The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

36 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. The best proposition offered to the talking machine trade this month of July this year of 1912 is the Columbia. Product, Profits and Policy are ait right. Columbia Phonograph Co., Gen'l Tribune Building, New York CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS — (Continued from page 35). tention or be interesting after such a flow of oratory, for I hold the distinctive position at this time of being the last speaker. You have already enjoyed the Colonel's (Kernel's), and I fear I will represent the husk. Then, again, I have not the benefit of age as compared to the former speakers, so you see you must make much allowance. "There is a theme running through the remarks of the two preceding speakers which calls for harmony, and I will use that as the keynote of my remarks. Why should we not have harmony, when our business is supposed to produce it in unlimited quantity. Unfortunately, at times we hear discord, but if we are alert and take the proper course the discord is silenced, necessary repairs are made, and what we hear thereafter f torn the instrument of former discord becomes harmony again. It makes our patriotism sparkle, makes our blood flow quickly, and our heart beat £<et 10 hear reference to former national strife, and the final harmony as related in the speech of the Colonei from Virginia. "There is no North or South, East or West, to-day among truly patriotic Americans in times of trouble, and the past strife of our Civil War its cause, and everything is forgotten, or at least sufficiently so that we can work as a unit in the re-United States, and fight shoulder to shoulder against any outside influence that attempts to invade our present peaceful condition. "I have always felt that the most serious strife is that which starts within our ranks, and that much of it could be avoided if we worked from the heart with the aid of the head. The problems of our country to-day cannot be solved permanently without this method. You will find most men are good at heart, but influence, which they seem to be unable to resist, cause them to use the head without the proper guidance of the heart, and when the latter does resume its proper function, it is hard to repair the damage. There are many creeds, causes, opinions and otherwise, but most men have a conscience, which, if followed would produce harmony among their fellow men. "I feel deeply the responsibility that has been placed upon me as shown in the confidence of my fellow members in electing me president of this association, and I hope that my actions will fully justify it. While I am your youngest president, my experience dates back many years, for I cast my lot with this business at the age of 17, and let me say right now that I have never regretted it, and I consider by comparison, it is an industry of which we can be most proud. "It has appeared to me that organizations, whether of the ordinary commercial kind, or otherwise, are inclined to be extreme. There is a tendency, according to my experience, to either attempt too much or do nothing. This reminds me of the first association of jobbers, which was known as the Talking Machine Jobbers' Association of the United States. There are probably not over two or three ' in a room who, were members, but they will remember that our failure; was through attempting too much. The present association is the outgrowth of former ones, the consolidation of sectional jobbers' associations and the blending of them all. We have accomplished much because we have proceeded along fair lines. The jobbers of the United States should be a forecful body for good, and I think the few manufacturers we now have are justified in expecting support, and should be pledged to give theirs to the emmon cause, for the welfare of our industry. The reward is big enough for us all, and while we may have differeent opinions, affiliations, and are tempted to be guided accordingly, we should be broad and fairminded enough to recognize the rights and wishes of others. "As jobbers, I feel that we should very reluctantly extend support to those who might invade the field beyond the present representation in the manufacture of competing goods, at least until they have proven that their policy will be one that will maintain or even improve the standard of the industry, as it is to-day. Is it not, therefore, better that we should be satisfied with a fair share of the prize, recognizing the rights of others to different opinions and decisions, and for the sake of harmony avoid strife within our own ranks ; that we should all stand together in the common cause of all? Is this not the feeling we should show in regard to the 'Oldfield bill,' which threatens to tear down the 'one price system,' the foundation of our business? Let us forget the little differences of opinion when we must defend ourselves against such an enemy, and let .us stand shoulder to shoulder in such a cause. There will be no strife or difference of opinion among us on this if we will all show the proper broad and fair spirit toward each other. "I do not want to take more of your time, except to say that as president I will do everything within my power to carry out the prediction of the friend who placed me in nomination, and if I do not give you "the best administration you ever had' it will be because the task is so difficult, and not through any lack of sincere effort on my part." The banqet came to a close with the introduction of J. G. Corley, of the Corley Piano Co., Richmond, Va., and some interesting closing remarks on the part of the toastmastef, which he referred to as his "swan song." Those Present. Those in attendance included J. Newcomb Blackman, Blackman Talking Machine Co., New York ; Max Landay and T. W. Eickky, Landay Bros., New York; Lawrence McGreal, Milwaukee; O. L. Neal, Neal, Clark & Neal, Buffalo; C. N. Andrews, of W. D. Andrews, Buffalo; Fred Seamon, Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Chicago ; H. P. Ruff, F. L. Frisgie, Grinnell Bros., Detroit, Mich. ; E. A. S. Barklow, of Silas A. Pearsall, New York; I. Davega, New York ; Burton J. Pierce, J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co., Kansas City, Mo. ; G. A. Young, Finch & Hahn, Albany, N. Y. ; Emanuel Blout, New York; T. H. Tow ell, Eclipse Musical Co., Cleveland, O. ; R. H. Morris, American Talking Machine Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Carl A. Droop and W. C. Roperts, E. F. Droop & Sons Co., Washington, D. C. ; Louis Buehn, L. Buehn & Bro., Philadelphia; H. H. Blish, of Harger & Blish, Des Moines, la.; G. A. Miers, W. J. Dyer & Bro., Cleveland; Perry B. Whitsit and W. B. Davisson, Perry B. Whitsit Co., Columbus; E. F. Taft and W. H. Beck, Eastern Talking Machine Co., Boston ; Jas. F. Bowers and L. C. Wiswell, Lyon & Healy, Chicago; S. B. Davega, New York; A. W. Toennies, Eclipse Phonograph Co., Hoboken, N. J. ; J. H. Dittrich, Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Cincinnati, O. ; H. W. Weymann, H. A. Weymann & Son, Philadelphia; W. H. Reynalds, Mobile, Ala.; Benjamin Switky, New York; J. C. Roush, Standard Talking Machine Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Geo. E Michel, Nebraska Cycle Co., Omaha, Neb. ; . F. H. Putnam, Putnam-Page Co., Inc., Peoria, 111. ; H. B. Levy and Ruby Spaulding, Aeolian Co., New York; J. G. Corley and Fred Kesney, Corley Piano Co., Richmond, Va. ; Henry F. Miller, J. B. Miller and G. W. Barnhill, Penn Phonograph Co., Philadelphia; A. A. Trossler, Schmelzer Arms Co., Kansas City, Mo. ; S. P. Carmay and H. L. Royer, M. Steinert & Sons Co., Boston ; E. C, Rauth, Koerber-Brenner Music Co., St. Louis : F. J. Heppe, C. J. Heppe & Sons Co., Philadelphia; J. Fisher, C. C. Mellor Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; G. S. Marigold, Southern California Music Co., Los Angeles, Cal. ; E. W. Guttenberg and O. K. Houck, O. K. Houck Piano Co., Memphis, Tenn. ; L. J. Gerson and P. P. Cornell, John Wanamaker, Philadelphia and New York; J. M. Swanson, Houston Phonograph Co., Houston, Tex. ; W. C. Ludlow and W. M. English, Wulschner-Stewart Music Co., Columbus, O. ; R. C. Rogers, of Robt. C. Rogers Co., Washington, D. C. ; A. Boden, L. Mazier, M. Silverstein and J. S. Cohen, of Cohen & Hughes, Baltimore; H. A. Ellis, Talking Machine Co., Philadelphia; H. T. Walz, W. G. Walz Co., El Paso, Tex.; H. G. Stanton, R. S. Williams & Sons Co., Toronto, Ont ; J. P. Werlein, Philip Werlein, Ltd., New Orleans; Milton Goldsmith, Sol Bloom, Inc., New York; O. K. Houck, O. K. Houck Piano Co., Little Rock, Ark.; Allen Wellbrun, O. K. Houck Piano Co., Nashville, Tenn.; E. P. Hamilton, Frederick Loeser & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. ; J. D. Moore, E. E. Forbes Piano Co., Birmingham, Ala. ; Frank Nestor, W. F. Frederick Piano Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. ; H. A. Winkelman, Oliver Ditson Co., Boston ; N. Goldfinger, Greenhut-SiegelCooper Co., New York ; S. W. Koehler, Koehler .& Hinrichs, St. Paul, Minn. Manager Walthall, of the Columbia Phonograph Co., Louisville, Ky., had a fine exhibit of graphophones, grafonolas and Columbia records at the Kentucky State Teachers' Association, which met in Louisville the week of June 25. There were over fi.OOO teachers in attendance and we know of no better means of advertising than the course pursued by the local Columbia manager.