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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS AFTER THE WAR
(Continued from page 3)
not only in our foreign markets but also right here at home. If our industries are not to be caught slow
of mind and flabby of muscle, we must improve our business organization, must increase our manufacturing
and merchandising efficiency, and must keep pace with every step in Europe's industrial progress.
"Next to England we have the greatest foreign trade of any nation in the world. Our exports and
imports reach billions of dollars in value. We must keep and expand that great trade. Tt means the full tide
of prosperity for our factories and farms. It means the best comforts and conveniences of modern civiliza-
tion for the families and homes of this country. But if we are to keep that trade and make it grow as a
healthy business should grow, we must have the organization and the facilities needed. The government is
alive to this fact. Through the shipping bill it is striving to improve our merchant marine. The Webb-
Culberson bill, which has passed the House and which it is hoped will pass the Senate in December, will
legalize co-operative joint exporting agencies by American manufacturers and producers, even among com-
petitors, and will enable Americans to compete on more nearly equal terms with the powerful combinations
of foreign manufacturers that play so large a part in international commerce. Through the Federal Reserve
Act, and the amendment thereto that has just been made law, American banks can now deal in foreign drafts
and acceptances and can co-operate with each other to engage in foreign trade banking. Thus the government
is doing its part; now the business men of this country must do their part."
tion can never be accomplished by qny set of fixed laws because
of the rapidly changing conditions, but certainly a 99 per cent,
improvement could be accomplished, and, if such laws were
enacted, the enforcement of the same could be intrusted to the
Federal Trade Commission or some modification of that organ-
ization. The effect of such a policy would in a few years give
fairly satisfactory results-—a condition that business is now solely
in need of.
"It has been charged that intensified advertising of fixed
prices can fool the public into paying more for an article than
it is worth; but a firm investing large sums in advertising soon
finds that it is creating a demand for its competitors to supply
if its prices are not fixed in a reasonable proportion to the cost
of production. Very few business men try to fool the public
nowadays. Misrepresentation in advertising is a weak, foolish
policy and always brings disaster. Every honest enterprise can
be tremendously developed and economised by advertising
increases the turnover at less cost than by any other method.
worthy enterprises fail from lack of advertising.
which
Many
"It would seem that a Federal Incorporation Law for all
corporations doing an interstate business, compelling a standard
method of estimating costs, keeping accounts and making re-
ports, would simplify the problem of business regulation and
gradually establish confidence in business.
"With public confidence in business and business methods
once restored, the future industrial development in the United
States would be assured and many of the grievous burdens and
miseries now eating into the vitality of the nation would be
eliminated."
Of particular interest to piano men is the closing lines of
the fourth paragraph in the above quotation from Mr. Johnson's
article. He expresses supreme faith in the importance of adver-
tising and its value as a factor in economic and'industrial prog-
ress that is well worth considering. One could well preach a
sermon on this text—one that would have a great bearing on
conditions in the piano trade.
There are too many manufacturers who still fail to take a
broad gauge view of publicity and its value, and it must be
noted that those concerns which are believers in advertising
are making steady progress toward new accomplishments.
T^\ESPITE the fact that the tan of summer is not yet entirely
\-J obliterated, the calendar tells us that Christmas is little more
than ten weeks away. Progressive piano merchants all over
the country are already laying plans for their holiday advertising,
window displays, etc., and are doing much preliminary work
which will greatly lighten the strain and stress of the Christmas
rush. All things being equal, the forehanded man has a great
advantage over his less provident competitor, and the piano
dealers who are now quietly, but nevertheless surely, laying
the foundation for their holiday trade will unquestionably reap
an abundant reward for the preliminary work they are doing.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach. It
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It,costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York