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lective "cuss" words for use against political
parties and corporations, and firms and in-
dividuals who don't pay.
It is stated upon excellent authority that
Blumie has ordered one of the volumes in
order to have it within convenient reach
when some of his pet schemes fail to go
through. The decline of his enterprise would
seem to give rise to the belief that he has
been recently afforded splendid opportunities
in which to quote freely from this exclusive
work of our German friend.
T"*HEY are after fraudulent advertising in
the old Bay State. The Massachusetts
House of Representatives has passed a bill
to prevent deceptive advertisements of mer-
chandise in newspapers.
The measure is sweeping, and any person,
firm, or corporation, or any employee, who
in a newspaper, circular or other publication
knowingly makes or disseminates any state-
ment or assertion of fact concerning the
quantity, the quality, the value, the method
of production or manufacture of merchan-
dise, which is calculated to mislead, or whicn
is untrue, shall be liable to a fine of not less
than ten or more than one hundred dollars
for each offense.
This would seem to effectually kill fake
advertising of all kinds, for the measure also
covers misrepresentation regarding the
method of production, or the source of pur-
chase, the possession of awards, prizes, or
distinction conferred on account of such mer-
chandise or the motive or purpose of the sale
intended to give the appearance of an offer
advantageous to the purchaser which is un-
true, or calculated to mislead.
Surely the Bay State is not slow to recog-
nize the advantage of clean advertising.
There has been a great deal of misrepre-
sentation regarding pianos, and newspapers
have been convenient vehicles for the parade
of certain statements which were not fairly
borne out by the instruments offered for sale.
Piano gold bricks have been rampant in
many of the principal cities in these United
States, and it certainly is a wise thing to pass
a law providing for the punishment of fraud-
ulent advertisers.
would think from the reports which
are printed in some of the trade publi-
cations that all of the department stores in
Gotham had embarked in the piano busi-
ness. There are a few prominent ones still
left outside the charmed circle, and it is by
no means certain that some of the firms
which have already been announced in start-
ling headlines by some of our contempora-
ries will really engage in the piano business.
The introduction of the department store
as a piano factor is not wholly pleasing to
the regular dealers in town, but all of the
department stores in New York have not
added pianos to their list, and it is ex-
tremely doubtful if they ever will.
Every now and then file report comes from
Boston that Jordan, Marsh & Co., and R. H.
White & Co. will add a piano department to
their extensive establishments.
Of course such an event may occur, and a
prominent piano of the Hub may go with
them.
We may have an earthquake, too, in New
York, and all of the twenty story buildings
topple over, but scientists affirm that they are
liable to stand for several centuries.
Why disturb ourselves about things which
may come?
ionless sheets which lack value to the ad-
vertiser and to the subscriber.
The activity of the editorial department is
fairly representative of what strength and
individualty there is behind the newspaper
enterprise.
*T*IIIS is the time to burnish up the piano
stocks. The spring season is here. It
is what the farmers would call hay-making
time, and April should be a good piano
month.
It can be if up-to-date methods are adopted.
]t isn't what has been, for the mills will
never grind with water that is passed, and
a good solar plexus blow in the first part of
the fight is worth half a dozen after one has
1 T would seem as if the members of the been mauled about a bit. The up-to-date
Chicago local association are doing ex- piano dealer should jump right in at the first
cellent work, and practical results are being of the season with a full head of steam and
won by this organization. They have not not wait for his competitor to set the pace.
only discussed matters of trade importance,
He should get good pianos, reliable pianos,
but they have arrived at a certain definite
and sell all pianos in their class, and he
understanding concerning trade propositions
should see that the advertising end is ex-
which perhaps will fall into disuse.
ploited along up-to-date lines.
• :
The filling of show windows with placards
is one of the trade propositions which is "THE one price idea is steadily gaining
deemed advisable by the Chicago organiza-
ground, and the more apparent becomes
tion to cut out, and ere long Wabash avenue the necessity for the piano merchant to have
will not be noticeable on account of its al- a system. He is bound to meet more and
luring and sometimes deceptive placards with more department store competition, and he
which show windows have been decorated.
can only successfully battle with this kind of
Boston, too, has taken this matter up, and competition on a business basis, that is, a one
it will be an educative lesson for some of price policy.
'
our Philadelphia brethren to visit neighbor-
We are constantly progressing in the mer-
ing cities and note the improved rules which cantile path towards higher methods and
are being observed in many cities.
higher ideals, and every intelligent man in
HP RADE publications should not only be the trade must understand that fact before all
recorders of current trade happenings, others. He must know that what has gone
but they should be in a large degree moulders before is not nearly good enough, that the
of trade opinion, and it is by the editorial de- mistakes must be eliminated as far as pos-
partment, and not through the news columns sible, and a perfect method of distribution
of the papers, that the moulding process is must be adopted.
The manufacturer adapts himself to the
apparent.
A paper without an editorial policy at wants of the retailer, and the retailer must
once loses a certain force and virility which in his way adapt himself to the necessities
of the consumer, and the consumer demands
makes it a power in any industry.
An up-to-date publication should not to-day one price, a fixed price on all articles
merely chronicle the news, but should do of merchandise—pianos included.
more—it should constantly bring to the at-
A MOVE to interest dealers in piano man-
tention of readers the necessity of action
ufacturing in a co-operative way is
either individually, or concerted, to eliminate
again
to the front in the West. N. L. Geb-
certain disagreeable features, which will
hart, as stated in The Review last week,
creep too frequently into any industry.
A paper which lacks positive opinions lias organized the Getohart Piano Co., and
regarding all matters of trade moment, we learn from later reports that he proposes
makes a painful exhibition of its weaknesses. to interest a number of dealers as stockhold-
Sound, thoughtful expressions make a paper ers in the concern. This is following out
a power, even more than a bright, chatty, practically the same idea as advanced by
thoroughly comprehensive news service. Albert Krell when he formed the Krell-
Both are essential to newspaper success. The French Co. It will be interesting to note
day of the editorial has not by any means just how important a part these co-opera-
gone by, and papers which have abandoned tive schemes will play in the future of the
an editorial department, arc ranked as opin- industry.