The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

July IS, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 73 LIVELY GENERAL CONVENTION OF VICTOR JOBBERS AT ATLANTIC CITY— (Continued from page 72) Machine Jobbers, Held at the Hotel Traymore, Atlantic Third — The incoming president be authorized to continue employment of legal counsel according to his judgment, subject to the approval of the executive committee. Fourth — That the executive committee's reports and recommendations to the board of directors of the Victor Co., dated January 28, 1919, be reviewed and supplemented according to the judgment of this convention or the executive committee. ^iNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiimiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiin I Interesting and Constructive | I Report by Secretary Roush | flllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!IIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII^ The next report presented, which was likewise comprehensive and interesting, was that of the secretary, Joseph C. Roush, and was, complete, as follows: The more important phases of the secretary's work since our last convention in July, 1917, have been covered from time to time by written reports direct to the membership. In addition to the usual routine duties of the secretary's office during the past two years The Palm Beach Twins, E. P. Hamilton and Thos. H. Green there has been considerable special work, occasioning a number of trips to Philadelphia, to Washington and to the factory for conferences with President Blackman and other members of the executive board, attendance at hearings before the Federal Trade Commission, conferences with factory officials, etc. The secretary also sent many letters and telegrams to Congressmen and Senators on behalf of the association during our fight on the luxury tax proposition and the other discriminatory features of proposed tax legislation. Since the last convention there have been four meetings of the executive committee as follows: November, 1917; April, 1918; September, 1918, and January, 1919. The necessity for these meetings, the action taken and the results achieved are, I believe, sufficiently well known to the membership without requiring a detailed review. There has been added to the membership roll since July, 1917, the George D. Ornstein Co., of Philadelphia, Pa. Upon the admission of this company to membership it was consid City, N. J., June 30 to July 2 ered that the important part which Mr. Ornstein had played in establishing and perpetuating the system of distribution which has made this association possible entitled him to a special note of welcome to our ranks. Accordingly, the executive board adopted a special resolution and caused it to be spread upon the minutes of the association and directed that a copy be suitably inscribed and delivered to Mr. Ornstein. Upon receipt *of the secretary's letter enclosing the resolution Mr. Ornstein replied: "Please accept and express to the members of the asso J. C. Roush, Retiring Secretary ciation my very sincere thanks for the very beautiful and highly flattering testimonial. It is most gratifying to have the little service which I rendered to the distributors acknowledged in this manner. "Your very truly, Geo. D. Ornstein." The association has lost the following members; C. Becker, Guatemala, C. A.; S. B. Davega, New York, N. Y. ; Consolidated Talking Machine Co., Salt Lake City, Utah; Greenhut Co., New York, N. Y.; O. K. Houck Piano Co., Nashville, Tenn.; O. K. Houck Piano Co., Little Rock, Ark.; Orton Bros., Butte, Mont., and John Wanamaker, New York, N.'Y. These changes leave us a total membership at this time as follows: Full, 79; branch, 8; total membership, 87. The secretary has collected and turned over to the treasurer since July, 1917, the sum of $16,600. He is very pleased to be able to report that all members of the association now on the roster have paid their dues in full to date and that all expense and other bills incurred by the association under its present administration have been paid. There are now no outstanding debts. The affairs of the association will be turned over to the new officers with a clean slate. Members have been advised of the association's reasons for not holding the annual convention for 1918. The sentiment was strongly opposed to a convention upon patriotic grounds, the result of a mail vote on the subject being five for holding and sixty-one against holding a convention. It has been the grievous duty of your secre tary to chronicle since our last general meetjing the deaths of Henry Horton, Elton F. Taft; Mrs. Leslie Wiswell, Robert B. Gregory, C. Hi Eisenbrandt, and Russell B. Steinert. ! Upon receipt of news of the death" of each your secretary immediately sent on behalf of the association floral tributes and suitable expressions of regret. The membership has been supplied with copy of^the written report and recommendations of the association addressed to the Board of Directors of the Victor Talking Machine Co. at the close of the series of meetings held at Philadelphia last January. These recommendations to the factory were summarized under the following heads: 1. Equalization of distributors' costs f. o,, b. distributors' city. ' ' 2. Greatly increased machine production especially on elevens and fourteens. 3. Immediate and adequate supply of popular selections while "hits." 4. Monthly supplement issues not to exceed twenty-five domestic selections. 5. Immediate record cut-out list of not less than 750 domestic selections. 6. Monthly supplements to be printed and distributed from a central Western point. It should be most gratifying and encouraging to our members to observe the sincere and determined manner in which the Victor factory has undertaken to comply with our recommendations, and to note that in every essential respect they have actually complied. While it was not found feasible to print and distribute supplements from a central Western point as recom Fred H. Putnam, Charles Bruno and Fred P. Oliver mended, the problem of supplement distribution has neverthless received earnest consideration, and I am authorized to say the factory will speedily announce a system which promises to give entire satisfaction to all concerned. Measured from the standpoint of results actually achieved, these January meetings were perhaps the most important and productive sessions in the history of the association. I consider these results especially significant because they indicate a readiness upon the part of the Victor Co.'s Directing Board to carefully weigh {Continued on page 74)