The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-13
PIANO MAKERS
ASKED 7OUPHOLD
TAT rs POLICIES
President Decker Urges
Patience on Part
of Public.
GOOD ATTENDANCE
AT ANNUAL M e b T.
Endorsement of Ship Subsidy to
Be Considered-Contest Over
Place Of Next Meeting.
Promin n t Englishrnan
Guest of Body An
nual Dinner Tonight.

Urging patience with existing poll
tical conditions, and advising moral
support of the administration OF Pres
ident Taft, the reading of the annual
report of President Frank c. Decker
to the opening session OF the National
Piano Manufacturers Association Of
America yesterday proved OF mors
than ordinary interest to his hearers.
whether they agreed with him or not.
He took the position that the people
of the nation should not be hasty in
their judSm ent of the President and
his course. believing it to be the best
interest of the whole American people,
and therefore of the piano trade, to
give cordial support to the admins
tration.
plainly for ship subsidy policy and
urged the association to indorse the
Humphrey BILL which has already been
done by the executive committee at
meeting held last January. The in
terest of the piano makers in this
proposition is the desire to develop
trade with South America and AUS
tralia. Under existing conditions.
American-built pianos have to go to
Europe on their way to South Amer
lean ports. and 1t is believed that
WITH eNCOuCdSelueIll 10 stIucLlCdH
shipping, lines of freight steamers
would be run direct, giving manu-
facturers on this side of the water &
better chance in competition with
those of Europe.
For Inland Waterways.
A third item of interest in the pres-
ident's annual address was indorse-
ment OF the project of a national sys-
tenn of inland waterways
In explanation OF the statement re-
gardins President Taft Mr.. Decksr
said that neither he nor the associa-
tion had any desire to go into politics.
He was giving his opinion OF what
was best for the country 1t Is prob
able that the points in the report, es-
pecially that in relation to ship sub
sidy. will come up for consideration by
the association to-day
Fully 200 piano makers and supply
men are already at the Jefferson Hotel.
With the women of their parties. the
total reaches $50. All of these, or
practically all, Will remain for the big
meeting of the National Association8of.
Piano Dealers of the United States
next week. The latter body will bring
not less than 1900 people to Rich
mond a third section. the smallest
of the three. is that of the National
will meet Saturday afternoon. Frank
p. Edgar. of Nreriden. Conn. secretary
of the latter body. arrived last night.
The Association of Manufacturers
has 116 members. but some of these
houses have sent two or more repre-
sentatives, making the number in at
tendance larger than the actual meM-
bership.
Some of the men now in the city
u-1,f hnnSahn11
words because OF their connection with
their products. Among these are:
Jesse French, of st. Louis. with Mrs.
French; j. II. Estey, of Brattleboro.
VT: Roy f. z. Waite, of Chicago; f. $,
Conway, of Chicago; j. r. Mason, OF
Derby. Conn. and E. H. Story. of Chs
cago.
EnEiishman Present.
The central figure in to-day's meets
ings is likely to be Sir Herbert Mar
shall. of London, England. president
ton of Great Britain. Sir Herbert.
with his family, landed in New York.
Wednesday on the steamship caronia,
OF the Cunard Line. He Is we'll known
among the trade in this country. and
will Inevitably be called on to speak
to the plano makers and to respond
to toast at the banquet tonight.
Another prominent man is r. s.
Conway, of Chicago. Mr.. Conway is I
as the leader in the piano
trade OF his city. He is chairman OF !
the Cook County Republican Commit
tee, and is prominently mentioned for
the office Of United States Senator,
having been a candidate at the tima
of the election of William Lorimer.
He is a former president OF the asso-
citation.
The chairman of the press commit
tee is Richard w. Lawrence. of New y
York. Mr. Lawrence knows the news
paper game and can tell reporter
lust what he wants to know, He ia
of the Northsfde Board OF
Trade Of New York City.
4 Routine business.
The first meeting of the Piano Man-
ufacturers' Association was held In
Room No. $40. In the Jefferson Hotel. Ii
at $3.50 yesterday afternoon No bus
mess was transacted save the readlng
Of the reports of the president, tha
the treasurer and the exec
utive committee. All of these, save
that of the treasurer, related purely
to details of business. The associa-
ton already comprises prucSieally all Il
the manufacturers In the country. and A
does not increase much
in membership. The reports showed &
that there is no friction anywhere, all
the members working for the success
of the trade.
Two business meetings will be held
to- day at 10 A. NJ. and . p. NJ. 1o-
night the annual informal subserip-
tion dinner will take place, It will ha
followed by addresses from, tho leaa-
ing members.
The manufacturers meeting closes
tomorrow with the election OF oiicera.
i, has been customary to follow tho