Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MERCHANTS LOOK FOR
BIG TRADE EXPANSION
AEOLIAN EMPLOYES
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
99
Answer* to Questionnaire Sent Out by Mer-
chants' Association Demonstrate That For-
eign and Domestic Trade Will Grow
With cancelation of war contracts and uncer-
tainty in the labor problem mentioned as chief
factors in the .readjustment of business and
manufacturing, all companies questioned by the
Industrial Bureau of the Merchants' Associa-
tion of New York last week reported that they
expected an immediate expansion in domestic
and foreign trade, according to an announcement
made yesterday by the association.
In explaining that the query particularly
"asked for a statement of the obstacles which
are retarding the return to normal conditions,"
the report said jtfiat "optimism was dominant in
replies from the manufacturing members in re-
sponse to a request for their opinions regard-
ing the industrial outlook." The query drew
replies "from manufacturing plants in practi-
cally every.'field of importance in the metro-
politan district."
"A. few iof the factories have not been dis-
turbed at "all by the war," says the report.
"Others have been devoting their entire ca-
pacity to the production of munitions and war
supplies. Still others have been working on
war contracts and at the same time filling civil-
ian orders. The withdrawal of the Government
from the market, which is" now in progress, is
the largest single factor affecting industry, and
practically all manufacturers speak of the ef-
fect of the cancelation of Government contracts.
It is therefore encouraging that the Govern-
ment departments having large contracts in this
district have practically completed their plans
for adjusting canceled contracts and are ready
now to operate with promptness."
In outlining the work of the cancelation and
in giving the list of the bureaus doing the work
the report says that final decision on most of
the settlements is made in Washington, and that
so nilny re'ad L jtislMe'nt§ have been made that it
has been impossible to estimate the probable
length of time for settlement of all contracts.
Most of the manufacturers who replied to the
query discussed the labor situation, the report
says, and expressed doubt about future condi-
tions. All of them expressed the hope that the
perplexities would be cleared up soon, so that
they could make plans for expansion. .
"The shifting of great masses of workmen, de-
velopment of new industries and new industrial
sections, present high wages, the demand for
overtime work, and many similar conditions re-
sulting from the war period, make the labor sit-
uation very complex," says the report. "In
some, case there is an actual labor shortage of
all kinds, while in other cases there is simply
a shortage of skilled labor, or even a surplus.
It is obvious that in many lines of industry
there must be a readjustment of the labor sup-
ply.
"In many cases manufacturers expect that
wages will remain at their present high level
for a considerable period, while in other cases
it is claimed that former markets cannot be
developed again until wages have fallen some-
what, because of the high prices resulting from
high cost of production, which, in turn, is due
largely to high wages.
"In this connection it is interesting to note
that recently in many cases production has fallen
off materially, thus making very high prices nec-
essary for the product unless the cost of pro-
duction is again decreased, either by decreasing
wages, increasing productivity of labor, or by
both. A number of manufacturers still complain
of the difficulty of obtaining competent labor,
irrespective of wages offered."
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge ior men who desire positions
of any kind.
DECEMBER 28, 1918
X
Hold Old-Fashioned Christmas Party in the
Aeolian Concert Hall—E. W. North in Charge
of Arrangements—Novel Entertainment
"X
99
Stands for the
"X" PRESSION
Found in the
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PRESSION
Reproducing Piano
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Combining the two best
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Purchase price paid out
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•
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Piano Co.
Leaders in the Automatic Field
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1
CHICAGO, ILL. """•"
A real old-fashioned Christmas party was held
Tuesday afternoon in the Aeolian concert hall;
this party being the annual Christmas celebra-
tion of the Aeolian employes. E. W. North,
of the accounting department, was in charge of
all the details incidental to this party, and the
signal success of the celebration may be attrib-
uted in a considerable measure to Mr. North's
efforts and hard work. Last year Mr. North
also staged a Christmas party in Aeolian Hall,
and the Aeolian employes responded enthusi-
astically to the spirit of these festivities.
On Tuesday afternoon a very interesting pro-
gram was prepared by Mr. North, which in-
cluded a playlet entitled "Santa's Dream of
School Days." This consisted of a School
Day's Review with the following Aeolianites ap-
pearing in various character roles: W. Eiffert,
A. Simmons, S. E. Elliott, Winifred Auburn,
Eleanor Cox, Ruth Preusser, May O'Connell and
H. Taft. This playlet received hearty applause,
and the different characters were obliged to ren-
der numerous encores in response to the de-
mands of the audience.
Another interesting feature of the program
was the exhibition by "Merry Christmas" of
some examples of her skill. Included in these
exhibits was a mechanical doll played by Hazel
Calhoun, a mechanical story teller, impersonated
by H. Wakefield Smith, and dancing dolls played
by the Misses Umstatter and Capello.
There were presents on the mammoth Christ-
mas tree for all the Aeolianites in attendance,
and the patriotic note that is evident in the 1918
Christmas season was reflected in a tribute to
the boys "over there." These Aeolian boys who
enlisted in Uncle Sam's fight for democracy
were not forgotten in the Aeolian festivities, and
during the past few weeks hundreds of packages
have left Aeolian Hall addressed to "Somewhere
in France" and "Somewhere in America."
Santa's Christmas dance concluded the pro-
gram, and it was unanimously voted that the
1918 Christmas was the best that Aeolianites
have yet held and that the party would contrib-
ute materially to the enjoyment of this year's
Christmas.
Mr. North, as usual, impersonated Santa Claus,
and gave an ideal interpretation of this benevo-
lent saint of the Yuletide season. "Merry
Christmas" was played by Miss Helen Pomares,
and this kindly character was also interpreted
admirably.
CLOSED LARGESTJRETAIL TRADE
Win. Dalliba Dutton Tells of Hardman, Peck ft
Co.'s Great December Trade
In a chat this week with The Review Wm.
Dalliba Dutton, treasurer of Hardman, Peck &
Co., New York, stated that this company had
closed in December the largest retail business in
its history. This wonderful record was at-
tained both in New York and Brooklyn, and
it is gratifying to note that Hardman pianos and
Hardman Autotones were leading factors in
this splendid business. The Harrington grand
also shared in this excellent holiday trade, and
judging from all indications this small grand will
enjoy record-breaking popularity during the
coming year. There is hardly a player-piano
on the floor at Hardman House, and the general
demand for players has far exceeded all expec-
tations.
OPEN MUSIC DEPARTMENT
The George W. Frost Co. recently held a
formal opening of their new music department
on the second floor of the building occupied by
their jewelry store in Irvington, N. J.