The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1915)

24 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. Members of the National Association of Talking Machine Jc ;r CONVENTION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS— (Continued from page 23). traffic committee, increased the classification on disc and cylinder records from first class to double first class, or 100 per cent. Your committee was apprised of this action at the adjournment of our last convention at Atlantic City. "Upon receipt of this intelligence, your chairman immediately got in touch with Mr. Fulghum, of the Victor Co.; Mr. Rogers, traffic manager of the Edison Co.; Mr. French, traffic manager of the Columbia Co., and called a meeting of these gentlemen, which was held at the Knickerbocker Hotel, New York. "At this meeting it was decided to petition the Southern classification committee for a reduction of the classification or return to the old rate. This was done. On February 1 the Southern classification committee met at Atlanta, Ga., and your traffic committee, the writer as chairman, together with Mr. Rauth, secretary of our association; Mr. Upshaw, of Atlanta, Ga. ; Mr. Randall, of Lyon & Healy ; Messrs. Fulghum and Schenk, of the Victor Co. ; Rogers, of the Edison, and French, of the Columbia Co., appeared, arguing in behalf of our petition. "A few weeks after our hearing we were advised that our efforts were in part successful, in that the rating had been reduced from double first class to one and one-half first class, which rating we were not satisfied with. "A meeting to consider further plans of action was held in Philadelphia on the 4th of March, and adjourned to New York on the 5th. At this meeting George E. Mickel, president, and E. C. Rauth, secretary of the association, were present. It was decided to again petition the Southern classification committee asking a reduction from one and onehalf first class to first class rating on talking machine records, which was done. "During the interim your committee sent out a letter to every member of the association, also to those who were not members, together with a report blank, requesting each distributer to fill out the blank and return to your committee, so that they could have this information in order to file with the classification committee in support of our petition. "I am happy to say that all of our members gave the request their immediate acquiescence. "The chairman of your committee, together with Messrs. Fulghum, of the Victor Co. ; Rogers, of the Edison ; French, of the Columbia Co., and Upshaw, of the Elyea-Austell Co., Atlanta, Ga., appeared before the Southern classification committee at its meeting held on July 6 at Atlantic City, and again presented our evidence in support of our petition, and it is fervently hoped that our efforts will be successful. "While the majority of our members are enjoying favorable classification on Victor records, some therefore might think that the matter concerns only those Southern distributers affected ; still we must presage what the future has in store. For instance, should the Southern classification committee rule adversely, thus establishing a precedent for higher classification on disc records, it would not take long before the official and Western classification committees would take advantage of the precedent thus established, increasing the classification in their respective districts. "If this would happen it would mean additional expenditure by the distributers and dealers throughout the United States of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, which amount would come out of the profits of those engaged in the business. The traffic problem is a serious one and should be carefully watched. "Your traffic committee labored assiduously to get together a sufficient number of our people to make the trip to the convention from Chicago by special train, as you all know. "While the special train was not possible on account of not obtaining the required number of persons, still I am happy to report that there was a sufficient number to warrant three special cars, and it goes without saying that everyone had a glorious time en route. Respectfully submitted, "L. C. Wiswell, ''Chairman Traffic Committee." First Class Classification Granted. Since writing the above report Mr. Wiswell stated that he had received a telegram from a representative of the Southern classification committee informing him that the committee had acted favorably on the petition, and that first class classification on disc records has been adopted by the body. After the traffic committee had been highly complimented for its excellent work, Secretary Rauth rendered the following interesting report for the year : SECRETARY'S REPORT. "At the close of our last annual meeting at Atlantic City, July 6, 1914, this association totaled eighty-five members, all of whom are Victor jobbers with the exception of two. Since that time we have had two resignations, your executive committee dropped three from membership, three have discontinued business and one has been dropped for non-payment of dues. "We have received nine new members, four regular jobbers and five branch house jobbers, which makes the membership of the association now stand at a total of eighty-eight members, seventyeight regular and ten branch, all jobbing the Victor line with the exception of one. "The association is in a flourishing condition, and all moneys collected through your secretary'* office have been turned over to the treasurer. "The executive committee, since the eighth annual convention, has had one meeting, which was View of San Francisco and the Panama-Pacific Exposition, SI