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THE
WANT A PERIOD OF PEACE.
Business Men Throughout the Country Plead
for "Cessation of Political Agitation"—Busi-
ness Conditions Present and Prospective and
Other Valuable Suggestions Made in Letters
Sent in by Ten Thousand Manufacturers to
the Editor of American Industries.
As the result of confidential replies received from
10,000 manufacturers from all parts of the country
to inquiries as to the state of their own business,
Henry H. Lewis, editor of American Industries, the
official journal of the National Association of Man-
ufacturers, has reached the conclusion that there
has been practically but little revival of trade in
the last twelve months, that there is no unavoid-
able reason for the present stagnation, and that
the one thing keeping the country back is the fear
of the politicians and what they will do next.
What the manufacturers are asking, he declares, is
a period of peace to give them an opportunity of
going about their business unharrassed, and he
asserts that they are gradually working up to take
action to bring this about entirely independent of
conventional party lines.
To show that the business depression is the re-
sult of a state of mind and not of a fundamental
weakness, Mr. Lewis gives this inventory of the
National wealth:
Estimated wealth of United States
$125,000,000,000
Farm wealth
8,800,000,000
Annual crops
9,000,000,000
Mineral productions
3,000,000,000
Manufactured products, annually
15,000,000,000
Exports, domestic merchandise, annually...
1,800,000,000
Lumber production, annually
550,000,000
Money in circulation
3,200,000,000
Bank deposits, (National and savings)....
9,000,000,000
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
ians of all parties to understand that we now have
in this country a powerful force represented by an
aggrieved business which has determined to exer-
cise its power at the polls. This force, held to-
gether by the bonds of common interests and en-
tirely independent of party lines, is watching both
men. and measures. And it will vote, pract'cally
to a man, for the candidates who can curb agita-
tion and restore business prosperity."
As to the remedy for this condition of affairs,
Mr. Lewis says "not one of the 10,000 corre-
spondents of the Manufacturers' Association sug-
gested the repeal of the Sherman Anti-Trust"act."
Many, however, did suggest its amendment so that
the trusts could know for certain just how far they
could go.
Epitomized, the remedial suggestions of the
10,000 came in this order:
1. Cessation of political agitation.
2. Cessation of tariff agitation.
3. Amend or improve the Sherman act.
4. Federal incorporation and regulation of trusts.
5. More national and individual confidence.
6. An improved system of banking and currency.
7. Governmental prosecution of the Labor Trust
with all other illegal combinations in restraint of
trade.
8. Increased export trade and rehabilitation of
the American merchant marine.
11
SEEBURG
FACTS!
The expert work
on Seeburg Electric
DETROIT ASSOCIATION RUMPUS.
Leonard Davis, Dissatisfied, at Decision of
Grievance Committee in Sales Breaking Case,
Refuses to Be Speaker at Association Meet-
ting Next Week—Improvements in Starr
Co. Store Will Add to Its Attractiveness.
Then Mr. Lewis says: "Manufacturers repre-
senting every industry, financiers of National
reputation, important railway officials and com-
(Special to The Review.;
mercial organizations in large industrial centers,
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 29, 1911.
are practically one in their firm conviction that we
It is only a week to the next meeting of the De-
as a Nation and our business activities as a whole
troit Music Trade Association, and no speaker has
are suffering because politics has run mad in this
been selected for the evening. Thereby hangs the
country.
tale of a row.
"The interesting thing is that this movement is
The prime object of the association is to pro-
absolutely non-political. Party lines are ignored;
mote acquaintance and sociability among the local
these business men are neither Republican nor
piano dealers, thus to take from competition what-
Democratic. They care nothing for William
ever there might be of bitterness in it, yet not
Howard Taft or Theodore Roosevelt, Judson Har-
making it less keen. There is an agreement among
mon, or Woodrow Wilson; all they want is peace,
the members of the association to respect each
and the prosperity brought by peace. They want
other's contracts, once they are made, though be-
absolute rest and an opportunity to do business
fore a prospect has signed his name, he is conceded
in a legitimate manner without political interfer-
a free scramble for all dealers. A grievance com-
ence or any one of the isms of so-called progres-
mittee adorns the official roster. It's duties are to
siveness.
receive complaints from members who think their
"There is no doubting their temper. Some revile rights under the agreement have been transgressed.
Taft and fervently consign him to the limbo of
Several weeks ago Leonard Davis, manager of the
political busybodies; others lay the source of their
Melville
Clark branch stores, made a complaint
troubles to Roosevelt and call down upon his head
the anathema oi outraged commercial activity. against another dealer, to the effect that he had
Some strongly advocate the election of a President sold an Apollo to a newspaper man, agreeing to
only once in eight years and still others pathetically take $50 of the price in advertising; that a couple
suggest that the Capitol at Washington be locked of weeks later the man asked to have his contract
for an indefinite period. With it all, however, is canceled; that Davis protested, but finally consented,
a tinge of optimism and an attempt to make the the man making a plausible plea, and that soon after
best of the situation—a typical American sense of he learned that the dealer against whom he made
humor which lightens tragedy with almost phil- complaint had lured his customer away by offer-
ing several times as much allowance for advertis-
osophical fatalism."
ing. It seems the report of the grievance com-
So, as a result of a study of the thousands of ex- mittee, made at the last meeting, did not suit the
pressions of opinion he has received from mem- complainant. Just to show that no hard feelings
bers of practically every industry throughout the were expected, Mr. Davis was appointed speaker
country, Mr. Lewis sums up the situation by de- for the next meeting. He declined with thanks.
ciaring that business men hold political activity re- President Crawford urged him to reconsider, and
sponsible for the apparent "indiscriminate and bull- has been so urging him ever since, but to no avail.
headed prosecutions of trusts, for the attacks on
The Starr Piano Co. are making some improve-
the tariff, for the harmful uncertainty of legal en-
forcements, for the apparent penalizing of rail- ments in their local store. The low platforms along
ways, and for the radical vagaries of National each side of the ground floor, which is the princi-
pal show room, are being fitted with brass posts,
and State legislation.
along which will be strung silk ropes. A costly
"Legitimate business is not unreasonable in its
made to order rug, sixty or seventy feet long,
desire for peace and a cessation of agitation. It
reaches from the front door to the stairway oppo-
believes in and is willing to assist to the full extent
site the offices, absolutely deadening the sound of
of its powers in the enforcement of laws, but de-
footsteps of people passing along the two rows
precates violent and anarchistic agitation in the en-
of pianos. Clarence Gennett, treasurer of the Starr
forcement. It wishes the country protected from
Piano Co., is calling on some of the northern dis-
both the unnecessary fears and the actual menace
trict houses this week, Detroit among them.
of monopoly by bringing industrial organizations,
including both capital and labor, under some satis-
Do you wish to make five dollars? Then send
factory form of Governmental regulation and your ideas upon leading trade topics, embodied
control.
in two hundred and fifty words, to The Review.
"And in the meantime, it is well for the politic- You will find full particulars elsewhere.
Coin-Controlled
Pianos is done be-
fore the instruments
are shipped.
They are made
right in the first
place; consequent-
ly, they don't have
to be made right
afterwards.
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co.
OFFICES:
902-904 Republic Building
State and Adams
FACTORY:
415-421 S. Sangamon Street
CHICAGO