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THE 7K\JSIG TRRDE
*TTIE wail of the pessimist is heard frequently nowadays, and it
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is a favorite argument with some whom our great prosperity
regarding the exploiting of their instruments in the advertisements
of the department store men.
now evidently inspires with fear, that the days of retrenchment
The big metropolitan papers circulate many hundreds of miles
are near at hand, that history will repeat itself, and that earnings
from the printing headquarters, and the piano advertisements are
will fall and prices crumble.
scanned by outside piano dealers, who are quick to note a point
The pointer of a delicately poised balance like that of the
demand and supply of the great staples moves through a wide
which can be used against a competing piano.
arc when relatively small additions are made to one or the other
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side of the scale.
of the evils of catalogue houses and department stores, but that
HE injured and righteously indignant piano merchant from
his own point of view may sit down and bewail the injustice
We do not believe that there is any power that can hold prices
doesn't help his condition at all. The only way is to cease wailing,
in the face of an inadequate consumption, but we cannot see the
create a rebuttal power, form an organization by making it broad
reason for pessimistic howls when the consumption of everything,
and liberal, and from its own forum they can speak in no uncertain
that is, many lines of manufactures outside of the great staples, is
tones and in such a way that proper treatment must be received
such as to create no congestion at any point.
and a respectful hearing at all times accorded the organization.
There are no lines of manufactured goods which are not being
OME years ago The Review sought to gain the opinions of a
properly digested.
number of dealers as to the advisability of forming State
For some reason a number of men have been talking dull times
associations.
and preaching retrenchment, so that conservative people are really
becoming- timid.
At that time several did not believe the plan feasible. The
association germ, however, has been developing rapidly, and with
jV T OW, there isn't the slightest reason for timidity to exist. It
the steady growth of the national organization as well as local
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piano dealers' associations in various cities, it has gone forging
is true there has been a depreciation in stocks, but they are
not everything which conduces to general good.
to the front as a live topic.
We have to get down to mother earth, whose appearance in-
We have always believed in State associations of piano deal-
dicates the most bountiful yield in all history, as far as America
ers. The benefits to be derived from such organizations are many.
is concerned.
Now, if some of our friends would quit advocating
In the first place, there is a tendency in many States on the part
pessimistic theories, get out and bask in the sunlight of good busi-
of reckless and sometimes blackmailing legislators to introduce
ness, the fog which obscures .their brain will become quickly dis-
bills w r hich have a tendency to injure the piano business, partic-
sipated.
ularly on the instalment line.
T ^ H E man who said that Alfred Dolge was too old to build up
These obnoxious laws have been incorporated upon the statute
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a great enterprise in California doesn't know Dolge, who has
just now reached the point where he is liable to roll up more
money and establish a greater enterprise than he ever did before
in his active career.
He is only in his fifty-sixth year and he comes from that virile
Saxon stock w'hich endures.
He has had a rest for several years,
We have seen this in New York.
books, because the dealers of certain States took no active part
in preventing their passage.
I
T would seem to us that State associations would be advantageous
in every way to the retail department of trade.
In other lines
we know of important work which has been carried on by such or-
ganizations.
It would not interfere with the work of the national
and is now in fine condition to win bigger results than he ever did
association in the slightest, but would have a tendency to localize
in his former enterprises.
work and arouse the dealers in various localities to the importance
Practically all of the vast money acquired by Pierpont Mor-
of taking means to eradicate injurious legislation, illegitimate com-
gan has been won since he was fifty years old, and at sixty-six he
petition, price-cutting, trade abuses, encroachment upon the legiti-
is a pretty active man.
Morgan united all the iron interests in
mate dealers' rights, catalogue houses, department stores—in fact,
the country in a great trust of a billion and a half after he was
there is no end to questions which could properly be handled by
sixty, and the trouble is the combinations will fall short before
State organizations.
Morgan shows any signs of weakness.
All these movements the object of which is to bring about the
The brain does not grow old unless it is abused, and the man
establishment of harmonious relations between various branches
with a clear head and sound body, like Alfred Dolge, has many a
in the trade, should be a consummation to be devoutly wished for,
good fight left in him yet.
and all honorable means should be used to promote that end.
HPHE advertising by department stores of certain brands of pianos
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at reduced rates has had a serious effect upon the outside
H I L E chatting recently with a well-known hardware man
on the subject of State organization he said:
"We take
trade of some houses. We know of some dealers who have refused
great pride in our State organization, labor for its success, and
to take on certain pianos which are now represented in depart-
we are constantly developing ways and means whereby there is a
ment stores owing to the fact that the instruments have been
steady betterment going on in all branches of the hardware retail
offered at cut prices.
lines. Local organizations can do much in assisting members to reap
The department store trade is built upon the theory of offer-
more of the benefits of trade than a mere individual can ever at-
ing bargains, and they will follow this plan in the piano line as
tain. All are alike benefited, and a friendly feeling that is sure to
well as in others.
come from such gatherings results often in surprising benefits."
It is the wise men who insist upon rigid rules