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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
whole view with a feeling akin to sus-
picion, for such methods are not business-
like and are not necessary in a competitive
sense. A dealer who follows a local
competitor in this plan, might as well,
applying the same kind of logic, jump
off the dock and commit suicide just be-
cause some other man did.
Competition is regarded by some as the
desire of one man to undersell the other
on the theory that the more damage he
could do to the other would better himself.
To our minds that is a ridiculous view to
take of competition. Competition is the
logical result of the cheapening of goods
brought about by certain economic causes,
principal among which may be reckoned
improved machinery and new inventions.
The cause of competition is to be found in
the lessening of the cost of production,
and not in the desire of one man to cut
another.
This we apply purely to the manufactur-
ing field, and if the dealers are bound to
cut at each other and slash each other's
throats, why, that is their affair. Low prices
in the piano world, brought about by the de-
creased cost of manufacture, have enabled
the piano merchant to mark his goods
down to a surprisingly low point over
those of years agone. Still it should not
follow that the decreased cost of manufac-
turing should mean the open door through
which he has to enter to the ruination of
his own retail trade. Competition should
not be synonymous with business debase-
ment. A man who offers his goods lower
does it because they cost him less, or, ac-
cording to the reasoning of the department
store man, that he can afford to because
larger sales secure him a profit in the ag-
gregate.
There is only one way to view competi-
tion, and that is by meeting it. Talking
about it does not remove the seat of the
trouble. It should be met, and met on the
proper basis, but there are kinds of com-
petition in the piano trade which we may
designate by that inelegant, yet expressive
word, rotten. That word is fittingly ap-
propriate to some of the methods adopted
by piano men, which should not be fol-
lowed by others or looked upon as a kind
of competition. That should be properly
classed as business suicide, and there is no
reason why, if one man wishes to draw a
knife across his own throat, another should
do likewise.
The new century will improve matters
along these lines.
T H E trust discussion has simmered into
nothingness as far as the piano in-
dustry is concerned, and there seems to be
at the present time no good reason why the
subject will be revived during the new
year Tremendously depressed conditions
would be instrumental in creating new
discussions along trust lines, thus bringing
about new possibilities.
T ABOR troubles have been of a sporadic
character during the industry this
year. There have been several local dis-
turbances yet they have not seriously crip-
pled the output as a whole. Some manu-
facturers, notably in Cincinnati, lost a large
portion of their fall business through labor
troubles.
T R A D E journalism too has shown steady
advance during the past year. ,On
the whole, trade journalism to-day has be-
come generally recognized as an education-
al force which cannot be easily passed by
in the cultivation of special interest in
special wares.
For The Review 1900 ranks as the ban-
ner year.
We have worked steadily to advance
what we have believed to be the best inter-
ests of the industry, and to uphold its dig-
nity. We have been inclined by peaceful
means to force a recognition of the fact
that trade journalism stands well to the
front of the liberal professions. The rec-
ord of this institution is well known, and
its increased business proves that rightly
conducted journalism is being recognized
to an extent that it never was in years past.
T H E end of the year closes the con-
troversy regarding whether 1900
begins the twentieth or ends the nine-
teenth century. No one can doubt that we
round the line of demarcation next week.
The nineteenth century in point of
advance and progressiveness eclipses all
others of which we have record. It is to be
regretted that its closing years should have
been marked by war, but, after all, the
wars of the past three or four years have
been comparatively bloodless when compar-
ed with those of earlier days.
What marvelous progress has been made
in art, science and industry during the
century whose requiem is now sung. The
whole world has been brought into close
contact, inventions almost human in their
accomplishment have been perfected, and
it would seem almost impossible for the
twentieth century to rank as iconoclastic
in many ways as has its predecessor which
has been practically a space annihilator.
It seems beyond human accomplishment
to win such marvelous advance as has
been made during the past half century,
still we have no doubt that the new one
will render a good account of itself, for
the age is evolutionistic and forward not
backward runs the tide of progress.
In the piano industry tremendous ad-
vance has been made and America within
a comparatively brief period of time has
become the greatest piano and organ pro-
ducing country on earth, and not only the
largest in aggregate output, but greatest
in point of individual output, for there
are no firms in Europe which even ap-
proach the great manufacturing concerns
of America.
In point of factory system and equip-
ment we are far ahead of Europe, and al-
ready American competition has created
such havoc in Europe that it has been pro-
posed to exclude visitors from certain piano
factories for fear they are spies represent-
ing American concerns who would glean
factory information which could be used
advantageously in this country.
What tommy rot! There are some things
in which we may still lean toward Europe
for information, but not in piano making,
and surely not in factory system, for the
American equipment is immeasurably
ahead of the antiquated forms now in
vogue in so many European factories.
TVJOW and then the ghost of the stencil is
paraded in view of some manufactur-
ers with the hope that it will strike terror
to their hearts. Stencil agitation for the
past year has created but a ripple on the
piano surface, and as a means of coercing
men into bestowing patronage upon a jour-
nalistic enterprise has long since passed
into its decadence.
T H E R E are still some weekly publica-
tions which will insist upon produc-
ing Christmas numbers and various other
"specials." As a whole, however, this
system of working advertisers has become
practically obsolete, not only in this indus-
try but in all others, for a careful perusal
of the list of leading American trade jour-
nals will show that a small percentage in-
deed has endeavored to bring forth a
special holiday number.
The management of this institution for
years has been opposed to specials of
any nature whatsoever. We believe that
the individuality of the advertiser is lost
when surrounded by a hundred more who
exploit their wares in the same issue. It is
better far to occupy a strong position in a
regular issue than to be lost among many
in a large edition.
A "Special for" each advertiser is our
slogan rather than a special for all at one
time.
—with its struggles, with its tri
umphs, with its joys, with its sor-
rows, with its successes, with its failures.
The year and the century now passes into
history. Vale, nineteenth century! Hail
and farewell! Let us turn to the spotless
page of 1901,