Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From a Traveler's Note Book.
THE TENDENCY OF THE TIMES IS TOWARDS CONSOLIDATION — SMALLER MERCHANTS ARE BEING
FORCED TO THE WALL
THE NUMBER OF MUSIC DEALERS DECREASING THE FIGHT MADE
ON DEPARTMENT STORES IN CHICAGO THE FIGHT USELESS THE COURIER LIE
NAILED—THE FREE BASIS WILL NOT SUCCEED IN JOURNALISM — THE REVIEW
CIRCULATION TRADE IN CHICAGO—THE JOHN CHURCH CO. WILL
FIGHT ALL INFRINGEMENTS ON THE PLECTRAPHONE PATENTS
EDWIN A. POTTER FOR MAYOR VISITORS IN TOWN A
CLEVER LYON &- HEALY ADVERTISEMENT DEATH OF
HENRY KLEBER THE GREAT HOUSES OF CHICAGO
OFF FOR THE NORTHWEST.
HE tendency of the age is to-
wards consolidation, and capi-
tal naturally centralizes in
great enterprises. To-day it
is bulk—volume—amount—
which is the one great factor
in making a fair showing in
the year's business. Large profits on indi-
vidual sales, save in sporadic cases, have
been long since relegated in a general way
to a non-resurrectable oblivion. It is con
centration of wealth, of honor, of intel-
lect which makes a business concern great.
True, it is hard for the smaller merchants
to take the truth home with them, that their
business is being ruined by the larger store
wherein is the larger aggregation of capi-
tal and, I may add, in many cases larger
aggregation of brains; but it is useless to
dispute cold facts, and the facts are before
us all. We must learn lessons in history
to know of the past, appreciate the present,
and to even in a small way forecast the
future. But history—plain history—irre-
futable history—deals with cold facts, and
no man possessed of even ordinary intelli-
gence can fail to read in the pages of our
mercantile industrial history that things
are surely setting in the current which tends
towards greater breadth in everything—
greater business, but less individual profits.
Bulk, concentration, consolidation—that is
the cry. Of course, all this means the
elimination, to a large extent, of the smaller
manufacturer and the smaller merchant.
There can be no question but that he will
be forced to succumb when the thumb-
screws of modern competition, with its
condensed and centripetal forces, are ap-
plied. He must, metaphorically, toss up
the business sponge; he is knocked out by
the Corbettesque blows dealt by an adver-
sary which overpowers him.
*
*
* *
from our modern industrial development
have placed us—yea, have forced us.
It is useless to attempt to force the tide
back. The sea of human development has
set in, in such a way that it is impossible
for the individual to attempt to thwart its
onward flow, for, like Mrs. Partington,
who tried to hold back the waves with her
broom, he will realize that his efforts
count for naught.
A. T. Stewart saw, years ago, the trend
of our affairs towards consolidation and
concentration, which meant for the pur-
chasers—the masses—lower prices. He
succeeded, but with his death did depart-
ment stores die? No! Showing that the
man anticipated the peculiar turn in eco-
nomical affairs. Stewart blazed the way,
but if there had been no Stewart, some
Strauss would have arisen.
Not the individual, but the change of
the times made a Stewart possible. Back
of success must be cause.
While writing upon this subject, my at-
tention has been called to an attack made
upon department stores in Chicago, by an
organization known as the Cook County
Business Men's Association. This organ-
ization has been organized by some forty
associations of business men, for the direct
purpose of fighting the department stores.
This they propose to do successfully by
agitation, education and legislation. Pass-
ing by the two former, they propose by
legislation to fight the big stores, the chief
reliance of the leaders being in what might
properly be termed the cumulative tax
system; they hold that a tax should be
levied on each line of business. If a man
wants to engage in a single line of trade
let him pay a tax of $100 to the city. If
he wishes to manage two distinct lines,
let him double the fee. Here is the pro-
Personally I would prefer the old days— posed scheme of taxation.
the days of more peace, some money, and
Depts.
License. Depts.
License.
a mighty sight less annoyance; days when
i
$
ioo
9
$
25,600
competition was seemingly fair and there
2
200
10
51,200
3
400
11
102.400
was at least a modicum of pleasure to be
4
8OO
12
204,800
derived from doing business. Still the
5
1,000
13
409,600
6
3,200
14
819,200
age is iconoclastic and is not as we would
7
6,400
15
1,638,400
wish, but as the peculiar conditions evolved
8
12,800
16
3,276,800
It is claimed that the promoters have
strong backing and will be able to influence
legislation. Suppose they do. I will wager
that if the matter should reach the courts
the whole thing would then be declared
unconstitutional.
It is impossible to legislate against pro-
gress in this country, where the tree of
liberty is planted so deep that it cannot be
uprooted. You cannot create values by
legislation. Neither can competition be
suppressed in a like measure.
A department store, like any other great
business institution, has the power of pat-
ronage behind it. A department store is
not only the natural outcome of the keenest
competition, but it lives, moves, and has
its being in the principle and atmosphere
of competition. It stands on its merits and
invites the fullest rivalry. It compels no
boycotting and requires no one to enter
into restrictive contracts. It is run in the
main by men whose advantage over others
lies largely in the control of greater re-
sources. There is no artificial control of
the market—nothing which savors of trusts.
The same conditions are fast obtaining
in the piano trade, and, as I wrote in one
of my recent communications, the number
of music dealers is steadily decreasing, and
in the larger cities they are gradually being
forced out of business by reason of their
inability to successfully compete with the
larger aggregations of capital. Conditions
materially accentuated by reason of the
ridiculously low installment prices which
obtain in the piano trade. In no other
line of trade is it possible to secure posses-
sion of wares of such valuation for the ab-
surdly low amounts for which one may
purchase pianos.
#
*
# #
Contrary to our own wishes, contrary to
our own hopes, but the facts are indisput-
able and while I personally as a publisher
would like to see the dealers increase in
number, yet my wishes or the wishes of
any individual are not to be considered
even in the slightest degree.
One cannot with exceeding ease or com-
fort breast the current when it is strong in
the opposite direction and no man ever
won lasting fame or position unless upheld
by public sentiment.
*
*
* *
Right here in this great city of the
West are men engaged in the manufacture
and sale of musical instruments, who have
correctly forecast the trend of our musico-
commercial affairs, and have so adjusted
their business arrangements that they have