Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
FLVIF1
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
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Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
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Lyman Bill.
Music Section.
An important feature of this publication is a complete sec
tion devoted to the interests of music publishers and dealers
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all quee-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
fW>n regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
U x p d l I l l i e i l t o . a r e d e a l t w i t h i w i l i | , e f o u n d i n another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
PljIVPP And
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prim
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition, 1901:
Diploma..Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal.. .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal
Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.
Cable address: **Elblll. New York."
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 3, 1910
EDITORIAL
' T ^ H E business situation is discussed in an exceedingly interest-
JL ing and illuminative manner by Henry Harrison Lewis in the
current issue of American Industries. His analysis of present in-
dustrial conditions is based on replies to questions sent to three
thousand members of the National Association of Manufacturers
in all parts of the country. The tables reveal that while business
as a whole is slow, certain industries show stagnation while others,
such as the music trade industry, are fairly good, and a few enjoy
a satisfactory degree of prosperity. The average, however, is be-
low normal, business, and that means the country, is suffering
from several ills. These can tentatively be classified as ( i ) na-
tional irritation, due to unusual political agitation; (2) speculation,
(3) internal dissension and (4) lack of confidence.
It is the opinion, at least of a majority of the members of the
National Association of Manufacturers that one of the potent
causes of business agitation and continual uncertainty in this coun-
try is the tariff problem. The recent election proved it, and every
day adds strength to the statement. The problem must be settled
and our business interests are becoming unanimous in realizing that
the only practical and satisfactory solution is the tariff commis-
sion form of investigation. In passing it may be well to under-
stand that nowhere is the need of an independent tariff commission
more clearly recognized than among the manufacturers who arc
popularly supposed to be the actual beneficiaries of high protection.
REVIEW
even a greater extent, business speculation, or unwise, careless
and practically reprehensible gambling on future demand. The
eager desire following the panic of 1907 to bolster up business, and
the hope that prosperity was bound to return in the near future,
undoubtedly caused a great many concerns to take desperate
chances. A postponement of curtailment in output, hesitancy in
suspending building extensions, and a reluctance to reduce working
forces, persuaded a number of manufacturing plants to hold on
longer than proved wise.
Another phase is aptly expressed in this statement from a large
eastern corporation.
"The trouble with our trade conditions is not so much that
there isn't a fair average consumption of merchandise, but that
everybody tries to increase business too rapidly. The consequences
is an over-production of goods and a crowding of same into the
market and on to the shelves of the retailer. In this way produc-
tion always keeps ahead of consumption, and prices are depressed
by everybody trying to get rid of surplus stock. Generally, when
you hear complaint of business not being good, it is from parties
whose expectations as to their season's business have been over-
estimated and who are consequently disappointed."
Internal differences or dissension between, industries is the
third ill, as indicated by the Association's report. The most im-
portant phase of this classification by far is the railway rates, prob-
lem. A speedy and equitable settlement of this question is re-
garded by business men generally as absolutely necessary for the
restoration of trade confidence and prosperity.
T
HE reports on trade conditions and future probabilities sub-
mitted in tabular form make an excellent showing as far as the
trade in musical instruments is concerned. One hundred members
of the music trade industry were asked to give their views, and
replied tinder the following captions: "Improvements in sales since
Deee nber, IQOO,"—eleven "none," eighteen "slight," thirty-six
"fair," thirty-five "marked." "Improvements in collections since
December, 10,00."—twenty-one "none." twenty-seven "slight," fifty-
two "fair." "Present condition of industry"—forty-one "fair."
forty-one "good," eighteen "excellent," with no complaints of poor
business. "Prospects for i<)ii"—forty-five "fair," fifty-three
"good," two "excellent." These reports show better conditions than
exist in other industries, the most oppressed being those which are
directly, or indirectly, connected with railroad construction and
maintenance.
Most interesting are the suggestions as to how the trade situa-
tion may be improved. These are summed up as follows:
Less legislative interference with business.
Less political activity.
A speedy and equitable settlement of the railway rate question.
More conservatism in business.
More national and individual confidence.
Take the tariff, out of politics.
(iive equal opportunities to all workmen by making the "closed
shop" illegal.
Reform of the currency and banking systems.
Prompt decisions in the important industrial questions now
before the United States Supreme Court.
More attention to foreign trade and rehabilitation of the mer-
chant marine.
T
HE fourth ill, lack of confidence, is a condition directly created
by the three previous ills. Tt represents in the economic
body the nervous ailment found in the human bodv—the condition
of vital prostration and nerve depression which accompanies, or
follows, other ills. Lack of confidence in the ability of the country
to recover its normal condition even when existing ills are cured,
is unjustified. The great bumper crops of the past harvest, and
our marvelous basic wealth in raw products, not only invite con-
servative confidence, but should speedily create it. And they will
if the people only get the proper perspective.
That which is needed to-dav to restore business to its usual
degree of prosperity is national readjustment. We must re-estab-
lish a condition which will relegate political agitators to their proper
place: discourage harmful and unnecessary legislation ; spell equal
r
I A HE second national ill is speculation, which, according to the justice to all industries, and finally, act as a sedative upon the
X
reports received, means not only stock speculation, but to national nerves.