The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 7 It is not only the dropped-forged tempered steel needle arm, or the grommet-connection of needle arm and diaphragm, or the scientific exactness of its construction, but the perfect combination of these features that is giving the trade so much interest in the tone-results of the new No. 6 Columbia reproducer. Columbia Graphophone Company Tribune Building, New York THE LAW GOVERNING THE USE OF PROXIES. James F. Bowers Submits Legal Opinion from Judge C. N. Goodwin, Who Prepared the Charter of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers, Covering the Above Question — Proxy as Proper and as Legitimate as a Personal Vote. The use of proxies has been a subject which has been discussed in trade circles considerably during the past few months, and upon this subject we have received the following communication from James F. Bowers, of Lyon & Healy, Chicago. Mr. Bowers was the first president of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers and has been prominently identified with other trade organizations, among which may be named the Piano .Merchants' National Association, in which he has held a high official position for a number of yeaTs. Mr. Bowers, therefore, speaks as a man of experience and a parliamentarian of admittedly high rank. Chicago, 111, Jan. 25, 1913. My Dear Colonel Bill — I have read with much interest your editorial in the last issue of The World in reference to the question asked you in regard to voting by proxy at the meetings of the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers. There seems to be in the minds of some of the members of the association a rather confused idea as to what a proxy is or what it is for. I think the fears of these members, so to speak, have been played upon by designing persons, who are not members of the association, and I think more of the trouble arises from the fact that some of the members of the association are not accustomed to the ways and acts of deliberative bodies or associations. All this talk of "politics" in the association is the veriest rubbish and nonsense. There is nothing of the kind. A proxy is just as proper and just as legitimate as a personal vote, and there is no impropriety or "politics" whatever in asking a member of the association for a proxy in the event of such member not being able to attend the meeting in person. I beg to enclose herewith a letter to me from the Honorable Clarence N. Goodwin, judge of the Superior Court of Cook County (which includes Chicago), who drew and prepared the incorporation or charter of the association, and which will settle any question as to the right of a member to vote by proxy or to solicit one, and I hope it will (Cbtrettft? ^.(fffaoiihntt.dluiitje Qjljkaijn , 111, January 25,1913. Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of January 21st. 1913* I beg leave to say that the National Association of Talking Maohine Jobbers is incorporated under an aot of the General Assembly of the .State of Illinois entitled "An Aot Conoerning Corporations" as an assooiation not for peouniary profit. Section 31 of that Aot provides with .referenoe to general and special meetings of suoh corporations as follows: "At any suoh meeting members of the corporation may take part and vote in person or by proxy." The right, therefore, to vote and take part in any suoh meeting by proxy oannot be lawfully denied to any member. No amendment to your By-laws oan contravene or set aside a statute of the State of Illinois under whioh you operate and do business. Very truly yours, TO James F. Bowers, Esq. ^i^Ji^J^X\ Q^rzi^^ Judge Goodwin's Letter to J. F. Bowers. close the incident and, as it were, make the minds of the well-meaning members of the association easy. I ask you to give this letter and the opinion of Judge Goodwin space in the next issue of The World. Very truly yours, J. F. Bowers. Col. Edward Lyman Bill. ANXIOUS FOR NEW MACHINE. Army Officer Keeps in Touch With Progress on Disc Machines and Records While Duty Takes Him Half Way Around the World — Machines Shipped by Express to Impatient Ones — Demands from Old-time Edison Admirers Feature of Present-Day Business. An instance of the general interest to those who already possess Edison phonographs in the new Edi son disc machines and records, is that furnished by an officer in the United States army, who while in the Philippines a couple of years ago, first wrote to the Edison headquarters at Orange for information regarding the new disc machines and records, and when they would be placed on the market, as he was anxious to secure one to replace his old style cylinder machine. The officer was supplied with the information available at that time and was next hear of from Panama, then Porto Rico, Atlanta, Ga., where he managed to be present at one of the demonstrations, and finally from New York where he is stationed at the present time. The progress made with the new line was reported to him regularly and the prospects are that by this time he has secured one of the much sought machines. "Other Edison enthusiasts were so anxious to secure machines, with or without records, that a: the urgent request of dealers machines have been sent by express to several cities in the Middle West and even so far as the Pacific Coast, a costly proceeding at best. M. P. MARTIN CO. ORGANIZED. Succeeds the Harper & Miller Music Co. in Hutchinson, Kan. — Handling a Full Line of Victor and Edison Talking Machines. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Hutchinson, Kan., Feb. 6, 1913. The M. P. Martin Music Co., which was recently organized in this city with a capital stock of $10,000, succeeds the Harper & Miller Music Co., and means an amalgamation of four of the best-known business men in this city, who constitute the board of officers of the company as follows: M. F. Martin, president; J. H. Harper, vice-president; S. A. Poe, secretary, and M. P. Miller, treasurer. The new concern will continue to occupy *-he salesroom of its predecessor at 18 North Main street, and will handle the Sohmer, Bent, Crown, Lester, and other pianos, and the full line of Victor and Edison talking machines. In this connection a large order was recently placed with the Schmelzer Arms Co., of Kansas City, who are the Victor and Edison jobbers in that territory.