Music Trade Review

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THE
MU3IC
TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportoiial Stall:
GEO. B. KELLER,
W. II. DYKES,
R. W. SIMMONS,
L. E. BOWERS,
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
AUGUST J. TIMPE.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
BOSTON OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 156 Wabash Ave.
G. W. HENDERSON, 180 Tremont St.
Room 806,
Room 18.
Telephone, Central 414.
Telephone, Oxford 2936-2.
ST. LOUIS:
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
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ADOLF EDSTEN,
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SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First Street.
CINCINNATI, O.:
BALTIMORE, MD.:
LONDON. ENGLAND:
JACOB W. WALTERS.
A. ROBERT FRENCH.
00 Basinghall St., E. C.
W. LIONEL STURDY, Manager.
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An important feature of this publication is a complete sec-
tion devoted to the interests of music publishers and dealers.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal. Charleston Exposition, V.W2
Diploma..Pan-American Exposition, 1901
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LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address: "Elblll. New York."
NEW YORK, MAY 28, 1910
REVIEW
tions would be presented for the consideration of the meeting and
he emphasized the fact that active members only were entitled to
vote and that the associate members could not have their votes
recorded.
He also stated that applicants who had come in since the Con-
vention had convened could not have a vote, as naturally they could
only be entitled to the privileges of members when elected and that
their election was for the ensuing year and not for the past year's
business.
It will be seen that President Droop's ruling was in strict
accordance with the governing rules of organizations all over the
country, for how could any man be entitled to the privilege of
voting when he had not been passed upon by the Nominating Com-
mittee or elected to membership in the organization?
Mr. Droop's ruling in this particular was sustained by 89 in the
affirmative, being opposed by 42.
Mr. Droop then called to mind the feeling which was en-
gendered at the last convention in 1909 on the subject' of coupon
advertising.
Right here we may remark that after a heated talk at Detroit,
Philip Werlein stated that the discussion had gone about as far as
it could go among friends and that many discourteous terms had
been thrown about indiscriminately.
Mr. Droop did not hesitate to say that his administration, that
is, the majority of his officers, did not believe in furthering or en-
couraging coupon, guessing, certificate or other forms of contests.
Proceeding further, he said:
"Gentlemen, the resolution, the adoption of which was moved
by Mr. Field at Detroit, Colonel Hollenberg's resolution and
which was duly seconded, is as follows: 'Resolved, That this asso-
ciation discountenance the use of certificates in conducting special
sales, and requests its members to aid in the crusade against the
sales issuing such certificates.' I again move its adoption and the
previous question.
This w r as seconded by R. O. Foster.
Considerable talk was then interjected and a lengthy discus-
sion followed. No doubt had this continued even warmer times
would have developed than were in evidence at Detroit.
OW, every man who voted at the Dealers 1 Convention had
his mind made up definitely how to vote and every member
fully understood what he voted for, and even one gentleman asked
to have his vote recounted as favoring the resolution.
EVIEWING the work which was accomplished at Richmond
The resolutions were read two or three times, so that there
it must be admitted that the move which will have the most
was no question as to the knowledge of the members upon the sub-
far-reaching effect upon trade ethics was the passage of resolutions
ject for which the votes were cast, and there was no doubt either
by the Dealers' National Association against the coupon-certificate
as to the sentiment of the meeting.
plan of selling pianos.
Every man's name was called and everyone had an opportunity
It is to be regretted, too, that immediately after these resolu-
of responding aye or nay during the roll call.
tions had been passed members of the association should have seen
Then the secretary announced the report, which read as fol-
fit to have so interviewed newspaper men connected with the Rich-
lows : Ayes 100. Noes 34.
mond press that articles appeared in those papers which were obvi-
Now, does it not seem ill-advised after such a vote of three
ously intended to cast a doubt upon the action of the association,
to one opposing the guessing contest scheme that any doubt alleg-
claiming that the manner in which the resolutions were passed was
unparliamentary. That a parliamentary battle was fought is ad- ing a technical error should have developed regarding the action of
the association by any member?
mitted and the vote recorded shows a predominance of sentiment
After all, what are resolutions?
against the certificate form of advertising. Of that there is no
Simply expressions of the sentiments of the members of an
doubt. The intent to cast a doubt upon the action of the asso-
ciation is in line with some other work which was carried on by the organization either as favoring or opposing a certain measure.
antis with the object of deferring action on the part of the associa-
Some one hundred and thirty-four men considered the certifi-
tion in opposing guessing contest schemes.
cate contest plan of piano selling in Richmond and out of that one
hundred and thirty-four when it came to voting time one hundred
It was a known fact that some of the men who have been the
votes were recorded as opposing it.
most active in the promulgation of the certificate-coupon schemes
It is just to assume that those votes represented the sentiment
were lobbying for votes.
of
the
organization, and there were at least twenty-five or thirty
Men were approached, influence was used and arguments pre-
people
in
Richmond who were not able to attend the meeting who
sented to show that the association should not oppose individual
would
have
been glad to have had their votes taken as opposing
members in the conduct of their business.
guessing
contests.
Furthermore, a number of branch house managers were also
As a result the Richmond Convention anti-certificate advertis-
present and their names were proposed for membership in the
ing resolutions can be held in no other light than as a great victory
association.
for the men who have stood shoulder to shoulder in fighting scheme
These applications were not acted upon, and it was proposed
advertising.
to have these men vote at the annual meeting, but somehow things
This whole proposition has been widely exploited and everv
did not move just as smoothly as it was planned.
intelligent dealer in this country has an opinion one way or the
^RESIDENT DROOP stated at the opening of the association
other.
meeting on Wednesday that one of the most important ques-
He is either for or against and it certainly must be gratifying
EDITORIAL
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