Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
forth by some of the big banks in Texas we find that they dilale
upon the fact that they are carrying extensive reserves. Some of
them four times what the law requires of them and still the Texas
music dealers are desirous of blaming New York for what should
be laid at the door of their own local banks. They are holding
vast sums of money in reserve which should go out to move the
crops. It would be a mighty sight better sense to bring a little
argument of the right kind to bear on the Texas bankers than to
censure New York.
Let every business man do his full share to bring about normal
conditions—Sound argument to the right people will accomplish
much more than grumbling mingled in generous proportions with
abuse.
S
AMUEL GOMPERS, President of the American Federation of
Labor, stated in an address before the Civic Federation that
there must be no attempt to reduce wages in times like these.
It seems rather a peculiar utterance coming from the execu-
tive of labor's great organization. In other words, if a large em-
ployer who finds that he is suffering loss every day he keeps
running should say to his employes that conditions were such that
he must close up indefinitely or else they must be content to work
on a lower wage scale, then according to Mr. Gompers 1 plan to
close up would be better than to lower the wages. In other words,
there is no half loaf to it, a whole loaf or not a crumb is desired.
The workmen must have full wages or nothing.
Mr. Gompers has failed to make clear just how the employers
would be able to pay these wages if the business depression con-
tinued. In other words, the Federation head is establishing new
political economy laws wherein wages are no longer dependent on
or related to production. We must close up shops and at the same
time regulate what wages we shall receive. Peculiar, is it not?
We believe in the main that most employers of labor are just
and humane, but to say that they can go on and pay the same scale
of wages through a depression which might continue is a peculiar
kind of philosophy, to say the least. The larger the wage scale the
greater the purchasing power of the people; the more necessities
and luxuries will be purchased, the more pianos will be bought and
sold and the large wages which the American workmen have re-
ceived has given a tremendous purchasing power to the masses.
Everyone who has given the subject even light thought admits that,
but at the same time we know of no power that can be applied to
compel men to pay for something when they haven't the cash with
which to make the purchase, and if manufacturers cannot obtain
money to pay men, who is going to supply it? Mr. Gompers has
neglected to explain this fully in his address.
W
E are glad to observe that Philip Werlein, former president
of the Piano Dealers' National Association, has expressed
himself as adopting The Review's term of "special brand" as a sub-
stitute for the wornout word "stencil" when designating pianos of
doubtful origin.
We have frequently stated that we had outgrown the word
stencil and it was meaningless when applied to pianos. The term
"special brand" is generally conceded by leaders in all industries to
be the most appropriate term by which to designate products bear-
ing other names than those of the manufacturers. Piano dealers
may have instruments made for them bearing either their own
names or certain trade marks which may be adopted by theim. The
brands adopted by these men designate a special product which
they produce to supply a special trade. They desire this particular
brand and therefore why is it not proper to say that the former
stencil piano should be known as "special brand" piano? It tells
exactly what it is.
T
H E R E are some men who are running music trade establish-
ments who figure to-day that when they have made sales
which run into good figures weekly their business is a success,
but is it ? We can point to a number of men who have been working
on the lines of quantity sales and they haven't made such an amazing
success of their business enterprise, as the figures which they give
out would indicate. It is not at all times the amount of the sales
which tells of business advance, but the quality sales. Pianos sold
to people who can meet the deferred payments promptly are instru-
ments well sold, but pianos that are put out indiscriminately to men
whose salary does not permit them to meet their instalments are
poorly sold.
IN
Strike your gait and keep it up.
How is your collection account?
Get ready for the new year and help put money in circulation.
Talk happiness. The world is sad enough without your woe.
Fighting against a mail order house is fighting for possession of
the consumers' trade.
Yes, the men of the music trade industry have stood up like a rock.
Proud of it! Of course we are.
Sand is one of the important ingredients of business success. And
it's a mighty good thing to have just now.
A poor man's son who does not work becomes a hobo. A rich man's
son under like conditions becomes a cynic.
The mill never grinds with water that has passed—applied it means
you can't run a business on last year's advertising.
Christmas trade was knocked into smithereens but there are a whole
lot of people who did not go to pieces when business slumped.
Repetition fastens a matter in the mind. An advertisement appear-
ing ten times is more effective than one ten times as large appearing once.
A piano man once said, "I advertised yesterday and the day before."
Very good, but this is not an excuse against or a reason for not adver-
tising to-day or to-morrow.
When the next Review appears 1907 will have been laid to rest and
the latter part of it has been somewhat tiresome, but why talk about it.
Let us turn to the brighter page.
Careful study of the symposium of the Civic Federation leaves one
in doubt whether we most need elastic currency, the army canteen,
lower wages, centralization of power or dirigible balloons.
NOTHING DOING.—Baggs—What do you say to your wife when you
come home late at night?
Jaggs—Foolish man! What makes you think I get a chance to talk?
A BRIDEGROOM'S ERROR.—At a recent wedding in London the be-
wildered bridegroom mistook the register for a hotel visitors' book, and,
instead of merely signing the former, wrote, "We have had a very pleasant
time. I hope to come again soon."
"What's old man Groucher kicking about?" asked the hardware dealer.
"Wanted ten pounds o 1 nails," replied the clerk, "an' wouldn't trust
us to send 'em. Insisted on taking them with him."
"Huh! I hope he'll sweat for it."
"I'll bet he will. I sneaked five or six extra pounds of 'em in the
package."
Brown (soobing)—The deceased was so kind, so noble, so good-
hearted!
Friend—But I hear she cut off her own family without a penny and
left everything to a distant connection.
Brown—Yes; I'm the distant connection.
GOD'S HELP.—It is said that the people along the coast of Newfound-
land are expert wreckers—not in that they wreck vessels to rob them
but in that they know how to avail themselves legitimately of the oppor-
tunities afforded. In this connection Sir Wilfrid Laurier used to tell
of meeting a priest in charge of a parish near Cape Race and the bishop
of his diocese. "How will your people do this winter?" asked the bishop.
"Very well, I think, your reverence," replied the priest cheerfully,
"with the help of God and a few wrecks."
ON GOOD AUTHORITY.—A certain Boston man doesn't go to church
often, but a week or so ago he was persuaded by his wife and they at-
tended services together. Upon their return home he regarded her with
a teasing look and asked:
"Now look here, my dear; which is worse, not to go to church at all,
or to go and pay absolutely no attention to the service?"
"If you mean that for me I think you are horrid," she replied.
"Well, you didn't; you were looking at all those diamonds the woman
in front of you had on all the time."
For an instant she blushed, for she is an honest little woman, but
quickly recovered her poise.
"Oh, well, suppose I W$s," she retorted; "didn't you ever he.ar of
sermons in stones?"