Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
RE™
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAYMOND BILL, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall
WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH, WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH,
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
anil
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
are dealt with, will be founS in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be -cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.... Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Cold Medal. ... .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
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Vol. LXIX
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8, 1 9 1 9
No. 19
The printing strike in New York City is still in pro-
gress, and the severe handicaps arising therefrom make it
practically impossible for the publishers of The Music Trade
Review to issue this publication on schedule time.
A MENACE TO PUBLIC INTEREST
HE attitude taken by the Government in connection with the
strike of coal miners is worthy of the earnest support not only
of the business men of the country, but of all citizens who feel that
society still has some rights that must be respected by the labor
element.
It is all well enough to talk about the rights of labor to organize
and to enjoy the privileges of collective bargaining. It is proper
to adhere to the principle that the worker is entitled to at least a
fair share of the profits which his labor produces, but when, as in
the case of the coal miners, and in other cases that have attracted
public attention lately, demands are made of such a drastic nature
that they cannot be met, there must be found some means for forc-
ing a sensible and honorable settlement separate and apart from
resorting to a strike. To cut off the coal supply of the country is
not alone a blow to the operators, but an attack on society as a
whole. It means the crippling of transportation and of industries,
and untold suffering to millions who have no direct interest in the
miners' labor troubles and who are assumed to have the right to
enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness unhampered by any
one group of industrial workers.
There is much said by the strike leaders about the Government
threatening to reduce the miners to serfdom through the use of the
military and that the employment of force to keep the mines open
in order to keep the industries of the country going is against the
law. These same agitators and organizers are advocating the em-
ployment of force to their own interest. It is a fine example of the
autocracy of labor. The firm stand taken by the Government, sup-
ported by Congress, and, it is hoped, by the citizens generally, will
do much to check this reign of labor autocracy that is sweeping
the country,
T
REVIEW
NOVEMBER 8, 1919
We in our own trade are finding these same conditions existing
to a certain degree. Labor is not satisfied in demanding shorter hours
and higher pay, but demands union recognition and the power to
dictate to the manufacturer just how he will run his plant and who
he will hire to run it. When union effort and the idea of collective
bargaining is brought to a point where it operates on a basis of
fairness much will have been gained. When the opportunity is sim-
ply utilized as a means for exerting force to win concessions that
are often distinctly unjust, then unionism is bound to be discouraged.
Many union labor leaders recognize this fact right now and acclaim
it publicly. Wbat is now necessary is to force the radicals to accept
the same viewpoint.
HIS MEMORY SHALL LONG ENDURE
HE passing of Charles H. Steinway, president of Steinway &
T
Sons, which was recorded in last week's Review, is a loss
not only to the house of which he was the esteemed executive, but
also is a loss to the entire music trade industry. The name of
Steinway is so intermingled with the early history and development
of the piano and of musical appreciation generally in America, that
the death of such a worthy representative of the house as Charles
H. Steinway is an event of international importance.
Since Charles H. Steinway assumed the presidency of Steinway
& Sons, following' the death of his uncle, he had ever exercised a
most beneficent influence on every department of the business. He
was a man who believed in accomplishments rather than words. He
disliked flambouyancy of speech or action, and worked along those
quiet, constructive lines that were ever in keeping with the dignity
of the Steinway institution. Like his forbears, he was keenly inter-
ested in the musical advance of America and contributed in various
ways to this end. Personally he was a man of charming disposition
and he attracted a large number of friends, who valued him for his
many estimable traits of character.
Although Mr. Steinway never boasted of his skill as a musician,
yet he was a pianist and composer of no mean ability, and he ever
kept foremost the Steinway traditions and ideals in the manufac-
ture of pianos. In this respect he worthily wore the mantle of his
uncle, William Steinway. To his relatives and associates in Stein-
way Hall The Review extends its condolences, and in this we feel
sure we are joined by an army of manufacturers, dealers and musi-
cians throughout the country, for the Steinway house has ever been
identified with musical art, both locally and nationally.
INDICATIONS OF PROGRESS
the past few weeks there has been announced the
W ITHIN
reorganization along broad lines of several of the promi-
nent manufacturing concerns in the music trade. That this de-
velopment has been carried out at this particular time is signifi-
cant as indicating that these members of the trade not only have
confidence in the immediate future of the industry, but are will-
ing to back up that confidence in a positive manner, and are
planning to be prepared for the coming trade expansion. More-
over, in several instances, bankers of more than local prominence
and leading business men in other lines have cast their lot in the
piano trade—a trade at which, not so very long ago, some bank-
ers looked askance. In these days of industrial stress, these calm
preparations for the future are most encouraging and are calcu-
lated to promote the general confidence that is so essential to our
industry at the present time.
CHECKING MAIL ORDER COMPETITION
CCORDING to a report from Louisville, Ky., the newspapers
A
of that city have refused to publish large talking machine
advertising of a prominent mail order house, with a view to afford-
ing protection to local music dealers. The stand thus taken by the
newspapers is most unusual and should be duly appreciated by the
Louisville retailers. The advertising was refused by the news-
papers, not because it was unethical or misleading, but because, al-
though of a proper nature, it was calculated to take from the city
the business to which local merchants were properly entitled. It
will be interesting to see if this new method of checking mail order
competition gains ground. It certainly should be encouraged by
local merchants who, through the medium of rent, taxes and wages,
are contributing to the prosperity of their respective communities.