Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 65 N. 1 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
WHY DEALERS SHOULD PLAGE THEIR ORDERS NOW
(Continued from page 3)
ing able to turn out only enough pianos to fill a portion of his orders, it stands to reason that the merchant
who has his orders first on the books is going to receive the first consideration. The late comers must await
their turn, and there is no assurance when that turn will come.
Fourthly, there is the labor question. Wages are going up steadily. They must go up to keep in hail-
ing distance of the increased cost of living. Every increase in the wages of the piano workers means addi-
tional production cost; means that so much must be added to the wholesale price of every piano over and
above the increase necessary to cover the advancing cost of supplies.
There is a strong probability that there will be substantial advances in labor costs in piano factories be-
fore the fall season arrives, which is another point for the dealer to consider. The labor problem, however, does
not end here. To insure the continuance of factory operations at anything like normal conditions, it is es-
sential that the factory organization must remain intact as far as possible. When, through lack of orders,
the plant shuts down for even a week, it has been the experience that a surprisingly large percentage of the
employes find that they can obtain steady work in other lines at higher wages, and they therefore desert the
piano bench for other fields.
This is a real danger, though it is not generally recognized by those outside of the executive staffs of the
factories, but unless it is checked it may have a serious effect upon the industry as a whole. Dealers can do
their "bit" in checking this danger by placing their orders now. With orders on hand, the factories can keep
their regular organization working steadily and, therefore, keep it intact. The labor situation is going to grow
more serious before it grows better.
The whole solution of the problems might be summed up in one word—co-operation. The manufacturer
needs the intelligent, earnest and whole-hearted co-operation of the retail piano men right now, just as the
merchant wall require the co-operation of the manufacturer at a later date. The merchant must appreciate the
manufacturer's position and his problems. He must also appreciate the problems growing out of the war.
All these are indirectly his problems. If the manufacturer cannot make, and the railroads will not c;" ry
pianos, then the merchant must give up his business because he will have nothing to sell.
i
The problems of the day are not for one branch of the trade. They affect the whole industry. Criti-
cism of one branch by the other; selfish disregard of the rights of the members of any one section, whether it
be manufacturing or retailing, should find no place in the trade to-day. If there ever was an occasion for the
adoption of the slogan of "one for all and all for one" in the piano industry, now is the time.
the news and comments wisely and intelligently thereon. May
it live long and prosper."
Comments such as these serve to make worth while the
effort put forth in producing a paper such as The Review, that
is not only a trade newspaper, but a constructive force.
MONG a certain element in Congress there seems to pre-
A
vail an unreasoning prejudice against so-called "Big Busi-
ness," and small business, for that matter, which is manifested
in various annoying ways. These members like to play to the
galleries by introducing, or supporting, measures that either
harass or blockade business to some degree, forgetting that
on business the progress and prosperity of the nation depends.
This feeling of antipathy is also extended to the press of the
country, and the newspapers and magazines generally are
looked upon as aiders and abettors of "Big Business," all of
which they seem to think should be constantly "regulated."
The attitude of some of our Congressmen in this matter is very
much like the attitude of the recently freed Russians. Their
ideas of liberty and economics are much in common.
And yet, when we look back at the great campaign carried
on by the Government for the Liberty Loan, no sane person
can ignore the fact that so-called "Big Business" in the persons
of the heads of the leading business institutions of the country,
and the newspapers with their bugle call to the nation, contrib
uted materially to the overwhelming success of the loan.
The remarkable accomplishments of the newspapers as well
as the leading business institutions in this great work will prob-
ably never be fully appreciated, but the fact stands that it is
through the work of the men who undeservedly seem to have
the ill will of so many of our legislators, that the patriotic spirit
of the people was so splendidly aroused, resulting in the over-
subscription of the great Liberty Loan.
Then when we consider the success of the hundred million
dollar Red Cross subscription within a week, thanks to the
same great forces of this nation—the forces that are abused by
our radicals in Congress—we can realize that the men back of
this great driving force that has helped to make our nation great
industrially and financially, that has helped to make it a world
power, are simply good Americans, who, in the great emergency
that now exists, are standing shoulder to shoulder with thecr
fellow-Americans, right behind the President in the great policy
of winning right and justice for the American cause in the great
European conflict.
We have a big element of narrow people in politics, as in
business, who are oftentimes willing to put their own personal
idiosyncrasies before the good of the nation, but it is to be hoped
that the great war may have an educational force that will
broaden their vision and make them realize that this preaching
of class feeling is a menace not only to good government, but
to correct thinking. If our people can get rid of the small,
parochial conception of things, and recognize that big things
in this nation can only be done in a big way, by big men, and
without sacrificing the great principles of our constitution, or
our democratic government, why, much will be achieved.
the news pages of The Review this week it is announced
I ing N that putting
the piano merchants of Cleveland, Ohio, are contemplat-
into effect a plan whereby those who are purchasing
pianos on instalment and who enlist in either the army or the
navy will not be called upon to make further payments on their
instruments during the war. It is felt by the Cleveland men
that to ask a soldier or sailor to keep up his payments in addi-
tion to meeting other home obligations out of his rather meager
salary would hardly be just, and that it is a patriotic duty to
recognize this fact. The Cleveland men also desire that the
movement become a national one, and that the practice as
planned become general throughout the country.
The views of piano merchants in other cities are desired by
the originators of the idea, and The Review will be glad to
receive opinions regarding the plan from piano merchants gen-
erally and give due publicity to the same.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
WHY DEALERS SHOULD PLAGE THEIR ORDERS NOW
(Continued from page 3)
ing able to turn out only enough pianos to fill a portion of his orders, it stands to reason that the merchant
who has his orders first on the books is going to receive the first consideration. The late comers must await
their turn, and there is no assurance when that turn will come.
Fourthly, there is the labor question. Wages are going up steadily. They must go up to keep in hail-
ing distance of the increased cost of living. Every increase in the wages of the piano workers means addi-
tional production cost; means that so much must be added to the wholesale price of every piano over and
above the increase necessary to cover the advancing cost of supplies.
There is a strong probability that there will be substantial advances in labor costs in piano factories be-
fore the fall season arrives, which is another point for the dealer to consider. The labor problem, however, does
not end here. To insure the continuance of factory operations at anything like normal conditions, it is es-
sential that the factory organization must remain intact as far as possible. When, through lack of orders,
the plant shuts down for even a week, it has been the experience that a surprisingly large percentage of the
employes find that they can obtain steady work in other lines at higher wages, and they therefore desert the
piano bench for other fields.
This is a real danger, though it is not generally recognized by those outside of the executive staffs of the
factories, but unless it is checked it may have a serious effect upon the industry as a whole. Dealers can do
their "bit" in checking this danger by placing their orders now. With orders on hand, the factories can keep
their regular organization working steadily and, therefore, keep it intact. The labor situation is going to grow
more serious before it grows better.
The whole solution of the problems might be summed up in one word—co-operation. The manufacturer
needs the intelligent, earnest and whole-hearted co-operation of the retail piano men right now, just as the
merchant wall require the co-operation of the manufacturer at a later date. The merchant must appreciate the
manufacturer's position and his problems. He must also appreciate the problems growing out of the war.
All these are indirectly his problems. If the manufacturer cannot make, and the railroads will not c;" ry
pianos, then the merchant must give up his business because he will have nothing to sell.
i
The problems of the day are not for one branch of the trade. They affect the whole industry. Criti-
cism of one branch by the other; selfish disregard of the rights of the members of any one section, whether it
be manufacturing or retailing, should find no place in the trade to-day. If there ever was an occasion for the
adoption of the slogan of "one for all and all for one" in the piano industry, now is the time.
the news and comments wisely and intelligently thereon. May
it live long and prosper."
Comments such as these serve to make worth while the
effort put forth in producing a paper such as The Review, that
is not only a trade newspaper, but a constructive force.
MONG a certain element in Congress there seems to pre-
A
vail an unreasoning prejudice against so-called "Big Busi-
ness," and small business, for that matter, which is manifested
in various annoying ways. These members like to play to the
galleries by introducing, or supporting, measures that either
harass or blockade business to some degree, forgetting that
on business the progress and prosperity of the nation depends.
This feeling of antipathy is also extended to the press of the
country, and the newspapers and magazines generally are
looked upon as aiders and abettors of "Big Business," all of
which they seem to think should be constantly "regulated."
The attitude of some of our Congressmen in this matter is very
much like the attitude of the recently freed Russians. Their
ideas of liberty and economics are much in common.
And yet, when we look back at the great campaign carried
on by the Government for the Liberty Loan, no sane person
can ignore the fact that so-called "Big Business" in the persons
of the heads of the leading business institutions of the country,
and the newspapers with their bugle call to the nation, contrib
uted materially to the overwhelming success of the loan.
The remarkable accomplishments of the newspapers as well
as the leading business institutions in this great work will prob-
ably never be fully appreciated, but the fact stands that it is
through the work of the men who undeservedly seem to have
the ill will of so many of our legislators, that the patriotic spirit
of the people was so splendidly aroused, resulting in the over-
subscription of the great Liberty Loan.
Then when we consider the success of the hundred million
dollar Red Cross subscription within a week, thanks to the
same great forces of this nation—the forces that are abused by
our radicals in Congress—we can realize that the men back of
this great driving force that has helped to make our nation great
industrially and financially, that has helped to make it a world
power, are simply good Americans, who, in the great emergency
that now exists, are standing shoulder to shoulder with thecr
fellow-Americans, right behind the President in the great policy
of winning right and justice for the American cause in the great
European conflict.
We have a big element of narrow people in politics, as in
business, who are oftentimes willing to put their own personal
idiosyncrasies before the good of the nation, but it is to be hoped
that the great war may have an educational force that will
broaden their vision and make them realize that this preaching
of class feeling is a menace not only to good government, but
to correct thinking. If our people can get rid of the small,
parochial conception of things, and recognize that big things
in this nation can only be done in a big way, by big men, and
without sacrificing the great principles of our constitution, or
our democratic government, why, much will be achieved.
the news pages of The Review this week it is announced
I ing N that putting
the piano merchants of Cleveland, Ohio, are contemplat-
into effect a plan whereby those who are purchasing
pianos on instalment and who enlist in either the army or the
navy will not be called upon to make further payments on their
instruments during the war. It is felt by the Cleveland men
that to ask a soldier or sailor to keep up his payments in addi-
tion to meeting other home obligations out of his rather meager
salary would hardly be just, and that it is a patriotic duty to
recognize this fact. The Cleveland men also desire that the
movement become a national one, and that the practice as
planned become general throughout the country.
The views of piano merchants in other cities are desired by
the originators of the idea, and The Review will be glad to
receive opinions regarding the plan from piano merchants gen-
erally and give due publicity to the same.
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