the saviour of the
popular music publishing business.
With regard to Mr. Remick's declaration that
prices should be placed on a better basis, I ask
how such a thing is possible when he is the
first to cut to ten cents in a big city where a
healthy condition existed. Why make such an
assertion when with the next breath an order
is given to slash? Such blowing hot and cold
cannot last. If the American Music Stores are
following the methods that Mr. Remick states
the publishers condemned him for a year ago, the
American Music Stores readily concedes it to
him as the one who established the precedent,
and also blames him for forcing us in such a
position. We did not want to own departments.
Mr. Remick ambiguously states that "if it
were not for the 'cheap' store prices, we would
not print so much music." Comparatively speak-
ing, Mr. Remick printed up more music before
the "cheap" music condition than he does now,
and that was when he flooded the market, send-
ing music out in thousand lots on sale when
he couldn't get them in at a then cheap price.
Mr. Remick on copyright bill: To answer Mr.
Remick on this is why my reply is written. I
mention in the first part of my letter [printed in
last week's Review.—Ed.] that an out-of-the-
ordinary precarious condition exists at present.
A condition "where the vital interest of a large
community is in the balance." I then referred
to the very copyright bill that means so much
to us all, and of which this gentleman makes
so light. I mean the copyright bill which he
meant to protect the interests with which he is
entrusted. He says "He believes the publishers
are going to be beaten," and dismisses, with a
brush of the arm, or perhaps with knitted brow,
as if he had arduously labored with the publish-
ers day and night to accomplish success. He be-
lieves "they are going to be beaten" instead of
declaring "we will win." He believes it because
of his ignorance of the real situation. He did
not meet personally with the publishers once in
their entire campaign last summer when appar-
ent failure, due to the lethargy and non-interest
of such leaders as he considers himself, was
turned into most gratifying and encouraging
success.
New York, Oct. 14, 1907.
Editor of The Music Trade Review:
Dear Sir—I have read a recent interview pub-
lished in The Music Trade Review with Jerome
H. Remick, and under ordinary circumstances
should believe in ignoring it; but just at this
time, when the vital interest of a large com-
munity is in the balance, I must positively take
exception to some of the statements made by Mr.
Remick.
The American Music Stores, of which I have
the honor of being a director and officer, is quite
able to take care of itself; this will be clearly
demonstrated any time Mr. Remick feels like
cutting prices to nine cents, as he threatened to
do in his interview. In this connection it may
be well to refresh Mr. Remick's memory. Prices
in Chicago were up to a fair standard had he not,
in exploiting his Rothschild department, slashed
popular music down to ten cents, thus bringing
about a condition which will undoubtedly lead
to a rate war that Chicago has not been plagued
with in years.
Mr. Remick refers to the Knox stores. We
do not sell the Knox stores and Mr. Knox will,
I am sure, concede this; but these various stores
have not been the cause of the many evils which
have appeared since Mr. Remick invaded the
music publishing field. Let me say here that
very little, if any of ours, or many of the other
publishers' prints are found at the Knox stores
while there is constantly a supply of Remick
numbers at their various stores. In some of
the Knox stores numbers have been found re-
cently published by Mr. Remick, and this con-
dition has been widely discussed by publishers.
Mr. Remick says in his interview, "We do
not propose to "permit our trade to slip away."
His circulars to the trade at large, when we
sold the Knox stores a bill of goods, were not,
as he alleged, for the benefit of the business at
large, but for his own benefit. No one in the
trade need go to Mr. Remick or anyone else
for our standing. We are proud of our history
and of our record for maintaining the music
business on as high a plane as possible; but it is
necessary occasionally to fight a man with his
How can he give an opinion when he does not
own game, and it is most likely that there would know the facts? How can he offer the proper
Vesta Victoria's New Hit
POOR
JOHN!
By
the writers of
'* WAITING AT THE CHURCH"
FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
15 West 30th Street
NEW YORK
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
Is of Interest to all dealers—we furnish
you with any quantity of our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish "The Good Old U. S. A.,"
"Just a Little Rocking Chair and You."
"Keep on the Sunny Side," and other
big hits.
Let us get In touch with you—write us.
ISIDORE WITMARK.
Jos. W. Stern & Co. have secured the sole
American rights of the present waltz hit of
Paris, entitled "Priere du Tzigane" (The Gipsy's
Prayer), which is said to be even a greater num-
ber than the celebrated "Valse Blue." They have
a number of other hits in hand.
VICTOR KREMER CO.
LIVE DEALERS RIGHT NOW ARE
REALIZING PROFITS SELLING COPIES OF
CHICAGO
59 Dearborn St.
THE MOST POPULAR
MANDOLIN FOLIO
NEW YORK
1431 Broadway
PUBLISHERS
Published in tKe following books
1st Mandolin dist 50c Introductory 2Oc
2d Mandolin
" 50c
"
20c
Guitar Ace.
" 50c
"
20c
Piano Ace.
" 50c
"
22^c
|^"Send for complete descriptive circular and
thematic booklet. Don't delay. Write at once.
HINDS, NOBLE <& ELDRXDGE
51.33.35 West 15tK Street, New York City
"Under the Tropical Moon," "Won't You
Let Me Put My Arms Around You,"
"Cinderella," Inst. and Song. "Not Be-
cause Your Hair Is Curly," "Will t h e
Angels Let Me Play," "Paddy," "Can You
Keep a Secret," "Vanity Fair," "I Never
Can Forget You Dear," Kremer's Mandolin
Folio, No. 1, etc., etc.
KEEPINLINEWITH THE SUCCESSES
EVERY
ONE
WILL
SOON BE
SINGING
"Somebody's Been Around Here Since I've Been Gone"
MAUDE RAYMOND'S Greatest Success in " T h e Gay White W a y "
"When You Steal a Kiss or Two"
Sung by LOTTA FAUST in Field's All Stars Co.
"Vordoo Man," "Fairies"
Sung by CECELIA LOFTUS in " T h e Lancers"
"Does It Pay?"
EVA TANGUAY'S latest whirlwind song, at Hammerstein's Victoria
PUBLISHED BY
F. B. Haviland Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
suggestions when he doesn't as much as interest
himself to find out whether our counsel was
not earning the large retainers which on ac-
count of his interest he did not charge and for
which Mr. Remick thought we required a lawyer
of national eminence? If Mr. Remick had kept
in touch with the situation I do not believe
he would have proffered such advice. I certainly
take exception to Mr. Remick's saying that "the
whole matter so far has been handled—well,
it could not have been worse," which he imme-
diately follows up with "at the same time I am
not particularly interested." What right has he
to cast a reflection on what has been done and
what has not been done when he has done noth-
ing himself?
The workers know what has been accomplished
and they perform their part unselfishly for the
betterment of the music publishing trade. It is
an easy matter to criticise and then dismiss
the matter by saying "I am not interested," but
is it fair to the men who have put their shoul-
ders to the wheel earnestly? Does not the ut-
terance "I am not particularly interested" so.und
peculiar from a legitimate publisher, or are such
words rather expected from those who did not
want the reform copyright, and does it seem rea-
sonable that a publisher who should have the
interests of his authors and composers in mind
is "not particularly interested" in a bill that is
to their interest and that would mean to them
a deserved income from an invasion that is
menacing the authors as well as publishers more
and more each day?
How can an author or composer place his in-
terests in the hands of one who is not "particul-
arly interested?" Does it show the proper spir-
it? I say no—emphatically no. It is unsym-
pathetic and intolerable. Mr. Remick suggests
each firm putting up from two thousand to five
thousand dollars towards a copyright campaign.
I have heard of similar suggestions before and
without action. We are prepared to cover any
amount Mr. Remick subscribes.
I close, asking your pardon for taking up so
much of your valuable space, yet protesting.
M .
New
York:
WITMARK
Chicago
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