Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
iron district through Birmingham is in tion. We need " men " at the ballot who
very fine condition. Birmingham is grow- will vote on this basis.
If our government was firmly estab-
ing very rapidly and values are increasing.
Competition in the piano line is very lished and maintained on a moral basis,
strong as the State is fully covered by sev- and moral issues the prime ones, the mon-
eral firms. I mail you a marked paper etary issues would take care of themselves
which will show you the feeling that a and the capital and labor questions would
competitor has for me. All music men I adjust themselves, but as long as men use
think, are doing a good business. For my- office for self aggrandizement instead of
self, I have had the best trade during the serving the people's interests we may not
last twelve months I have ever had during expect trade betterment only for the few.
the history of my business. I expect to WRAY BROS., Dallas, Texas.
remodel my store in this city and have as
YOUMQ BROS. CO , Salt Lake City.
We are away down here in one side of
We believe the political contest about to creditable a store as there can be found in the United States, in what we consider one
our
State.
begin will have a decidedly detrimental
of the greatest, largest and grandest states
effect upon business, until after the elec- LOS ANGELES PIANO CO., Los Angeles, Cal, in the Union, and as a matter of fact, a
We believe the Presidential Election has purely Democratic State, and as our coun-
tion is settled. After the contest, which will
result in the election of Mr. McKinley, we always a more or less unfavorable effect try is a farming and cattle raising one, at
will have four years of unprecedented pros- upon general business. This year we present, and only beginning to branch out
perity. As to the local outlook for crops, think it will be reduced to a minimum. in manufacturing, we do not believe, nor
on account of the drought, we will lose The outlook for business is very good. think that the heavy struggle for Presi-
The election will, undoubtedly, delay, but it dential honors, that is going to be made
about one-third of the crop.
can have but little effect upon the volume this time, will have very much effect on
BYRON r\AUZv, San Francisco, Cal.
The Presidential election does not affect of fall trade when it finally opens. With the our line of business, in this state. At
our business on the coast as much as it exception of the hay and grain crops, the least, we feel sure that it will be nothing
does in the East. We are expecting a country, we believe, is in a prosperous to compare with some of the middle and
good fall trade, and, as the crops are excel- condition; the above named crops suffered eastern states, that are depending very
lent throttghout the state and prices are somewhat from want of rain, otherwise nearly wholly on their manufacturing en-
very good, we see no reason why we should the farmers and ranchers appear reason- terprises.
ably happy.
Our experience in Texas is, that all we
not have the same.
In regard to methods of competition need is good prices for our farming prod-
The methods of competition in the piano
line here are probably the same as in al- here, they are, we presume, about the ucts and cattle, and good seasons, and we
most any other large city. We have a same as obtain nearer the rising sun, always have what we term good business,
large number of stores, and almost every though we hope the method of professing all of which we are surely blessed with
factory is represented here. Many dealers ignorance as to the address or existence of this year. We consider that we have the
in trying to further their business inter- a rival house and the method of selling best business outlook, in Texas for this
ests are offering all sorts of inducements, pianos at $6.00 per month—"nothing down fall's piano and organ trade, that we have
and are giving terms that are below that of and no interest"—is not in vogue there as had for many years, and expect to be able
rental. We have kept aloof from this kind here. We opine there is much more mean- to do ourselves a fair amount of business,
of competition, and do not offer anything for ness, or madness, in the methods cited but we are putting forth every effort possi-
sale less than the $10 a month installment, than business common.sense. Everyman, ble to do a more conservative business than
believing that it is better to do a conserva- in giving his opinion as to who will be the we have ever done heretofore.
tive business than to force pianos on peo- next President, would, undoubtedly, be
Our experience teaches us that most people
ple who cannot afford to pay for the same. biased to some degree by his personal pre- in this country who are in the piano and
In regard, to the election, we believe ference, but the signs, we think, point to organ business, are inclined to sell goods
that there is no doubt that McKinley will the present administration continuing in regardless of whom they sell them to, or
be re-elected, and that California will be office for the next four years. This, in what kind of paper they take, which is
fact, is our reason for believing that the detrimental in many ways to their busi-
upon the right side of the contest.
election
will cause little disturbance in the ness, and especially worrying and vexing
JOHN B^OWN, Wilmington. Delaware.
business world this year, as it is the un- to the factories, who have their men sell-
The building trades here are doing little certainty as to the result rather than the
or nothing, owing to advance in material, actual election "hurrah!" which is de- ing goods for them on a consignment
basis, and giving long winded terms on
mostly caused by "trusts."
trimental to business.
pianos.
Crops are as fine as could be desired; BRYANT E. WADE, Battle Creek, nich.
It cost one and one-third as much ex-
the farmers are anticipating trouble in se-
curing sufficient freight cars for "peaches."
Business will certainly be materially re- pense to sell the poor class of trade that
Work is abundant at all the manufactur- tarded until after the presidential election is not able to buy pianos as it does to
ing plants, and no man need be idle. The and its duration will be determined by the sell parties who are able to make good pay-
result. In this location crops are always ments on instruments and pay them out
prospect for the Fall trade is very good.
As to the Presidential election, my em- good with occasional local exceptions but after they have bought them. In selling a
good class of customers there is no repos-
phatic opinion is that it is 16 to i against farther north they are very poor.
You haven't space nor would you care to sessing or taking back of pianos to be
Bryan; the people do not want the money
question changed but there is a growing print all the methods adopted in piano done which is very expensive to the fac-
unrest against the " t r u s t s " which I think competition. The stencil pianos play alto- tories and dealers, as it costs an average of
will be the downfall of the G.O.P. four gether too large a part and especially as from $20 to $30 to repossess a piano, after
you have put it out to parties who are un-
years hence, if permitted to grow, as they they are not represented as they are.
have done the last few years.
There has been an extreme demand for able to pay for them, consequently we are
E. E. FORBES, Montgomery, Ala.
cheap goods, which demand has lately been becoming more and more inclined to let
the other fellow have the cheap John trade
My opinion is that the election will not slowly decreasing but the coming election that cannot make a good cash payment
have the same bad effect upon business as may change matters either for better or when they buy their piano.
it did four years ago. It is generally con- worse as pianos are strictly a luxury and
As above stated, our opinion is, that we
ceded, I think, through our section of the not a necessity.
will
not be bothered very much this year
The
encouragement
for
trade
betterment
country, that the election of President Mc-
Kinley is assured.
Our state will vote depends wholly upon the election returns. with the presidential election or the agita-
For one in my position, it would be tion of same; at least we have not been up
Democratic. I think a great majority of
our business men are gold standard, there- either presumption or guessing to name to the present date. Our crops are fine,
fore, are not in sympathy with the policy the next president, but if you will allow it and are bringing good prices and our
of our party. Our crops have been very the latter, I will name the present incum- cattle interests were never better in this
much damaged by rains, and cotton seems bent, Honorable Wm. McKinley as his own State, or more profitable than they are at
the present time, which guarantees beyond
to be growing to stalk without fruit, that successor.
any doubt a good business.
Right
here
I
ask
the
indulgence
of
all
has been cultivated, and that which has
We believe that there is a constantly
not been cultivated has been consumed by readers for saying I should be delighted if
growing
determination among the repre-
this
could
be
the
outcome,
if
our
honored
grass. It is now dry here and very warm.
Should we have a drouth of two or three president had retained the dignity of his sentatives of the manufacturers and best
weeks, our crops will amount to very little. office, saved the lives of hundreds of our dealers of our State, for the betterment of
In the event that we have reasonable sea- brave soldier boys, and the souls of hun- the piano and organ trade, in this State
sons from now on until September, we dreds more by abolishing, as was his power and locality, and while competition is very
sharp and hard we feel that the time is
will, I think, have a good fall trade, as the and duty, the accursed "canteen."
indications are that we will get a good
We need presidents as well as men who nearing when the piano business in Texas
price for what product we raise and our will " stand " for principle and not re-elec- will be conducted on as fair and square a
country will not change the present re-
gime. If times were "hard" and business
bad and prospects less bright, such a
change might be desired. What, in our
opinion, brings private success, brings suc-
cess to a great commercial nation like ours
—honesty, integrity, large endeavor and
persistence. We shall be pleased to re-
ceive the copy of your paper containing
the sentiments of the dealers throughout
the country, as it and they will be very
interesting and helpful.