Presto

November 22, 1924.
STAND OF TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS
President Coolidge Told of Attitude of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States
Towards Legislation That Would Pre-
vent Them From Functioning.
PURPOSE EXPLAINED
Organizations Serve Useful End of Legitimately Aid-
ing Trade and the Fallacy That Trade Associations
Represent Corporations with Huge Capital
Pointed Out.
The attitude of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce
towards certain matter affecting trade was recently
presented to President Coolidge in a special report
which included a section on trade associations. In
it the President was told that the Chamber of Com-
merce of the United States has a special interest in
trade associations because they form about one-third
of the constituent membership of the chamber, and
that it thoroughly believes that trade associations,
legitimately conducted, are an essential element to
the promotion of American business and that legisla-
tion which would make them impossible, or make it
impossible for them to function properly, would
hinder not only industry but also the prosperity of
the nation. Continuing the Chamber said:
In connection with the Sherman Act prosecuting
authorities of the government have proceeded in such
a way as to cause doubt in the public mind, not only
as to the trade associations against which action has
been instituted, but as to trade associations against
which apparently no action whatever has been contem-
plated. The consequences are serious. Organiza-
tions and individuals against whom no accusation
under existing law has been brought or is in con-
templation are subjected to the injustice of being
viewed with suspicion by the public. This is de-
structive of trade organizations. It takes constant
effort to keep trade associations representative and
vigorous. When suspicion is unjustifiedly directed
at an association, its members leave it. There is
rapid disintegration.
Point Out Facts.
The Chamber holds no brief for trade associations
that infringe the law, nor is it desirous of criticizing
the action of the authorities in regard to these of-
fenders. It is simply recognizing and pointing out
the fact with a desire of remedying a situation which
is already tending to hinder the development of busi-
ness.
Trade associations serve a very useful purpose
which is generally overlooked. In the prosecution of
trade associations the public, and perhaps to some ex-
tent the authorities, regard the trade associations as
representing corporations with huge accumulations of
capital. The fact is that the larger and richer the
corporation, the less its needs for a trade association.
It has, in itself, the means of obtaining all of the
information which it needs in order successfully to
compete. Not so with the smaller concerns. They
cannot afford, except through pooling their interests
through a trade association, to secure this business
data at their own expense.
Chamber's Recommendations.
The membership of the National Chamber, through
a referendum vote has made the following recom-
13
PRESTO
mendations regarding the use of statistics by trade
associations:
Statistics of capacity, production, stock and
sales, and statistics of actual prices in closed
transactions, should be collected by a trade asso-
ciation for its industry or branch of commerce.
Such statistics should be distributed without
any comment or interpretation which could in-
duce or facilitate concerted action on the part
of members.
The statistics should be made as available by a
trade association to the public and government
agencies as to the members of the association.
It is the duty of the Chamber's Board of Directors
to advocate the carrying into effect of these recom-
mendations. In so doing it has to consider, not its
own opinion of the legality of the activities which are
included, but the attitude of the government and its
officials who have relations to the question. If it is
forced to a conclusion that the view is held in gov-
ernment circles there is illegality in activities the
Chamber's members have declared are desirable, it
must consider seeking from Congress such minor
amendments as will affirmatively permit the activities
it advocates. Parenthetically, it may be added that
obviously the Chamber does not seek repeal of the
Sherman law.
GET WISE TO YOUR OWN
BUSINESS—BUREAUS ADVICE
Chamber of Commerce of the United States Prints
List of Queries for Dealers.
Pertinent queries about business are contained in
a quiz sheet prepared by the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States. The piano dealer might wisely
check himself up on the following points and see how
nearly 100 per cent he measures for all of this in-
formation, which has been collated after much in-
vestigation, is really important:
Do you keep a "purchasing account" that shows
total of all goods bought? Do you know what you
save annually by discounting bills? Do you know
what it costs to buy goods? Do you know what you
owe? How often do you take stock?
Do you figure stock at cost or selling price? Do
you make allowances for depreciation and dead stock?
Do you make depreciation allowances of fixture and
delivciy equipment?
Do you know what i sdue you? Can you furnish
your bank a financial statement at once? Are col-
lections made as rapidly as accounts increase? Do
you know what it is costing you for allowances for
customers?
How often do you make up a "Profit and Loss Ac-
count"? Into how many separate accounts are your
expenses divided?
Do you own the building in which you do business?
Do you charge rent therefor?
Do you charge your own salary as an expense? Do
you charge interest on the money you have invested?
Do you know the percentage of expense to sales? If
a fire took place could you from your books give a
complete statement of all accounts?
PROGRESSIVE ALBANY FIRM.
The Thomas Music Stores, Inc., Albany, N. Y., one
of the most active firms in that section, is planning
greater activities than ever for the new year. The
firm was established nearly 40 years ago and its
growth has been continuous since then. A branch
store is maintained in Schuylerville. The company
recently announced a new profit-sharing system in
which all the employes will participate.
TEXARKANA DEALER BUYS
CHOICE SITE FOR STORE
H. V. Beasley Plans New Structure for Music Busi-
ness, Modern in Every Way.
H. V. Beasley, music dealer of Texarkana, Tex.,
recently bought six lots, corner Third and Pine
streets, for $50,000, and says he will build the best
music house in Texas on the two corner lots. The
building will be four or five stories with a 50 foot
frontage and will extend west 140 feet.
The new structure will be thoroughly modern in
every way. It will contain a big recital hall for
both local and visiting concertists and studios for
Texarkana music teachers. The first floor will be
used for a sales department.
The property has been considered desirable for
business purposes. "When I found I could get it for
$50,000, I snapped it up in a very few minutes," Mr.
Beasley declared.
ABOUT SOME WORKERS OF
CONTINENTAL PIANO CO.
Activities of Heads of Departments in Offices and
Stores of the Boston Corporation.
C. B. Trowbridge is now acting as manager of the
Detroit store of The Henry F. Miller Stores Co.
H. L. Plummer of the Chicago offices of The Con-
tinental Piano Co. is at the Boston headquarters for
a few days.
Stanwood Miller has returned to the Boston offices
of The Continental Piano Co. after a profitable trip
through the western New England territory, Mary-
land and Virginia.
E. V. Small, one of the star salesmen of the Sales
Promotion Department of The Henry F. 'Miller
Stores Company, has just returned from a two weeks*
hunting "trip in Northern Maine. He brought back
two deer, several partridges and vivid stories of the
wilds of Maine. Upon his return to the Boston offices
Mr. Small was gladly surprised by notification of his
promotion to the position of assistant sales promotion
manager of The Henry F. Miller Stores Co.
OPENS NEW BRANCH.
A branch music store was recently opened at 9325
Jamaica avenue, Cypress Hills, N. Y., by Roemmele
Bros., who for many years have conducted a general
music business in Richmond Hill. The company
handles pianos and talking machines. Charles
Sheafer, for the past four years manager of the
Richmond Hill store, has been placed in charge of
the new branch.
A CORRECTION.
The Wm. Wood Pipe Organ Co., Inc., with factory
at Hillsboro, Ore., writes that the item concerning
that industry which appeared in the November 8th
issue of Presto, should have said that its purpose is
the building, rebuilding, installing, maintenance, and
tuning of pipe organs, and not in handling of music
instruments in general.
WINTER JOYS FOR PIANO MAN.
J. P. Seeburg, president of the J. P. Seeburg Piano
Co., Chicago, Mrs. Seeburg and their son, N. Mar-
shall Seeburg, secretary-treasurer of the company,
are enjoying a vacation in Florida.
INDISPENSABLE TO PIANO DEALERS AND SALESMEN
We are now making shipments of our latest model, which is F oolproof and indestructible.
Price reduced to $95.00 including extra good moving cover.
Shipped to responsible dealers on approval.
Try one. If you don't like it send it back.
.
Winston-Salem, N. C.
BOWEN
PIANO LOADER CO.,
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/