Michigan Artisan; 1908-01-25

Notes:

Issue of a furniture trade magazine published in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was published twice monthly, beginning in 1880. and l: )..~i :f. \!--~, \ . Twenty-Eighth Year-No. 14 JANUARY 25, 1908 Semi-Monthly The ROYAL is the Original Push Button Morris Chair THE" ROYAL' PUS" BUTTON MORRIS CHAIR Eigbt Years of Te.st Have EstaEJished Its Snpremacy ALL OTHERS ARE IMITATIONS ) MORRIS CHAIRS' FROM i6.25 to ~30 CAT ALoe UPON APPLICAlTION. Royal Chair Co. STURGIS, MICHIGAN Chicago Salesroom: Geo. DJ WilliamsCo.• 1323 Michigan Avenue, First Floor. Chicago. Ill. The One Motion, All Steel Go-Cart FOLDS WITH ONE MOTION NO FUSS, NO FOOLING FOLDS WITH ONE MOTION All Steel; Indestructible. Perfected Beyond All Competition. Frame of'Steel Tubing. Will Carry 200 Lbs. Over Rough Pavements. The Only Perfect Cart With a Large Perfect Quick Action Hood. CATALOGUE UPON APPLICATION. FOLDED STURGIS STEEL GO-CARTCOMPANY, Sturgis, Mic". CHICAGO SALESROOM: Geo. D. Williams Co., 1323 Michil!an Ave., First Floor, Chicago, Ill. " I r r i, If ~ TABLES (No) TROUBLE (No) TROUBLE TABLES New Line of Tables. CJl We know! CJl Those great big' shiny surfaces, and putting tables together so they will fit, give you a lot of trouble. t]J The Northern Furniture Company is going into the table business with an entirely new line. (] We win give you as handsome a finish as ,he beft lable makers in Ametica-·~but medium prices. CJl Above all we offer you a line of tables that will give you NO TROUBLE. (j On all our tables we use our new patent knock-downfeature, so that anybody can put the legs on a table before you can say Jack Robinson. CJl What is more, any pedeSlal will go on any table top, and 3 actual tables on your Roor will give you 9 distinct Slyles by combining the different 'pedeStals with different tops. CJl We make these tables so that they will fir when they go together. They won't warp, and we will pack them so they won't get scratched all to pieces. If you want to get rid of your table trouble, try the Northern "NO TROUBLE" TABLE LINE. NORTHERN FURNITURE COMPANY SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN 1 ", \ "r\. ) 1/ ~ / ...... " No. 655 No. 608 to stock numbers in Brass and Iron Beds that please everyhody ---elegant finish, original and exclusive designs---sell easily and pay a hetter profit than the other fellows? THEN BUY The Laycock Line Write for Catalogue, illustrating Complete Line. M H E A R P R P Y Y C N H E R W I S Y T E M A A R S This is No. 271-a most elegant Spring for people who appreciate a comfortable Bed. It's noiseless and will support the heaviest weight. The frame is tubular side rails, and angle end rails, finished in gold bronze. Elevated fabric. Heavy rope' edge. 1.fedium double weave, with an eight-rO\"/ spiral spring, supported by our Premier Fabric. The T. B. Laycock Mfg. Co., Indianapolis, Ind. - - - - - -- ---~~~~- 2 I . i Luce Furniture Company Godfrey Ave., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. NEW FEATURES in Upper Clas. CIRCASSIAN WALNUT A LARGE ADDITION TO OUR LINE OF STAPLES MEDIUM and LINE FURNITURE for the CHAMBER and DINING ROOM -------------------------- 28th Year-No. 14. GRAND RAPIDS. MICH .. JANUARY 25. 1908. $1.00 per Year. Going Down. Here] stano within the hall; For the elevator hav·,tl \\lith a frown. '''Going up?" I loudly cry, A.nd the urc11in makes rer-,Jy: Going down." Here you see me buying stocks, Hoping to acquire both rocks And renown. "Going up:" [ lOlldly say. But my hroker answers "1\ay: Going down." \Vhcn old Charon T shall meet. Looking mystical htlt neat J II his gOWll- "Going up:" I'll murmer low, And he'll doubtl(~."s answer "Ko; Going down." The Value of the Window. "1 pay $2/'100 a year for tbi$ store," said a tradesman, "and $2,000 of that is for the window. Thereiore, to make it pay its way, I am jl1stiJlcd in giving my window four-fifths of the time r am able to give to displaying my stock." How many tradesmen have as keen an apprec.iation, says the 1ronmongers' Chronicle. as had this man of the real money ,:'alne of a store window? How many even realize that their store rent is so largely fixed by the relation the window bears to the pedestrian traffic of the town? Owners of business property arc Hot blind to this consideration; the value of the window as an advertising factor has a large share in fixing the rent of a store, and if the tenant doE'.snot make the most of his opportunity he is paying too much for his situation. Let him, for instance, ask himself wlwt the effect on his sales would be if he glazed his window with opaque glass, which would still admit light to his store while it effectually shut out all view of what he had in it. vVould the result be to increase or lessen his turn over? VI/e do not need to answer our qucstion. It is painful to see how many storekeepers act as if they really believed the opJque window would be a profollnd stroke of enterprise. They "·go just one better" in improving on the opaque glass by a display that is calculated to be\vildcr rather than entice the passer-by: Indeed some displays are as effective as the opaque glass would be. The latter might a·rouse curiosity; the show of goods call arouse nothing but distaste. The store window is an advertisement. and an adver-tisement that is dearly pai..:l faT. It has got to be paid for in hard cash. It should bring in at least the money it costs. How seldom the same thing is borne in mind in considering the store "\"indow? ,,\nd yet it ought to be the first consider-ation. If the proportionate share of window or windows to an entire store rent ",:ould bring the value of the former to $1.;')00 a year, those window advertisemelHs must net $30 a week to covcr their money east alone. The kind of dis-play which draws the most observers to the window, and from their inspec'tion of the window into the store should be noted. A teading" manufacturer adopted for one year a new plan for introducing his goods. He instructed his travelers to stop soliciting orders and in place of that to arrange with as man.y retailers as possible to give a special window display of his goous, he furnishing the goods and his own men ar-ranging the displays. The result was that most of those retailers sold a much li:\rger quantity of these special wares than they had ever sold before and the manufacturer him-self disposed of nearly double the amount of any previous year's sales. That .WIS a very good test of the value of windo" .·.. shows. It was a conclusive proof that the window is an aclvertisQment, and a paying advertisement if sensibly nsed. \Vc commend the lesson it teaches to every business man. There is no storekeeper, whatever line he handles, ~~-ho cannot make [dty-two effective displays in a year, jf he will take the trouhle. OUDSP[(IAlIMPtKIAl wtAJU[UtO OAK Oil STAin is the standard all over "merlca. Me YOUusing It? Write us for Samples and~Quotations of the BEST S"ElLAC VARNIS"ES MA,NJJTJlrT~RED OI'lIl.Y U Y CHICAGO WOOD FINISHING CO. 259·63 ELSTONAVEm2·16 SLOAN ST. CH I CACO. 4 ·Jl~MICHIGl7E:iIN PROFIT SHARING AND CO-OPERATION. I Paper, Read Before the Class jn Applied Christianity, at ,f.ollntain Street Baptist Church.prand Rapids, Mich. On Sunday,'"]anuary19,A. S...\,\lhitc read a paper before the' elass in 'Applied Christianity, of the Fountain Street Bap'tist . Church, on the subject of Co-operation and Profit Sharing. Upwards of 500 members of the class were present and a 'lively discussion followed the conclusion of the reading. Robert \"1. Merrill of the Phoenix Furniture company, recalled the history of Albert Dolge, the altruist of Dolgeville, who had given co-operation and profIt sharing a thorough trial, resulting in failure and bankruptcy for Mr. Dolge. 1\Jr. Merrill cOl1tented that the only equal basis for the plan is a division of tbe losses in lean years as well as the profits in years of plenty. The pastor of the church, Rev. A. W. Wishart, expressed the opi.nion that there is merit in the system; that it would be of value in solving the industrial problcmn. Au abstract of Mr. White's paper is as follows : "CO-01K'Xation, is defined as the act at working, or operat-ing together to an end; joint operation; concurrent effort or labor. Profit sharing is tbe distribution of the advantages gained in some commercial undertaking with others. Since i~5 inception, many centuries ago, co~operation has been ap-plied, with varying degrees of 'success, to almost eVeTYpur-pose. In the field of husiness it has been utilized in manu-facture, navigation, banking, farming, merchandising, real estate and kindred interests. As technically understood, co-operation occupies a middle posibon between the doctrine of communism and socialism on the one hand, and private property and freedom of labor on the other. At a very definite and significant point it takes its departure from communi!'>n1. The motive of individual gain 8nC possession in the sentiment of a universal happiness or good, would be extinguished by communism. All the existing rights, laws and arrangements of society would be remodeled on a basis deemed consonant to this end. Co-operation seeks, in C,Ol1- sistency with the fundamental institute of society as hitherto developed, to ameliorate the social condition by a COtl~ Clirrence of increasing numbers of associates, The co-operative idea requires identity of purpose and interest, with a community ot advantages and risks, though not necessarily absolute equality or uniformity of individual relations among the co-operators. 1iVhen the investment passes into 'a mere investment and trading company, the idea would seem to be lost. During the middle ages, co-operation was in use in Russia, but it was not until near the middle of the last century that practical plans were adopted and the merit of the system tested. The impracticability of the plans of operation, in-competeIlcy and dishonesty in the management, caused many of the associations to suspend business, involving heavy losses to the investors. At present the business of the Rus-sian associations is confined to the purchase and distribution of supplies needed by their members. The most prosperous association, at present, is that which is located in one of the subllrbs of St. Petersburg. It was started in 1880 with one hundred members <lnd a capital of 7,500 rubles. The present membership is 2,168, and it not only possesses cou-siderable funds, but has also its own bakeries, breweries, stores, dining halls, and other real property. The goods handled arc bought directly from domestic and foreign pro-ducers, and the enterprise yields a profit of from 100 to 200 per cent per annum upon the capitalization. Members own-ing shares receive substantial dividends, sometimes up to 24 per ceflt per annum, and the common consumers get a honus upon every dollar's worth of purchase. Besides, part of the net profit is used for benevolent purposes, for schools, homes, for invalids and asylums for the aged. For .the suc~ ~---'--- . cess of this co-operative association, credit is due in no small degree, to the following prudent stipulations in its statutes: 1. That members holding shares may be expelled if not actually patronizing the association; 2. That even non-members become ent.itled to a bonus on every dollar's wor-th of purChase, by which inducement the trade of the association is kept steadily increasing Following the great political upheavel in France at the close of the eighteenth century, Rohert OWCl1 and others caught the spirit of the revolution anel instituted cQ-operative and profit sharing associations in that country, with the aid of the general government, which furnished ninety-six per cent of the funds required, the people supplying the labor. Incompetent management and the dishonesty of the officials soon wrecked these ambitious enterprises, and socialism scored a failure. This is the only instance in which so-cialism has been -undertaken by a government. In 1828 spasmodic attempts were made to realize some of Owen's ideas by the organiz,ation of, what were called union shops, for the supply of the common l'iecessaries of life, the profits of which were to be applied to the formation of productive works and independent industrial colonies. These flourished for a short time but collapsed in the year 1834. In 1844 co-operative and profit sharing societies were or-ganized in England, for several purposes, as follows: 1. To huy and sell to members alone, or to members and non-members under differing conditions, the necessa,I"ies of life or the raw material of their industry; 2. Societies of pro-duction, the object of which was to sell the collective. or individual work of the members; 3. Societies of credit or banking, the object of which was to open accounts of credit with members, and advance loans to them for industrial purposes. These several plans define the distinguishing character-istics of the co-operative society proper, and it is somewhat remarkable that these three kinds of associations have at-tained a measure of success in three different European countries. England ranks first in societies of consumption; France in societies of production; Germany in societies of credit. With reference to the variety of result, it has -been observed that the social eq~ality following the great revo-lution, in connection with the character of much of the manufacturing industry of France, has given that country a larger number of artisans, who work in their own houses, and have a passion for independence in their handicraft, than is to be found in any. other country of Europe. On the other hand, the masses of operatives in the factories, while retaining their position as wage eamers, have put forth most energy and attained theiT highest co-operative success in societies for the purchase, and in some degree the production, of their own immediate necessaries of life. In Germany it has been demonstrated that societies of credit were the neces-sary foundation of the co-operative system, and their de-velopment ,has been remarkable. Credit unions are mainta.ined in many cities, and loans are made to artisans and mechanics. The movement in Great Britain owes its inception, its capa-city and progress ent'irely to the genius and energy of work-ing men. It was born of their needs and the outcome of the hard conditions under which they lived and worked. Its methods were adapted to their requirements, and its results have been acl1ieved by their unaided efforts. These so-cieties, known as th(', Roachdale associations, are mainly engaged in the purchase and distribution of family supplies. A fixed interest (never more than five per cent) is paid 011 the capital invested and the remainder of the profit is divided among the members in proportion to their purchases. The membership of these societies in England numbers 2,500,000; . the value of the products handled annually is. $425,420,000 and the profits $11,000,000. Co-operation is well developed in Switzerland, and Dr. Muller. the head of societies in that COimtry, regards it as "a ray of divine light, showing the way out of the confusion of sterile social doctrines and theories to the IOJlg-sought for ideal of a new, harmonious order of humanity." A concrete case reveals the plan most generally chosen by the co-operators of onr country. Suppose Brown puts $100,000 into the manufa(ture of say, furniture. Smith in-vests $50,000 and accepts tbe presidency of the corporation at $10,000 per yeaf'. Jones subscribes $25,000 and gets $5,000 per annum as secret'ary. Hill pays $15,000 and gets $B,OOO as treasurer, while Field puts in $10,000 a11(1receives $2,000 as manager. The five named who invest $200,000. four of whom recei\'e $20,000 ill annual salaries, employ ten men at $5.00 per day, t.wenty men at $3.00 and forty men at $,1.50. These, men \"'ork 300 days in the yC;tr. YVagcs then amount to $15,000, $18,000 and $18,000 in these three grades of labor or to $51,000. In the spirit of fraternalism, the partners pro- IJose to sJwrc profits or losses of the business, at the end of each year i11proportjon to the investment of money or labor. Capital invested amotlllts to $200.000; salaries amo11nt to $20,000; wage~ amount to $ril,OOO-total values $271,000. The net profits are divide~l by ~>-71,OOalOld cach of the seventy-five mcn who have contributed to the ~,uccess of the firm, draws his proportionate share. Brown receives $10,000; Smith $6,000; Jone,s $3,000; Hill $1,800; Field $1,200; each of the ten receives $HiO.OO;each of thc twenty receives $90.00; each of the forty receives $45.00. The payment of $5,100 to the wage earners of $51,000 is marc than compensated by the feeling that the laborer is a profit s}wrer. The most notable example of sUccess is recorded to the credit of the sted trust, \vhich distributed $2,000,000 among its cmplo~res all last Christmas. Five years ago the trust induced many thousands of jts employes to ilwest a part Qf their earnings in tlJe stock of the company. Annual distri-butions of profit were made and in December last the amOllnt set aside for this purpose represented dividends of seven per cent and a bonus of $5.00 for each share held by the em-ployes. Building and loan associations, manufacturing houses, and mercantile establishments, located in many parts of the United States, have h:sted the system more or less successfully. )''1<:nytraveling salesmen are paid a stated sum for selling goods aggrtgating a specified SU111 in value. v\lhen they have reached the limit pnwided in their contracts, they co-operate 'Nith their employen-; in the effort to add to their sales, aMd share ill the prohts gained through such increases. An organi:tation kno\,{/l as the Co-operative Society of !\me1'ica is promoting the movement, ~illd a nnvspaper is maintained for the purpose of jllformi11g the mC'tllbers of its progress. In one county of VV'isconsin nine stores arc owned by an organization of farmers, each of whom invested the sum of $100.00 in the business. The officers are elected by the tllc,mbership, and are always subject to the initiative, referendum and recall. Interest is paid on the capital in-vested and dividends to all m<cmbers on their purchases. l\{any of such storcs are located in \".risconsin, Pennsylvania, 1linnesota, California and Indiana. Co-operation is also em-ployed by students attending the great universities. In HW6 an eight per cent dividend was paid to members on their jlurchases lJy the Harvard co-operati·ve society, and a satis-factory business was transacted by the co-opera live stores at Princeton, Berkeley and Butler, Ind, The grangers of PCll11sylv,wia ll.'lve establjshed a considcrabl<'. number of banks; the farmers of Towa many grain elevators; the women of J'\c\vark, N. J. a shirt factory; thc newspaper workers of New York, a corporation to crcct homes for its mernbers at Bayside on the co-operative and profit sharing syste111.These facts indicate the Hexibility of the plan and th(': facility with which it may be applied to almost every purpose of life. It is not necessary to go olltside of our city fa finJ examples to prove the paternal value of the system. A few years ago the Grand Rapids Gaslight company inaugurated a plan. throl1gh which its 300 employes were to share in tbe gajns earned in the operation of its plant,. and the transaction of its business. After remaining in the company's service 18 months the employes are put upon the profit sharing list. Their share in the profits is an addition of ten per cent to the amount of wages they have earned during the preceeding year. \Vage,s arc considered as capital paid into the com-pany's treasury. One year ago the Oliver Machine company informed its employes that it would share its profits with them, on the basis of their carnings, following the plan of the Gaslight company. lncreased interest in the affairs of the cor~ !}Oratioll J"las since been evinced by thc 'Norkmen, and co-operation jn the operation of tbe shop \...a.s gained through profit sharing. J\ unique prof'lt and loss sharing plan upon which the busil]ess of a manufacturing company in Bridgeport, Conn., conduets its business, is as follows: (1.) Employer and em-ploye agree to share both profits and losses; (2.) Net gain or loss is ascertained by deducting from the gross result of the inventory on the first of February all expenses for the year previous of eVQry kind, including deprecia.tion of build-ings, tools, machinery, and bad debts. In the case of gain, the capital invested, as shown by the im'entory, shall first Jra"\v 6 per cent interest, dOl', in case there 1S less than that amount, shall dra\ ..·. what there is, in liquidation of its claim"; the balance, then remaining, to be divided between the company and the individual employe in the proportion which tlle capital invested bears to his total wages for the year; (3.) For each current year, one-tenth of thc wages of e\'ery employe, who is a party to the contract, is withheld each week. In case there is not a net loss on the entire business of the year, this reserved money, together with any accrued protit, as ngured above, is paid to the employe, on or before March first, of each succeeding year; (4.) III case of a net loss on the business of the entire year, without figuring any dividend as ahove provided for capital, this loss is divided between the company and the employe in the same method as th<'tt prescribed for the dividing of profit; but in no case does the employe become responsible for losses greatcr than the amount reservF,d from his wages; (5.) Other employes may become pai'ties to this contract upon the invitation of the company. _ ny employe may withdraw from the contract at allY time, a d from the firm's employ, but the company then holds the right to retain the 10 per cent reserve till the end of the current year. In case it is so held, its owner shares in the company's profit or losses; (6.) The Grm may discharge any of its employes, but in that case he shall have the option of withdrawing 11is full reserve, or of leaving it till the end of the year, to share in prollts and losses; (7.) It is agreed by the company that none of its employes who signs this COiltract shall be temporarily retired from work so long as tbe company has any work of the kind he .is accustomed to do; but if there is a shortage of work in the bands of the company it shall redttce the hours of work, and so divide the work among its employes. If at any time an employe becomes sick or incapacitated to per-form his duties, and has a certificate of a reputable physician that he is so incapacitated, he may uraw on his resetve "\vages at a rate not greater than six dollars a week, without affecting his interests in the profits at the end of the year. If any employe is injured by any accident while in the em-ploy of the company, the company, at its own expense, pro~ vides him with a competent physician or surgeon, UpOll ap-plication stating that such services are needed, The contract docs not apply to the whole labor force. The company did not think the proposition ,~io111dappeal to their u.tlskilled lahorcrs, comprising about two-thirds of the nllm~ beT in their employ. As regards the skilled laborers, it has; becn the company's practice nQt to invite further signatures to the contract at any time when three-fourths of their skilled laborers are already working under it; for the amoi.tnt 5 6 of business on hand is subject to SOUle fluctuations, and the firm do not wish to enter into this relation with a larger number of employes than they can be reasonably sure of providing with steady employment. This limitatioll, how-ever, do'es 110t apply to the office force. The result is that, out of a lahar force of about 250, there are eighty who arc eligible to admittance to the contract, and sixty arc actuall;v so enrolled. 1\0 man is ever urged to become a party to it, but there is aLways a long waiting list. It ,vauld be unfair if [ were to present only the bright side of this problem and there is an abundance of material at the command of the investigator to prove that cnvy, jealousy, ambition, selfishness and dishonesty have ruined many co-operative enterpriscs, and are likely to prevail in their operation in the future. The s<\me evils, however, woulJ have wrecked the busine5s of a private individual, a firm or a corporation. At Rockford, (Ill.) a decade past, several furniture facto-ries. were es-tabl1shed by practical shop hands, somc of whom had been favored with husiness experience. The officials of these corporations received no more remuneration for their services than the bench hand or the packer. The profits divided annually were liberal hut the man at the bench and the .manattendillg the saws looked through envious eyes at the men in the office, and sought by intrigue to depose them. The operator of a planer deemed himself fully a.s capable to handle the finances of the corporation as the one that had been chosen on account of his training and experience to perform that important duty, <lnd in conse- .<luenc.e of the dissensl0ns that arose, the companies soon lost their co-operative character. The rapid growth of the milhng bUl'>ines91n lvlinneapolis attracted several thousand coopers to th<l.tcity. In the course of time, having· become dissatisfied with the wages paid, the men (who were members of a union) went out ou a strike alld co-operative shops were organized. In twelve years time the business was absorbed by the associations, and habits of thrift, temperance and steadiness were developed in the workmen. (Co-operation is especially adapted to Democratic control and thc co~operating workmen were not s"l1bject to the trials and losses of lahor disputes.) But dis-se. nsions arose. Too many wanted to be Cl general manager; too mariy clerks were employed; loyalty ,'vas lacking, and with the withdrawal of the di!o'satisiied the enterprises as~ sumed the form of joint stock companies. These shops started with the plan of apportioning gains ai-id iosscs pro-rata upon the ·wages received by each member. In the early llinety's one company discontinued the llse of wages, as a basis for a division' of ;-ulY part of the earnings. The-explanation offered by all officer \vas: "It's money makes the business go. not the men: Vv'e can get all the men to work we wallt." This proceeding was not ullusu,i1. It has been employed many times by co~o]lerating companies in lean years of business. In Rochester a few years ago a Union of IVletal polishers struck work antl organized a shop on thc co-operative plan, thrrty-four members contributed $100 each to the capital stock of a company. The trials. of management tested the patience of the stockholders and grad"uatly the di.ssatisfied sold tl1eir stock until it was conccntrated in tl~e. hands of five. The business was successful-the union was disso[vcd, an open shop maintained,-but the noteworthy result of the ex-periment is the numher of men, who, from it, started in business for themselves. Tt proved a practical scbool of business for them. It incited many of the original stock-holders to quit the shop and engage 1I1 some enterprise as proprietor-. The co-operative movement attracted wide spread atten-tionin the United States in the ).'ear 18'76, and many mer-cantiLe and manufacturing enterprises were launched upon that basis. The report of the commissioner: of labor of. the state of Massachusetts for the year 1889 contained a list of 189 establishments ope.rated under the co~op'erati.ve plan. But the panic of 1893. caused many industries to cease opera-tions; thousands of men were discharged and as no profits were gained necessarily there were no distributions. Co-operation and profit sharing is distinctly a fair weather pro-position. It cannot withstand a season of adversity. I have briefly exp[;lined the origin, the purpose and the history of the movement, ill a necessarily fragmentary way, supplying facts from which conclusions may be drawn as to its prospects, and now take up the very important question, "Is co-operation a possible solution of the industrial problem?" To the on-looker, capitalism an,d trade unionism have the field to themselves, and treat as armed allies. Through the exactions of the unions of short work days, a (imitation upon the apprenticeship system and wages demanded for service not rendered, monopoly is enabled to sell its pro-ducts for prices that inflect hardship upon consumers, and would 110t be charged in a market where competition exists. Such monopolies can well afford to pay liberal bonuses to em-· ployee-stockholders, as is done by the steel trust. At its inception the co-operative movement had a broader impulse than now goven1S it. The science of moral philosophy, which teaches men their duty, was understood by its adherents, and they believed themselves in. possession of a secret that was to transform society. John Stuart Mill, Lord Derby, the Bishop of Durham and many prominent men in America gave it support, but the history of the movement is fuIl of instances of the launching of ethical co-operative enterprises that "went up like a rocket and came down like a stick." Paternalistic co-operation enables" thrifty families to save a few cents in the cost of soap and saleratus. It gives to the employee a few dollars gratuitously. that he would have earned hOllestly had he rendered dutiful service, and to the ,depositor of the building and loan associations a little extra interest collected from the borrowers of funds from suchas~ociations. AsiJc from the spirit of independence and the determination to engage in occupatioJ1s on their own ac-count inspired in the workmen of France and the striking metal polishers of Rochester, co-operation has little to its credit of permanent value. Good conduct has not followed the transmission of metal bo~uses from the treasuries of monopoly to the pockets of its employes; morality has not 1>e(;',nupheld and strengthened. It has not boosted .. the man who is lrying to dtmb the tree of social emancipation, although it has be(,.l1 available for centur-ies; it does not teach that the only way a man can work for himself is to work for others; it fails utterly to reveal anything that would assist in the finding of a solution of the industrial problem. Evolution change~ all things and for the credit of our civilization, it is to be hoped that it will find that bound-less sea of loving kindness, where there is room for every sail. \\That onc fails to remember at the momel1t when re-membrance is of the utmost importance, causes loss that can never be regained. Henry Scbmit 8 Co. HOPKINS AND HARRIET STS. Cincinnati, Ohio makers of Upl.olstered Furniture foc LODGE and PULPIT, PARLOR, LIBRARY, HOTEL and CLUB ROOM 7 IT IS DIFFERENT! NOTE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DRESSER The Ladies' Ideal Dresser One of Many Good Features Small Top Drawers in Dressers, Chiffomers, Em~ press DT<~Mets. Princess Dress-ers and Washstands In Sev-enty~ Five Different Patterns and Woods, 200 Patterns ROLL TOP BEDS, NAPOLEON BEDS, DRESSERS and CHIFFONIERS lJpe 'I Ladies' Ideal Dresser 75 NEW STYLES EMPIRE FURNITURE COMPANY JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - - ------------ EVANSVILLE LINES MANUFACTURERS' FURNITURE EXCHANGE Corner Wabash Avenue and Fourteenth Street THE BOCKSTEGE NEW SUPERIOR LINE ------ EVANSVILLE Full line of Samples 011 lff..'ChiOition t!l.r<lUgkout·tke year on flu ,tiNt flOOT of tke Nell' Man1tfacturers' Furniture Exc1wllge, Wabash Ave. 'and 14th St" OhlCago. THE BOCKSTEGE FURNITURE CO., Evansville, Ind. Evansville Metal Furniture Co. EVANSVILLE, IND. MANUFACTURERS OF Metal Bedsteads ~ F'uliline of Samples on exhibition during the entire year, on first Hoor of the Manufacturers, Furniture Exchange, corner Wahash Ave. and 14th St., Chicago. TflE WORLD FURNITURE CO. (Member of Big Six Car Loading Association) EVANSVILLE - INDIANA ManufactureR of Folding Bech. (Mantel and Upright), BuHe.ts, Hall Trees, China CIO.Ieb, Combination and Library Bookcases. Full line of sample .. on e~hibitioh dQring the entil'. year t on first floor of tbe Mallufacturen FUI'Qiture Exchanse. corner" Wa.bAsh Ave. and 14th St••Chicago. Globe Side Boards and Hall Racks Are the best for the money. Gel our Cata-logue. Mention the Michigan Artisan when writing. F uliline of samples on exhibition during the en-tire year, on the first Hoor of the Manufadurers' Furniture Exchange, Cor. Wabash Ave .. and 14th St.. Chicago. Globe .Furniture Company EVANSVILLE, IND. ON SALE IN CHICAGO Wardrobes. MANUFACTURERS FURNITURE EXCHANGE Corner WabaJh Avenue and Fourteenth Street Evansville. Indiana JORDAN CRESCENT. Start 1908right by buying an Up-to-date Line. T"[ CRESCENT LINE is what you want-IT SELLS ITSELF. Crescent Stove WorKs Ji'ullline of saMples on exhibit'ion during Uu entire year on }irstfloor oj the Manujacturer8' Furniture Exchange, corner Waba8h Ave. and Uih 8t" C/liCQgo. Karges Chamber Suites ARE OF BEST QUALITY GOOD Style Construction Finish PRICES RIGHT Wrilf for WIfa/og1u Karges Furniture Company, EVANSVILLE, IND. Full line of sample~ aD on exhibition dll-linll the eOlir,. YeM, on nl€l: ROOt of the Manuiadllref$' Furni-ture Exchange. cerner Wa-bash Ave. and 14th St., Cbicaa:o. Cupboards Kitchen Cabinets and K. D. Is all we make but we make lots of them. Get Catalogue and Prices. The Bosse Furniture Co. EVANSVILLE. IND. - ----------- 10 ~~I9fIIG7}N $ - - -- ---------------------- 7IR. TItS' ..7U'l t S p. VALI.lEY CITY DESK COMPANY We want you to see the leaders lhat will keep them coming al1 the year around. Big value> for little money, ouf motto. A postal card waf bring our neW red catalogue, and a sample order will demon$lrate to you, Mr. Buyer, that we have the best selling line 01 cheap and medium office and type-writer desks in Amenca. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. The Robbins Table Co. Owosso has long been noted as a leading furniture manu-facturing city. Several flourishing furniture manufacturing companies are located there, but none are more successful than the Robbins Table company. This company has one of the best equipped f.actories in Michigan. and the line is made up of square and round top dining extension tables. The Robbins patent table, which has a receptacle for holding the leaves under the top, is one of the best things on the market in the form of extension tables. The company has recently received from the press of the vVhite Printing com-pany, Grand Rapids, the finest catalogue they have ever brought out. It has a handsomely embossed cover, and shows thirty-six neW patterns of round and square tops, in as attractive designs as any on the market. The workman-ship and finish are equally good. The reader's attention is called to the page of illustrations in this issue, also to their advertisement. The center column of the pedestals does not divide when the tables are opened,. which, obviates the neces-sity of using pedestal locks. .' Very Complimentary to John Widdicomb. A "banker" of Grand Rapids took a reporter for the Herald into his confidence the other day and told him a lot of facts about John Widdicomb and his bu:;;iness. Bankers, as a rule, do not discuss the affairs of their customers, and as 11r. \Viddicomb is a modest and reticent m~I1,. the ill for-mation was not furnished by him. The story recounts the trials of Mr. \i\liddicomb in the management of his business since 1895, and of his unloading of a burden that would have crushed most men. He has· not only acquired 'a cOlnl>etency, but paid off debts amounting to $50,000, for which he was not legally liable. The story is undoubtedly true, although 11r,'.1 \Vidc1icomh will not enjoy the publicity into whieh he is brought by its relation. He has de-WlOl1::.trateu his ability to conquer success in the face of forbidding conditions, hI. a decent and gentlemanly way, and his example is valu;:lble in the field of business. For the Household. The modern office desk is so useful and so inexpensive that many house owners purchase them for their libraries and dens. An excellent line of desks, a. considerable number of which are suitable for the private library, is manufactured by the Valley City Desk COmpany, Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids Caster Cup Co. 2 Parkwood Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich. We are now putting on the best Caster Cups with oork. ba.ses ever offere<i to the trade. These are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple in a light finish. These goods are a.dmirable ~or polished t'tOQrsand furn· iture rests. They will not sweat or mar. PRICES: Size2Uinches $4.00 per hundred Si:te. 2% inches······ 5.00 per hundred Try a Sam,pleOrd~r. F. O.B. G1'(lndRapid'. 11 Moon Desk Go. MUSKEGON,Mien. OffiCE DESKS NEW STYLES FOR SPRING SEASON Line on sale in New ManuFacturers' Bullding, Grant:l Rallids. HAND CIRCULAR R(P SAW No.4 SAW (ready for cross-<:utting) MORTISER CQMBrNED MACHfNE Complete Outfit of HAND and FOOT POWER MACHINERY WHY THEY PAY THE CA81NET MAKER He can save a manufacturer's profit as well as It d'taler's profit. He can make more money with less capital invested. He can hold a better and more satisiactory trade with his customers. He can manufacture in as good ~lyle and finish, and at as low cost as the factories. The local cabinet maker bas been forced into only the dealer's trade and profit. because of m:Jchine manufactured goods of factories. An outfit of Barnes' Patent Foot and Hand-Power Machinery, reinstates the cabinet maker with advantages equal to his competitors. If desired, these machines will be sold on trial. The purchaser can have ample time to test them in his own shQopand on the work he wishes them to do. Desf1riptiv, catalogue and price list free. W. f. &. JO"N B~RNESCO.•654 Ruby St.. Rockford, III. FORMER OR MOULDER HAND TENQNER No.3 WOOD LATHE No.4 SAW (ready for ripping) No.7 SCROLL SAW - - - --- -- -- ---------------- 12 Robbins Tabl6 60. Owosso. MIGhluan No. 318. AMERICAN OAK. 44>4&IN TOP. AMERICAN BASE. 7 IN. PILLAR. GEO. SPRATT & Co. SHEBOYGAN, WIS. Manufacturers of Chairs and Rockel'll. A complete line of Oak Dinera with quarter sawed veneer ba.cks and SUt$. A large line of Elm Diners, medium priced. A select line of ,Ladies' Rockers. Bent and high arm Rockers with solid seats, veneer [oIt seAts, CQh-hlerseats and up-holstered l~alher complete. High Chairs and Children's Rockers. You 'Will gtt in on the ground floor 'U/Ren you buy from UT. No. 542 Oak. Solid Seat. Price, $17 &~. No. 540)4 Same as No. 542 on Iy Quartered Oak, Veneer Seat. $18 ~:;. NO. 542 ~---- -- - Prize FOR PARTICUL.ARB CAL.L. AT OFFICE Puzzle Find the Location of the WHITE PRINTING COMPANY If You Cannot Find It Phone 5580 (Long or Short Distance) GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN .rIR'T'I.5'~ ? $$1. 13 CHAS. A. FISHER & CO., 1319 Michigan Ave.. Chieago. WRITE FOR BOOKLEr AND PROPOSITION ST, LOUiS, MO. KANSAS CITY. MO. MlNNEAPOLIS. MINN PEORIA. ILL. LINCOLN, ILL. CHICAGO. ILL. A MODERN SACKING OF ROME. After the Barbarians Come Old Furniture Dealers. Rome, December 28.-Cbristian emperors, popes, mediae-val nobles, the barbarians, Gre, flood, earthquake, aB have contributed their share to the demolition of the mOl1uincnts of ancient Rome. Pagan temples ku'e been destroyed to build Christian churches, theatres aud baths to build palaec:s, bronze, statues have been stolen or melted, ,..·.hile marble stat-ues have been converted into lime or used as missles to check an aS5a1.11t. It is a pleasing fancy that present generations have a dif-ferent attitude toward the past, that archaeology is stri\rjng to rebuild what has been demolished; but the fancy docs not seem to hold good in practice, In inet, while the so-caned destroyers of Rome demolished but did not in every case ob-literate all tr<lces of the p<lst, their modern successors of today, although living in what is supposed to be a highly enlight-ened time, ruthlessly transform the ancient into the modern, "Vhen the Via Nazionale was opened the palaces of illus-trious Romans which once lined the Vicus Longus and were discovered .v..h. ile the new street was being cut were destroyed and reburied, The l-emajns of the celebrated Horti Sallm;- tiani which had surviv'ed the shocks of time and were in,o, porated in two villas, Ludovi5i and lhssimo, were mercilessly sacrificed by their o,vners in 1886 and pulled down to make, 'place for new streets and modern houses, A German, Herr Spithoever, filled one of the valleys of the gardens of Sallust with materials brought from the Servian embankment and converted the place into flat building lots. Such instances could be multiplied almost indefinitely. Hardly a month passes without the sale of 411 old palace or villa fLiB of historic interest and romance, Tlte ov.·.n. ers, Ro-man noblemen of ancient and illustrious families, prefer .hard cash to an old paLace, and they are always willIng to sell not only their houses, but also their old furniture. The villa 1,fattei is called now Villa Hoffmann J.nd is owned by a German who some day will probabTy Wr,t it iIlt~ a tenement bouse. The Villa Aldohrandini will soon, it is said, he converted into a hotel, while its beautiful garde.n, one of the few old ones still remaining intact in the centre of Rome, ,.,Iill be uprooted and shops will be built in its place. A corner of the Palazzo Venezia is doomed to disappear in order that the monument of Victor Emmanuel II. may be se~n from the Piazza del Popalo, One by one the old palaces of Rome. are disappearing; those that are left standing are being modernized and trans-formed, eV(,Tythill~r old is doomed to perish. There is a craze among the Roman nobility for modernism, which is encouraged by the tempting offers of both native and foreign dealers in antiquees. As a consequence, just as old palaces are being supplanted by ne.W5 ones, fitted with all the modern comforts boasted in hotels, the old furniture, is gradually giving place to the lH''''V. Bamboo cane chBirs are used instead of carved wood. Ellg~ Jish muslin instead of brocade, wall paper instead of damasks and tapestries, panlttet floors instead of carpets. No bet-te. r evidence of this change can be afforded than the accom-panying illnstratiol1s. The sitting room of the Palazzo ldattei is one of the few sl1f\'iving typical examples of an antique furnished room, There is not a single piece of furniture in it which lIas not a J)istoriccll and artistic value. More than a living room, it is a museum, and yet it is quite as habitable and comfortable as any modern furnished rOOIl1. The drawing room of the Palazzo Grazioli gIves an e.:>; ample of a sort of transition, a compromise between the old and the 11ew, The background is ancient. The wainscot-ing and beamed ceiling, though polished or varnished, are old, but the furniture and brie-a.-brae bt'istle with modernity, One of the halls of the palazzo Piombino, built by the pritlce of that name with the proceeds of the sale. of the Pa-lazzo Ludo,,-isi, and for a long time leased to American am-bassadors to the Court of Italy as their private residence and now owned by the Queen 1lIother, .Margherita of Savoy, is decidedly modern. The "NaIl paper is an imitation of da-mask, the furniture is modern, though made to look old; the pictures, decorations and ornaments are such as can be found in the average middle dass Roman furnished room. The new art plays an important part in the decoration and furnishing of modern roo.lUs, nnd while Italy continues to ex-port her old furniture, French and English house furniture is extensively imported here. Everytbing ancient is banned ~nd the native furniture is no longer appreciated, vVhile formerly :1 hallway waS de.:::orated with a trophy consisting of old armor, either captured from a ·vanquished enemy or worn hy an ancestor during the crusades, today it is converted into a so-called Turkish room, with rugs, Skl1";. arrows and leather shields of doubtful authenticity, and ara-besques painted on the walls by a modern artist, perhaps the descendant of one, who in his day painted Madonnas and angels. Jtalians of today, the citizens of modern united Italy, are very up to date. they will tell you, and they have left the past away be,hind them.-New York Sun. 14 l!.S'tABL..ISHED 1880 PUBLISHea eY MICH(GAN ARTiSAN CO. ON THE IOTI1 AND 2STlotOP EACH MONTH OFFICE-lOS, 110, 112 NORTH DIVISiON ST., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. ENTERED AS IiIATTfR OF THE SECOND CLASlI Successful merchandising follows the merchant wbo can get the ~argest number of people to corne to his store. A store full of folks, most of whom want something, is a magnet that draws other people who will come to buy. The successful men.:hant is ever studying up schemes to interest the peop-Ie. It is advisable to bandle a few goods that afford no profit, 'if the same shall draw the people. Give away copies of the daily newspapers to callers; fun a circulating library; do anything clean and honest to bring out the people. °to °to "Sanitary Desks,'" were manufactured twenty-five years ago, but they were such ill-looking things that no one with a taste for attractive surroundings, would purchase the same. The legs were pear~shaped,"woody" and after use for a short time, "wobbly." The new sanitary de.sks are so much better than the old In e\'ery way that thch permanency seem's to be assured. CtO °to Digging to the bottom of a long filled bag in search of an article that is needed, is like stirring up the contents of the deep drawers provided by manufacturers in the con-struction of sideboards, chiffoniers and dressers. Narrow drawers would serve the purpose more easily. ",",'hen dealers demand cases with such drawers, manufacturers will furnish the same. °to °to Many manufacturers who exhibited their lines in Grand Rapids but transferred the same to other exhibition towns, will return in June. The new exhibition buildings, the ad-ditional hotel accommodations and the comparatively low expense of making exhibits, make Grand Rapids an ideal place for the mamtfacturers <l.11d buyers to meet. Of' Of''' "1\ ovelties and fashions do not originate in minor cities, but do originate in Kew York-the American metropolis of style and fashion.....-..-and in Kew York only."--,.-Exchange. Really, now. In the furniture trade novelties and fashions originate in the "minor" cities of the \Vest and ·are copied in New York. "to QtC The traveling salesman are again on the road fined with con£1dence and assurance. Buying at the expositions in January was moderate, but the prospects for the remainder of the year are so favorable, that the salesmen are confident of their abllity to 'keep the factories fully employed. oro °to To understand a thing is different from merely seeing it. One must know the relations of cause and effect to the thing one sees. \-Vhen this knowledge has been acquired the enquiring cu.stop1er will see at once that the thing he called a chiffonier is in reality a washing machine. °to °to Not as many buyers vi-sited t11e expo~itioJls as in January one year ago. \Vh~n J. A. Conrey, of Shelbyville, was asked to explain tha cause of their absence, he replied: "A gr(;at I - - - - - - - ._- -- -- ----~-~------------ 7IRTI.5' JL7'I \~., 2 2m ~ many weeds were allowed to grow in the garden of 11ros-perity, that must be pUlled." °to °to By returning to every twenty-fifth customer t]le full amount of his Dr her purchase, an entcrprising dealer in furniture, located in oue of the mountain towns of Colorado, created a thirty day sensation. It proved to be a profitable venture. °to °t" Trai.'cling salesmcn are again on their territory soliciting ordas. To many it seems that they have commenced the spring campaign too early. Salesmen covering the far western territory will not start before February 15. °to °to A 11nnich scientist has invented a microscope by which one can see an object 1-2,000,000 of an inch in circumference. That ought to make a .swell lens for photographing the re-ductlons in manufacturers price lists for furniture. QtO °to The stay-at-home buyer runs into a rut and' dries up. By going to market he freshens up. To dry up· is to lose customers to market merchants. New customers arc gained by the merchant who freshens up. °tC °to A dealer in Kansas moved a lot of odd washstands by offering to give one dozen towels with each purchase. Farm~'s wives were attracted to the town in great numbers and the lot was soon sold out. °to °tO Factories in many cities have be.en shut down for a season, or a.re operated on shott hours. The owners, after the strenuous years of the past, desired time in which to "take a long breath." °to °to By fea.turing each day's work industry is robbed of its drudgery. A new plan, a new impression or method oc-c. urring to a. business man, is an entering wedge for each new day. "to "to The good-will of a. bride may be gained by the presen-tation of a valuable cook book by dealers who furnished the outfit for the dining room.or °to There will he no cuts in prices. Sto,ks are low and manufacturers will limit the outfit of the factories to the daily demands of trade. ",t" 'Ot'" Offerlng last year's goods to people who want this year's is like operating a factory in the production of freaky de-signs in furniture:. Of) °to Those manufacturers who have a market for ~' part of their output in foreign lands, are chewing the sweet cud of contentment. °tQ °t" John "T. Gates sees evidence of returning prosperity in the fact that "the people ate wearing their old suits;' Chamber suits? °t" 0t''' Arc you an old-fogy dealer, going to rust, or an up-to-date twentieth century merchant? You alone can answ.:r this question. "to °to The marrying custom will go on uninterrupted by the conditions of business, and there will be many "nests" to furnish. ! No. 412 No. 325 No. 273 15 No. 833 No. 823 No.alB a Page of Cuts from the Robbins Ta.ble Co. Catalogue. l6 Whether Driving or Striving Always Follow the Best Roads ~'~Furniture buyers visiting the western markets will find that the best roads lea.d to the M. L. NELSON FURNITURE COMPANY, where you will find a commercial institution of more than passing interest; a concern that by its mode of advanced merchandising in the handling of fa<:tory outputs and se1ling exclusively at factory prices, has riseon toa position attained by no other similar conceTU in existence. THE FESTIVAL OF FURNITURE as manufactured and shown by the concerns beJow enumerated demonstrate our ability to SAVE YOU SOME MONEY. Mich. Fond du Lac Table- Manufacturing Co., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Fore"t City Furniture Co., Rockford, l11inois. The Steuben Furniture Co.. Canisteo. New York. Muskegon Valley Furniture Co., Muskegon, Gallipolis Furniture Co,?, Gallipolis, Rockford Desk Co,? Ohio. Rockford, Illinois. o. C. S. Olsen & Co., The Judkins Co., Cragin, Illinois. The Boatwright Furniture Mfg. Co., Danville. Virginia. Chicago, Illinois. Century Furniture Co., Jamestown. New York. Come and study the method. the reasons that have blazed the way to &ucc:.ees for THE M. L. NELSON FURNITURE COMPANY 1411 Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois OPEN THE YEAR AROUND Cabinet Makers In these oays of close competition, need the best possible eqnipment, and this they can have in BARNES' HAND and FOOT POWER === MACHINERY Send for Our New Catalogue. Our New Hand and Foot 'P~e-TC.it'Cl11.r Saw No.4. The stron.~est, mOSlpowerful, and in 'every way the' best machine of its kind ever made, for ripping, cross-cutting, boring and grooving. w. P. & John Barnes Co. 604 Ruby Street. Rock.ford. 111. . The Grand Rapids Furniture Exposition. A local newspaper of Grand Rapids of rectnt date contains a lengthy article, \-yell illustrated, on the subject of the Grand Rapids Fttr1liture Exposition. A part of the article, of gen-eral interest, follows: The exposition feature of the furniture business started in Grand Rapids along in the late 70's, when buyers from all over the country began coming to this market to look over the lines of the local manufacturers and to contract with them for furniture from special designs they brought with them. In those days the manufacturers had no warerooms, the var-ious pieces of furniture being scattered throughout the shops in process of construction, part in one portion of the factory. other parts in different sections of the plant, as facilities for work demanded_ The huyers were m2inly practical men, however, and producers and distributors usually m':!Il3ged to get together most satisfactorily. Buyers finally began coming in such numbers that the manufacturers saw the advisability of setting aside part of their establishments as display rooms, wherein v:.ere as·· sembled groups of their output. These were mostly shown in the unfinished sta.te-in the white, in the trade sense., with just enough finished goods to Sh01N their capabilit.ie in this line. Gradually they provided themselves with suitahle ware-rooms and added largely to their original lines. The con-tract feature became eliminated in a large measure, not ap-pealing to the manufacturers, for the reason that they were subjected to too strenuous a competition, the buyers induc-' ing as mall)' bidders as possible to figure on the work. To this feature of COl1tract work, however, Grand Rapids' early furniture manufacturers do not deny thal they owe much of their early success. The Sligh Furniture Company, for instance, will have no hesitancy in telling you what a boost they got when they landed a heavy contract from John Hand, buyer for George C. Flint & Co. of New York. The elimina-tion of this feature was merely a natural growth of tbe busi-ness, the manufacturers seeing the advantage of employl11b expert designers and 30 covering the fil?Jd of manufacture that every demand of the trade might be met. The year 1880 fottnd Grand Rapids with fourteen iurniture factories. During and immediately following this time there was a rapid increase both in the number of factories and the output of the old ones. This increase and improvement in the number of lines had its natural effect, bringing additional buyers, who nOw began coming in large: numbers. And from this fact that the buyers came here and made the bulk of their purchases for the season, manufacturers of other lines f'lswhere realized that to get in touch with furni-ture buyers during the selling season it was necessary to bring their wares to this market. And in this realization was the inception of t11e permanent furniture exposition here· on a large scale. So for a t;me when furniture buyers came here to inspect the wareS of the local factories they met also representatives of factories outside the city who exhibited to them photogra-phic reproductions of their -lines of goods. But the system of selling through the medium· of photographs proved most unsatisfactory. Rarely does the trade photo do absolute jus-tice to its subject, and especially is this true as regards pieces of furniture. The cheap piece of 'Norkmanship was frequent-ly made to look most desirable, while others of superior ex-cellence were belittled. So the wise buyers pw\-"cd lukewarm to p]lOtographs, af-firming that they came here to see goods and not photographs, which they could stay at home and see in their offices at any time. Though millions of doHars' worth of furniture are still sold through the agency of pictures, the buyer who has the opportunity offered him will invariably make his selec-tions from the ma_l1ufactured samples in preference. The first man to realize this changed condition was Fred D. Hills, who is in the city today exhibiting at the William A, Berkey Furniture Company's factory saLesrooms that firm's line of fancy cabinet work and the samples of the :Marble & Shattuck Chair Company of Clevdand, Ohio. It waS in 1883 that il'lr. Hills introduced the innovation here of placing on cxhihition a line of ontside samples. In the rotllndu of the IVlorton House he installed a line of samples of the New VOl-k chair firm he represented at the time. Others were quick to follow his example. Shortly after this E. B. Cald ..v..ell, representing the Connersville (Ind.) Furniture Com-pany, brought a line of chamber suites, <Iud about the same time thc ivYl1skegon Valley Furnitllre Company sent samples here tr the inspection of the visiting hosts of furniture buy-ers. The three named were the pioneers of tl1eoutside ex-hibitors, Of course there were 110 exposition buildings at that time, OUR OAK AND MAHOGANY DINING EXTENSION TABLES ARE BEST MADE BEST FINISHED VALUES All Made nom Thoroughly Seasoned Stock, LENTZ TABLE CO. NASHVILLE, MICH. No. 567 18 ·~MI9rIG?JN and the lines of the outside manufacturers were shown in vacant stores wherever tbey could be found. So few of these were available, however, that recourse was had to rooms in the "ppe.! floors of blocks about the city. On the completion of the Blodgett block, about 1884, it was fauna admirably adapted for' display rooms of the kind required by the manu-factories, practically all the space in the building was pre-empted for the purpose, the only use to which it is put to this day. P. J. Klingman was really the first to make a great ex-hibit of outside goods., and has been a leading spirit in the furniture, exposition ever since. As the number of outside exhibitors increased, the Pythian Temple, now the Ashton building, and the Masonic Temple were pressed into service. But with each recurring show the demand for space increased, owing to added exhibits and enlargement of the lines repre- ~ented, so that the erection of new buildings aevoted to the purpose became necessary. The first erected to meet this demand was the Waters building, the largest _in the world devoted to furnitnre exposi-tion purposes. This building, with its seven acres of floor space, is ttnderthe- control of P. J. Klingman, the lessee, and is distinctly his· individual enterpris"e, though contribu\.~ ing its share to the welfare of the furniture communuy_ A close second in size is .the new Furniture Manufacturers' building, with five acr.es of floor space. This building is maintained on a co-operative basis, and space in it is ob-tained only by taking stock in the building company, that be-ing one of the conditions of securing the right to exhibit goods in the building. The Blodgett block, which affords about four acres of show room> is a private enter-p" (" by the Blodge.tt estate, of which C. J. Van Etten is the rep-resentative; But in speaking of the exposition buildings of· Grand Rap-ids we must not ove.rlook the factory warerooms, which are now very large and admirably adapted to display purposes, The fa.ctories are the ba.ckbone of Grand Rapids' furniture e.x-position, the goods dis?layed in their warerooms the magnet that attracts the buyers hither, So in considering t,he'{urni-ture exposition as an abstract proposition let us not 105<,;. sight' of the fact that the furniture factories are the ~mal cause of it all. The splendid exhibition buildings in th~ heart of the city obtrude themselves on' our notice, but in different directions toward the outskirts of the town are the factories where Grand Rapids' world famous furniture is made and where the finished product is shown to the men who come from far and near to stock their stores with the best and lat-est the market affords. Even with thesefasUities in the way of suitable buildings, the space is inadeq~atJ:'to the demand. The new Auditorium building, now nearing cOll1pletion, will do much to relieve the congestion, as about 75,000 square feet additional floor space will be available when the furniture men again gather here next July. Two local furniture manufacturers' associations are direet~ ly interested in the exposition: The Trade Mark Association, which is limited in its membership, and the Grand Rapids Furniture Manufacturers' Association, which .embraces all the local n1anufact~rers. During these two months, January and July of each year, Grand Rapids is the Mecca of exhibitors -and dealers in furni-ture who have to :figure on the wants of their customers. This hegira brings to the city at each recurring exposition several hundreds of the country's most representative busincss* men. Both buyers and salesmen are of the highest type of suc-cesshtl business men, The buyers, who are either members of the firms or their representatives, stand for the best there is. in the furniture business, and give orders for millions of dollars' worth of goods to be delivered them as the result of AR..-T's1-.5'JL7"\I ~.: It is easy to remember Hard llDel hard to firid anything as easy .. our Bed, and B~, Price $5.50. Crib U. Sidu 2411 spindles 3;Y.iinches apart. All casl-ings; malleable iron guaranteed for 2S yeats against breakage. Finished hy 3 coats porcelain enamel. ~ haked on. New 88 Pa,e Catalogue. HARD MFG. CO. BUFFALO, N. Y. their visit to the great furniture mart. The salesmen must naturally be high class men, as the average successful busi-ness man of today is so much of a specialist that he is loath to devote much time to a man below his own gra.de of men-tality. In other words, he simply won't do business with a i<dub." Following the inevitable principle of the survival of the fittest, the furniture salesman of today is a. man of high intelligence, keen perceptions and good principles. Were he not possessed of all these qualifications he would be crushed between the upper and nether millstones of keen competition, and soon be relegated to the discard as a furniture has~been. The sales!11en, naturally, spend the. entire month here, as there are buyers looking over the market every day. The latter will not tarry so long, nor as long as they used to some years ago. Those ,,~ho have large orders to place are usu-ally here from a weift to ten days, instead of ten days to two weeks, as in thee1j?y, more scattered days of the exposition. During this tim.ethey see everythi.ng in the market they care to look at, making copious memoranda and keeping continual-ly in mind the wants and characteristics of their customers. The keen buyer knows of every prospe'Ctive customer, what he would be likely to want and how much he· is willing to pay. So, having looked over the market thoroughly, he goes into executive session by himself in the privacy of his room at the hotel, consults his memoranda, and after due deliberation places hi!'; orders for the many thousands worth with the fa-vored ones or the many he has had on the anxious seat, set-tles his hotel bill and takes the train for his home city. Some aspersions have been made anent the habits of the visitin~ buyers. They have been variQusly accused of such crimes as excessive conviviality a.nd undue hJJarity, But no large gathering in any city is exempt from such criticism, un-less it is a ministerial conference or an. assembly of the Ep-worth League. Such reports arc groundless. The furniture men, both salesmen and buyers, are a!; exemplary in their habits as any body of men, equal in number, that you could bring together, and more 50 than most. Today many of them ,,,,ill help you make o:p the congregations of our city chnrches, for a good citizen at home is always a good citi-zen away from home. On the other hand, a fe\\' of them will doubtless foregather in some of the hotel rooms and di-vert themselves with t.he fascination of draw poker, fOl" this is a dosed town, with an impe.netrable lid :Hld there is little doing Sundays. An idea of the magnitude of the exposition is furnished in the following" list of exhibitors: Barher Brothers Lllce-Redmond Furniture Co. Berkey & Gay Furniture Co. Holland Furniture Co. 1vVm. A. Berkey "Furnitur~ F. Schlo:ss & Co. Co. Empire Furniture Co. Bissell Carpet Sweeper Co. l\-Jarvel Furniture Co. Burnett & Van Oeveren Fur- Ohio Brass & Iroll Bed Co. niture Co. Gralld Rapids Cabinet Co. Cabinetmakers Co. Anchor Furniture Co. Century Furniture Co. Kllrtz Brass Bcd Co. Crisswcll~Keppler Co. Gunlocke Chair Co. Fritz & Goeldel Mfg. Co. V. S. Chair Co. Grand Rapids Cabinet Furni- Buffalo Chair Co. ture Co. Bison City Table Co. Grand Rapids Chair Co. K. P. L. Furniture Co. Grand Rapids Clock & Man- Hagerstown Furniture Co. tel Co. B('elman Cabinet Co. Grand Rapids Fancy Furni- !\Taddox Table Co. ture Co. Rockford Cabinet Co. Grand Rapids Furniture Co. Shea.rma.n Brothers Co, Grand Rapids Refrigerator !\Juskegon Valley Funtituclo Co, Co. Grand Rapids .Upholstering Moon Desk Co. Co. L. & ]. G. Stjckley Charles A. Greenman Co. Toledo Upholstering Co. Gunn Furniture Co. Binghamton Chair Co. Hetterscheid lvlanufacturing West End Furniture Co. Co. Cochran Chair Co. Hot Blast Feather Co. Crawford Chair Co. Imperial Furniture Co. B. T. Owen Co. I. X. L. Upholstering Co. St. Johns Table Co. Kelley & Extrom Ottawa Furniture Co. Leonard 1'1anufaeturing Co. Imperial Chair Co. Charles P. Limbert Co. Charlotte Manufacturing Co. Luce Furniture Co. V('rity-Caswel{ Table Co. Luxury Chair Co. Hastings Cabinet Co. Fred "1'1acey Co. C. L. Russell & Sons Michigan Barrd Co. vVdls-Shidler A-fanufacturing Michigan Chair Co. Co. Michigan Desk Co. F, H. Conant's Sons Michigan Seating Co. Union Furniture Co. l\{ucller & Sbck Co. Grand Rapid~ Bookcase Co. Nelson-Matter Fu.niture Co. Black River Bending Co. Oriel Cabinet Co. Booth Furniture Co. Overton Co. Stebbins- "Vilhe1m Manufac- C. S. Paine Co. turing Co. Phoenix Furniture Co. Charles Emmerich & Co. Practical Sewing Cabinet Co. F. 1...1.Curtis Co. John D. Raab Chair Co. Coats J'v[anufacturing Co. Retting Furniture Co. Randolph Furniture Works Royal Furniture Co. Taylor Chair Co. Ryan Rattan Chair Co. \\'. E, Brown Ct>. Shelton & Snyder ~urnit1ite Aurora Furniture Co. Co. American Furniture Co, Sligh Furniture Co. "Wait Furniture Co. Steel Furniture Co, Rustic Hickory Furniture Cu. Stickley Brothers Co. Sinclair-Allen Manufacturing Stow & Davis Furniture Co. Co. Sweet & Biggs Furniture Co. Baines-Mosier Co. Valley City Desk Co. Chase City Furniture Co. David Van BIerkom Co. Steinfeld Brothers \Vagemaker Furniture Co. United States Furniture Co. Welch Folding Bcd Co. Smith Metal Bcd Co. \JViddicomb Furniture Co. S. G. Estabrook & Co. John Widdicomb Co. Northern Furnitllre Co. Shank & Shelton Rockford Frame & Fixture Corunna Furniture Co. Co. Atlas Furniture Co. ], A. Glanton Skinner & Steenman Co. Austrian Bentwood Furniture B. L. Marble Chair Co. Co. Grobhiser & Crosby Furn.i- Cutler Desk Co. ture Co, ~Iaher Brothers Carrollton Furniture Co. Long Furniture Co. :AR..TI..5'~ t 2'-. Shelbyville Wardrobe Manu-facturing Co. Forest Furniture Co. The Vv'illowcraft Shops J,1mestown Lounge Co. Hubbard, Eldredge & Miller Miller Cabinet Co. Youngsville Manufacturing Co. 1vVarren Table \-Vorks. Parkersburg Chair Co. Orinoco Furniture Co. Elgin A. Simonds Co. v"r oodard Furniture Co. Ramseur Furniture Co. Capital Furniture Co. Boatwright Furntture l\.faml-facturing Co. Penn Funliture Co. Knaus Brothers & Arwinc Co. Prairie Grass Furniture Co. 19 Rockford Chair & Furniture Co. Gle.nn K, Brown Liberty Furniture Co. Himebaugh Brothers. Alliance Furniture Co. Kent Furniture Co. Kent-Coffey Furniture Co. A. D. Fischer Co. H. C. Dexter Chair Co. Phoenix Manufacturing Co. Kenton .Manufacturing Co. Conewango Furniture Co. H. Lauter Co. Grand Ledge Chair Co. Valley City Desk Co. Forest City Bedstead Co. Shelley .& Ahl Co. C. D. Widmar} CO. £. T. Burrowes Co. Harper Furniture Co. National Furniture· Go. Fred J. Zimmer 39 £. Bridge St., GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. HIGH GRADE. UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE WrUefor Cuts and Prices. Every Piece Guaranteed PERFECT. Hasting's Table Co. Greensboro Furniture Co. Ude11 \Vorks Roya.l Clnl.ir Co. Detroit Cabinet Co. Spraguc-Smith Co. Sargent Manufacturing Co, C. H. Haberkorn & Co. American Chair Co. Cron-Kills Co, L. C. & W. L. Cron Co. Josiah Partridge & Sons Lewisburg Chair Co. Steinman & Meyer Furniture Co. Fanner Manufacturing Co. Olbrich & Colbeck Co. f'ox & :Mason Furniture Co. The Bailey-Jones Co. Standard Furniture Co. Barnard & Simonds Co. Galax Furniture Co. Mocksville Chair Co. Basic Furniture Co. Virginia Table \-Vorks Connersville Furniture Co. Conrey & Birely Table Co. Conrey-Davis IVIanufacturing Co. e. H. Campbell Furniture Co. D. L. Conrey Furniture Co. The Hawks Furniture Co. Camden Cabinet Co. e. Henllccke Co. Stearns & Foster Co. Herschede Hall Clock Co. John Danner Mal1ufacturing Co. George Hunzinger' &.;;50115 Jamestown Table Co. Leopold Desk Co, Has No Fears of the Future. W. ]. Long, representing the furniture department of "The Fair," Chicago, spent the second week in January in Grand Rapids and placed heavy orders for immediate ship-ment. 1lr. Long has no fears for the future and the liber-ality of his llurchase created a. cheerful feeling in the market. Last year was the" most prosperous in the history of "The Fair," and the sales of the Iurinture dcpartmelllaggregated a larger sum than for any year of the· past. If all buyers "were as sagacious as Mr. Long the fa~torjes "wo'uld soon be running full and normal trade conditions restored. Mr. Long formerly resided iJ;l0rand Rapids, having been employed in the main office of-the Western Union Telegraph Company as an operator. He located in Sioux City a de-cade ago, where he began his career in the furniture trade. 20 Reliable and Substantial Furniture SUCH AS WE MAKE IS EVER THE SOURCE OF PLEASURE AND PROFIT TO THE RETAILER AND THE PURCHASER ROCKFORD CHAIR AND FURNITURE CO., Rockford,IlL Something DiffERENT in Couches We have made for some time, Couches and Davenports with woven wire tops. Our latest essay in this line is DlfffRENT. Made and shfpped K. D. Easily set up. A trial order wiR COJ1\11nce. No. 155 WOVEN WIRE COUCU $4.00 Net SMIT" ~ DAVIS MfG. CO., St. Louis. I '-----~-- -- -- --- - - -- ------------------------------------- ---- RETAILERS IN CONVENTION. Chicago, January 14.-The annual meeting of the National Retail :Furnitttre Dealers' Association was held here today. The attcndnnce was Jargn than \vas really expected and the interest manifested was certainly gre3ter and more earnest than at preV[(H1Smeetings. The main features were Presi-dent Rosenbury's message ::wd the secretary's amw<l1 report, which showed that tho>ie officers have been active during the past year. The President's Address. Immediately after YOllr executive otftcers were elected in ]anu:uy last, a vigorous campaign was outlined, ,vhich was begun by them 'with much enthusiasm and was only checked by the lack of proper financial support. "Ve saw at the outset the necessity of this assocatioll engaging a paid sec-retary. The proceedings oC the al1T1i.lalmeetings ,",vere\vritlcn up and printed in a neatly bound booklet, which was fonvarc1ed through tbe secretaries to the members. The hooklet was issued giving the courfs decision in fuHof the case of J\Jont-gomery \Varcl & Co" with the SoutbDakota 1.ferchants' As-sociation, and copies mailed to membei"S. Lea:Hets were also printed giving a c.opy of an article writ-ten by a furniture dealer, entitled, "It will be a sorry day when the furniture de<ller is eliminated and furniture is sold direct from hctory to consumer." Later on the Associa-tion Bulletin was issued, which contained a roster of member-sbip and important items regarding the assocJation, ano mailed to all members, Endless corespondence has been carried un day alte! day by your executive officers, pertaining to the work in hand. State and local associations have been formed through the efforts of your secretary and other officers, while other local and state organizations have been encouraged in their work. On February 19 ;[nd 20 the secretary and myself took ac-tive part in tbe Iowa sUIte convention, 11cld at Des '~doines, where three enthusiastic meetings 'were held. At that timL the dealers took stelJS to organize a local association. On the 21st Chairman Foster, the secreta.ry and myself met by prearrangement with a representative body of Chicago dealers, which meeting resulted .in the organization of a local association, and which has since affiliated with the National through the Illinois State Association. On the 22d an executive committee was held in Chicago, the attendance being light. However, the situation \vas thoroughly gOlle over by those present, and it was decided to go .!Ihead with the ' .'.o..rk laid ont, which included plans to se-cure the amOUl1t.'; promised to make up the proJlosed $5,000 fund, :md to push ion,vard the work vigorously-to go ahead and publish the honor roll. Soon after the first bono noll was printed and copieb placed in the hands of the state secretarioes to be distrib-uted among the members. But Upon becoming aware that this first issue of the roll was incomplete, mainly on occount of many factories having failed by neglect or otherwise to make known their po~,ition, these copies were recalled and the secretaries advised to proceed at once to re-canvass thor-oughly the entire cOlllltry and to re~print the roll. This wa" not an easy task, but was accomplished after much corres~ pondencc. On l\.fay 28, acting on a suggestion from your secretary, I appointed Me C. E. Osgood, presj·dellt of the Home Fur-nishers' Society, to represent our association before the table manufacturers at their meeting in New York city, it being <leemed advisable to have the co-operation of various manu-facturers' associations. Our position was ably presented by Jl.h. Osgood, and resolutions were adopted by the table manu~ facturers which were very favorable to our association, the 21 manufacturers asking ill return that certain evils claimed by them to exist be corrected by the retailers. On June 26 your president met v,,·ith the Indiana State As-sociation at Indianapolis, taking active part in t"",o very en-thusiastic mcetings, later on going to Chicago and holding a ~,onference with other officers to formulate plans for the July meetings, the proceedings of which have been read by your secretary. During the past six months your officers have carried on a continued round of correspondence in performing the duties \vhich fell to them, and in the interest of the -work whiCh they were- striving to accomplish, the second issue of the honor roll having been receiycd from the pr~tj5 and distrib-uted to members. I visited twenty-nine different cities dur-ing the past year in five states, and seventy-five different deal-c: ·s in their places of business. 1Jany are aware of the existillg unfair conditions. Some have started in a feeble way to overcOOle the unusual compe-tition, 'while others merely stand alone and whiningly nt-mark, '·You C<l11110t. accomplish anything ,,,jth an association:" They talk like school boys instead of. n.en in business, with no apparent will power or determination whatever to do some-tbing to protect their own interests. Some aeaters are aWk-ward because they are not identified with the retailers' organ-ization. They wonder why and how these things are being done. It is not the association Jwrdware dealers that wonders hoV'o/ and why the evils in their line of business are being cm reeted, for he knows it is by the po.ver of his association through the eo-operation of their members. Does the fur-niture dealer realize the disadvantage under which he is striv-ing to compete for trade with the mail~order houses? Does he know that some Grms arc selling the order houses twenty-five per cent less than he can buy the same articles for as a rerail dealer, and in addition the factory saves the order hOUSethe expense of handling the order, by making the sl111-' ment direct to the consumer, and charging the account to the order house. Now, in. the face of ac,tual kno\vledge of the_tJl~nl1faeturer <o;upplyingthese order hOuses about twenty-five per cent less than to you, I repeat, in the face of such will the dealers of lhis country let this National Association-the only one pow-er- the only national institution equipped to tight these llnjust practif::es, go on unstlpportedand leave it alone to lie dormant, or possibly to pass Ollt of existence altogether, and .;ee our business demoralized <Iod shrink away step by step? Or s11all the furniture dea.lers throw tJl(>jr cussed indifference and rise up in their might and .by co-opcratlor,-and w_ell-di-reeted e1tort-,-grapple with these problems? For with tlwir concer:trated power a few master strokes will reve.rse t]1C conditions entirely in favc)r of 'the retailer. I wish to give a few reasonswby I believe it imperative that interest should be maintained by the retailers in this or-ganization, and also why we should maintain the honor roll procedure: First: That the manufactu:re.q;, who are dealing square-ly \-vith the regular retflil furniture dealers who stock the manufacturer's goods, is heartily in sympathy and approves of the honor roll, as it does a.s it is_': intended to,-boom the business of such manuf<J.durcr. Second: That the manufacture-rs and others who cnss and rail at the honor roll and attempt to belittle, it are thOse whose business we have not boomed through this procedur.e and their attitude shows that it is causing some uneasiness. Third: That lTIany manufacturers who a-re not tied hand and foot to mail--order c.oncerns have discontinuea selling tu them ana asked to be enrolled on the'list of manufacturers ".-hose business we are booming. Fourth: Also the vindication of the Sioux Falls Mer-chants' Association ill their suit in the United States COUrt 22 assures us of the legal right to urge factories to re,frain from dealing with order houses while they are supplying the reg-ular retailer. Fifth: Also ttJat suits now being brought for fraud against the order houses at Des Moines need OUf support, as we will be benefited by the results of these cases if the order houses are convicted, and no doubt our support will also be needed in other similar acti.ons taken by 'others. Sixth: The last and most important reason is that this association alone is the one and only power that prevents the large e~hi~ition buildings in Chicago, Grand Rapids, New York and other furniture centers from being thrown open to promiscuous dealers. Gentlemen, do you grasp its impor~ tanee? It practically means the demoralization of the retal! trade witbin hundreds of miles of these furniture centers. Now, some of our members, and even some state officers have advised us that they cannot use the honor roll until it is more complete. Gentlemen, this roll is just as complete as the members have allowed it to be, for we have acted UpOll all the inforrr.atioll we have had placed before us-and if yOll have withheld information which you should have given us, you are that far responsible for any_ incompleteness. And if this roll is continued to be published it will be just what you m.ake it, and I might also add that this association is also going to be just what the dealers of this country make it. I believe your officers will always continue to act on any. recommendation coming from the members, and if the dealers shirk the. duty they owe to the work-to this association-the results will show it. We have got to "get down to brass tacks" and get into this work, each one of tis and do our share. We have got to do things for ourselves tnrough tht-s organization (or at least until some one organizes a better one). Now, you would not really expect these executive officers whom you selected, to open a business somewhere for you and spend their own time and money, in making and saving money for you without any compensation whatever. No, you would not, if it was put to you in that way. However, by the cussed indifference of some of our mem-bers and the indifference of other dealers (who really want the work to go on) they are asking this very thing. We now need substantial support from those members who have in the past urged the need of a paid secretary. We now have him, and he is a man for the place. Will you ratly to his support? Dotson has taken hold of the duties with an iron hand, and he has already dealt some masterful strokes 111 your interest. It is also needed at this time that those merchants who are enthusiastic over this most important work direct their ef-forts toward convincing the indifferent ones of the need of co-operation with them. Ralph B.Clark, president of the Indiana Retail Merchants Association, names six laws passed in the state of Indiana through the influence of the Indiana retail merchants and for the benefit of the retail merchants, and he makes-the statl>- metH that if given the support of twenty thousand merchants in his state laws will be passed that will legislate the big mail order houses out of business in Indiana. Have you really tak~n notice of the large number of fur-niture manunfacturers who have withdrawn their lines during the past year from the order houses? It was largely due to the influence of this association. No individual firm could have persuaded anyone of these factories to give up. selling the order houses. A little co-operation on your part hall-done this much, and with proper co-operation of all furniture dealers much more can be done. 1 am satisfied that had a national furniture dealers' organ-ization been in existence and 'properly supported when the nrst 1argc furniture mail-order catalogue was issued, and the furniture dealers shown their strength througll organizCt-tion in <>pposition to goods they were buying being placed therein, they could have prevented the order house,s issuing a second one showing any amount of furniture at all. They could have made it impossible at that time for the order houses to obtain the furniture at the very outset in large enough quantities to pay for the undertaking, and this would have prevented others from embarking in the mail-order fur-niture business. But through our lack of co-operation we neglected our opportunity at that time. Why not take <1- lesson from this, and not allow the power we have today to go for naught? Shall the business of the regular retailer of furniture, who markets ninety per cent of the manufacturers' output, and stocks the manufacturers' goods, be demoralized by a few who secure the other ten per cent and by their piratical methods create confusion and ruination among the regular retailers? Can the manufacturer himself afford to encouragt. Of e;ven allow this ruinous competition which is gradually un-dermining the business of those to whom he as a manufac-turer looks for his own support? At the Iowa meeting I became convinced (especially after visiting the hardware dealers' convention), of the need of enlightenment in store methods and would suggest that a time be given at our meetings for the discussion of this sub-ject by experienced and able men, and followed by a general discussion by the members of these most important and prac-tical subjects, which would stimulate attendance at our meetings. Ask our members to come prepared to offer something. If you have put into operation plans and ideas 1n your busi-neSS that. have worked out satisfactorily, pass them along the line, that they may be put into operation by those of us who may need them. I sincerely hope that this convention will take up the following questions and make a proper disposition of each one of them: 1. Adopt a plan whereby hotels may be furnished; that wilt be satisfactory to manufacturers and dealers alike-one that is practical under existing conditions and will not shut out our members from the bene.fits of hotel sales. 2. That this convention determine what shall constitute a regular retail furniture dealer. 3. That the advisability of recommending bette.r regula-tons pertaining to the admission of people to wholesale furni-ture exhbition buildings be taken up and properly dis.posed of. 4. That some practical plan be adopted for the forward-ing of complaints by our members to proper officers of this association. S. That the mattcr of discrimination in freight rates, and the just and proper classification by the railroads be 'looked into by this association, and the proper steps talcen to aid in the correction of the same. 6. That some plan be put before OUr members in smaller cities, whereby they may direct their customers to the larger retail stores in the larger cities when necessary, and share in the profits of sales made, similar to a plan now being car~ ried out by some Minnesota retailers. 7. That this association determine whether or not -it is advisable to treat certain large consumers, such as institu~ tions, -railroad companies, etc., as wholesale consumers, allow-ing that the manufacturers have the right to bid for such bus-iness and allow a local dealer to share in the profits of the same,. 8. That the members of this association, in the interests of .those manufacturers who aTe protecting the regular re-tailer; refrain from and discourage in others: . The; practice of retailers taking patterns to other factories to be reproduced :at lower prices; taking unjust discountS in settle,ment; -making 'claims for damages that do not exist; in misrepresenting prices and discounts; in demanding exclus- ive sale of an entire line, and then failing to protect said line. These evils being claimed by some manufacturers to now exist. 9. That steps be taken through the proper committees to obtain pledges from individual dealers, and made payable at stated periods for the next few years, in addition to the per capita tax of state associatjons, so as to place this nation-al association all a sound financial basis. 10. That this convention go on record relative to its posi-tion toward the adoption of the proposed parcels post. 1L That this association, directly or through the proper committee" take up the question of making up an honor roll c~ntaining the names of sustaining members and subscribers to its support, giving opposite each name the amount sub-scribed and paid,. that this may he an inccntive to others to also subscribe. 12. That this convention adopt a policy or plan of treat-ing the card system still in use by some manufacturers and retail dealers. 13. That the benefits of the mutual fire insurance compan_ ies among retail furniture. dealers be looked into by this as-sociation. 14. That some, effort be made to induce the different agen-ies to eliminate from their reports the mImes of parties now rated as furniture dealers who are not carrying a stock of furniture and are not furniture dealers. The Secretary's Report. I beg to suggest that while this convention is in session it de.termine whether Of not it is advisable to give 01.1tthe i<RoB of Honor" booklets to non-members or to local associations that may ask for them before they are affiliated with tln~ as!';ociation. It is important tllat you take action all this in order that your officers may know what course ro pursut. I have reason to believe that many of the members have put these books into practical use as the correspondence in the files of the offlce will show. A great deal of this corres-pondence was taken up direet with this office-while consid-able came through the state and local associations. In most cases I have found that the manufacturers wish to be fair with the association, while in a few instances they have not exhibited the spirit of fairness which it would seem they should. In company with several of the Chicago members I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Illinois associatjon, which was held in Peoria on October 16. A very interest-ing session was held, although it was not largely attended. Arrangement was effected \vhereby the Chicago association became affiliated "..·ith the: Illinois association. This proved to be very encouraging to the Illinois tn.embers, as it had been the desire for some time that the Chicago association affiliate with them. There was organized in Buffalo, N. Y., recently an asso-ciation as an adjunct of the chamber of commerce. I have been in correspondence with the secretary and have furnished him several copics of the "Honor Roll" and other informa-tion pertaining to tllis association, and lwve asked them to be-come affiliated with the national. Their secretary informed me that some of their members would probably be in Chicago at the time of this convention and would, he thought, attcnd this meeting. I was informed by the secretary that the Philadelphia asso-ciation was making an effort to orgalli:t"e the state of Penn-sylvania, but I h;nre been unable to gather information as to whether or not they were successfuL It is hoped that the Philadelphia report will give us favorable information as to this. I W8.'S obliged to dec.line an invitation, extended by th. Utoff, to attend a meeting in December of the New Orleans association, which has contributed very liberally to the finan- 23 cial support of this a%ociatioll-in all, the amount of $15';, which inc1ude~ their per capita tax. From communications received from the states of Wiscon-sin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, and Ohio, I have reason to believe that those a.<;sociatiol1s are in a prosperous condition and that they are conducting campaigns for new members. I trust this statement will be borne out in their reports. As secretary of the Kansas and Illinois associations, I might say in the former state we have made a small gain through the me'lllS of circular letters and by keeptng in close touch with the dealers. In Illinois the intercs:t has apparent-ly lagged, although we have started in a campaign for new mem bers which I hope will prove effective. I believe then, is a chance of greatly increasing the membership of this as-sociation. .From communications that I have received from the Eastern Associ;.ttion of New York, it does nor seem to be very active, and it is to be hoped that we can assist in put-ting new life in this association. The Oregon association, I understand, is practically at an end, and tl,e California association seems to have disbanded. Finances. This association has received, since the last annual meet-ing, per capita from the following associations: Jamestov·..-n, $5; Home Furnishers, $50; Indiana, $135; Vir-ginia, $75; Y.,risconsin, $62; Michigan, $90; New ,Orleans, $2::1; Illinois, $33; North Dakota. $20; Ohio, $43. Total, $538. The following associations have sent in contributions from their membership: \iVisconsin, $75; Indiana, $100;' Iowa, $70; New Orleans, $130. Total, $,175. v-"f e have rec:eived in spec:ial contributions during the year, $755, aside from those received from the association. With-out these contributions this association would have been un-able to do the amount of work that has been done. How-ever, to do all that should be done during the current year there must be more general support or means provided for the financiering of the association. These contributions wt;:re received princopal1y through the efforts of the finance committee and by the officers and work-ers in the ..a..rious associations. The last of November I wrote each of the associations who were delinquent in the payment of their per capita tax, and in most caSes received replies of the secretaries stating tllat they were endeavoring to collect the dues and hoped to he in position to send their per capita soon. However, we are without per capita from the following: Eastern Associa-tion of New York, Iowa, Kansas (not yet affiliated), l\finne-sota, Nebraska, New State (not yet affiliated), North Caro-lina, Chicago, Philadelphia, South Carolina and South Da-kota associations. The Bulletin. I had expected to issue the Bulletin before this meeting, but owing to the condition of the finances I did not think best to do so. I am of the opinion that it should be issued fre~ quently, as this is perhaps the best means of directly advising the members of the work being done by the national and the various associations. The Bulletin is 110 doubt expected by tbe members and would undoubtedly result in creating a bet-ter interest. Open Salesrooms. From personal investigation I found an office loc:ated 111 the main part of the city where a few samples of upholstered fumiture are exhibited and where the consumers are invite<1 and when they inform the party in charge that they want tv buy certain articles of furniture, they are taken by the sales-man to one of the exhibition buildings and are priced certain lines of goods that are on exhibition there the year around. The saleSmUlJ stated he could not do any business during the market season and claimed the goods he was sel1ing were samples. However, I want to say that their operations seemed to be conJlned to the one building, and they did not claim to sell only from certain lines shown therein. They solidt this business by means of a circular letter, making stateme.nts therein that they can save the buyer from- twenty-five to seventy-five per cent. I also have information received from officers of the asso-ciation of a firm in this city evidently organized by an indi~ vidual and with seveml manufacturers forming the company, as a sort of clearing house whereby goods may be sold to the consumer, public institutions and perhaps mail order and premium houess. This will no doubt bear the investigation of the association. The card system is in force in some of the buildings, and I am informed by one of the managers that he believes this is in the interest of the dealers in the country who do not carry complete stocks, and they being good customers, tLe exhibitor canuot afford to not accommodate them by not selling their customers sent in with a card. It seems that it would be wise for the assoclat1on to try and educate the dealers 110t to send their customers to the buildings with cards Of letters if we expect to stop the card system. The mail order and premium house evils seem to be re-ceiving considerable attention by the retaileui 111 general. The trade journals should no doubt be given credit for the campaign- of edl1cation which they are conduding and in the interest of toe retailer along this line and the dealers should be encouraged to subscribe for several journals and read them, Through the efforts of a trade journal an indictment was secured against Sears, Roebuck & Cd. in the district court of the United States, The grand jury found them guilty, all three counts, of obtaining money under false pre-tenses. The parcels post measure which has been ardently advo-cated by the postmaster general has received considerable attention at the hands of various associations and their mem-bers. A.lthough a measure that does not directly affect the furniture trade as much as lines of smaller merchandise, yet it deserves the co-operation of the furniture interests for the effects of such a law would indirectly work to the detriment of the furniture trade as well. Therefore, I am of the opin-ion that we shOUld assist in this fight. At sonle futufe timL we may wish the co-operation of other associations in fight-ing our battles. 1 believe that other associations should be, and I have reason to believe they arc, friendly to the inter-ests which might work to our benefit. I prepared and have distributed is my correspondence and through the secre-triaes, letters and petitions to congress to be stgned by the members and citizens of their communities. Mutual furniture illsurance is a feature that is being inves-tigated by a number of the associations and I understand 1!> being used by the Minnesota association with considerable success. It is of vital interest to the dealers in general as by mutual insurance the members should be enabled to carry their own insurance and at a great saving in cost. It is to be hoped that this association may see fit to in-vestigate and take up a plan of insurance which could be made to assist in supporting the association and no doubt be in-strumental in greatly increasing the membership. I would beg to recommend that this association authorize the appoint-ment of a committee to take up this subject and investigate same. During the short period 1 have held this office I have found the need of a committee to act for the association upon matters, particularly with reference to freight classifications, Especially will this apply at this time as the Classification committee is working upon a new classification and there are .7'IR.T 1..5'.7f..N ~ 2 : 2 e - very apt to be changes made in the classes of various lines of furniture which would greatly affect the dealers. With a committee conveniently located and in touch with this re-classification, perhaps to a greater extent through the office of your secretary, such matters as affect our members could be investigated and, if deemed wise, action perhaps in con~ junction with other associations be taken which might result in securing more favorable and justc1assifications. I be~ lieve the manufacturers "vill co~operate with us In matters 01 this nature. The need of such a committee was recently demonstrated when note to Rule 5 B of the official classification, which .vent into effect January 1, was to be finally decide:.d by the Inter:.. state Commerce Commission at \¥ashington, D. c., on Jan~ uary 8. This did not come to my notice until it was too late for this association to arrange to take action on same. The fact is, these hearings are set on very short notice, which is all in favor of the railroads and it does not give others inter-ested an opportunity to present their side of the case, and it is almost impossible to take any concerted aettOn. The note in question reads: "Note 5 B win apply onty when the consignor or consignee is the actual owner of the property." This will have cQosjderable bearillg on the fur-niture retailer, espe.dal1y of the west, as the dealers cannot under the enforcement of this note, buy good of several dif-ferent firms and have them assembled and shipped at carload rates. Neither wilL they be allowed to group shipments for several consignees in the same car unless they pay L. C. L. or local rates. Another matter that might receive some attention at the hands of such a committee i~that under Rule 27 of the official classification, which gives a .table of percelltage increase of weights on cars over thirty-six feet six inches, on minimun. carload weights of 24,000, 20,()()O. 18,000 and 16;000 pounds which amounts to ten per cent or 26,400 pounds in cars not over thirty-eight feet six inches, when the minimum is 24,- 000 pounds, to an increase of fifteen per cent or 60,000 pounds in cars not over fifty feet SIX inches when the minimum is 24,000 pounds. I am informed that the railroads claim the additional cost of cars and the general additional expenses of handling, etc., justifies this advance, but it would seem that the heavy rate of increase is not in keeping with the addi-tional cost. I am of the opinion that if these meetings could be held at a time other than the market season, when we could ar-range for a two or three days' session and introduce more ed-ucational features, as well as to give more time :to the business of the association and consideration of matters presented, that they would be more largely attended and better results re-ceived therefrom. In closing, I wish to express my appreciation of the ad-vice and encouragement that has been constantly given me through the frequent correspondence of your president. He has at all times been faithful in rendering advice and assist-ai1~ e upon matters where 1 felt the need of advice from one older in the work than I am. I desire also to express my appreciation of the way in which my worthy pred~cessor has always been ready to give advice on matters pertaining to the duties of the office, with which he was more conversant than I. A number of the officers have also been free with en~ eouragement and have been very faithftll in assisting to raise the finances with· which it has been possible to carryon the work. It is well known that trade organizations, such as this, in conjunction with the state associations, have done much tv improve the conditions under which trade is carried on, Con-ventions with free interchange of ide.as dealing Viith every .. day problems of business life have been the most effective means by which trade organizations have partially ac.'Comp-lished that admirable purpose sought to be attained. 25 WOODARD FURNITURE COMPANY owosso, MICH. The Woodard Line. Makers of the most popular medium priced bedroom furniture. All the fancy woods and finishes. Especially 8trong in CIRCASSIAN WALNUT and COLONIAL DESIGNS. Send for catalog. Talk about bedroom furniture. Did yoU feast your eyes 011 the vVoodard line when you were in Grand Rapids? If so, you do not need a word in regard to it. If you were in Grand Rapids during the January trade sales and did not see this line, you misse,J one of the finest displays of chamber furniture ever placed on exhibition in this or any other market. :.;at that it was so high priced, but because of the beauty of design, Tare woods, careful \'v'orkmanship and beau-tiful finish. Here one could see magnificent examples of furniture in circassian walnut, mahogany, birdseye maple and quartered golden oak, that would rivet the attention of the beholder, 50 that he would be loath to leave it. The line was one of the largest-probably the largest in chamber furni-ture brought to Grand Rapids. and no intelligent buyer could leave it \'v'ithout wishing he had room for at least two-thirds We Manufacture the Largest Line of FolOino 6hairs in the Uniled States, suitable for Sunday Schools, HaIls, Steamers and all public resorts. We also manufacture Brass Trimmed Iron Beds, Spring Beds, Cots and Cribs in large variety. Send for Catalogue and Prices to K/\UFFM/\N MFG. GO. ASHLAND. OHIO of the pieces in the :line. Of course it sold well. Couldn't be otherwise. A new spring catalogue is ready for mailing, and the dealer who 'does not receive a copy may consider himself one of the ul~fortunates. Collapsible Go-Carts. In our grandfathers' days a cart was a vehicle with two whecis, but in these :Jatter days the collapsible go-cart, that, by a single motion, qr quick jerk, spreads itself out and rests 011 four ·wheels, is <). >vonder. It's an all-steel wagon, ex-cepting the leather ,top, and so strong that it will safely carry a one hundred pound, baby over a rough pavement. There is nothing lik~ it in this or any other world that the :vIichigan Artisan knows of. It is made by the Sturgis 01ichigan) Steel Go-Cart Company. The New Banquet Table Top as well as OFFICE, DINING and DIRECTORS' TABLES are our IIpecialty. STOW & DAVIS FURNITURE CO., ~=!;:"" Write fot Calalogue. Get samples of BANQUET TABLE TOP. 26 ALASKA QUALITY Guarantees perfect insulation, circulation and the most econom-ical consumption of ice. They insure the dealer a satisfied customer every time. Zinc, White Enamel, Porcelain and Opalite Linings. ASK FOR CATALOGUES AND PRICES. The Alaska Refrigerator CO. EXCLUSlf/E REFRIGERATOR MANUFACTURERS MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN They "Gotta" Live. r watched an artist man at work Depiding chairs, .buffets and desks. . "How can you give Your art to such a task?" asked L And, straightway he did make reply: ,<:>'1 gatta live." That is the way with men who carve, Or write or print. V\le cannot starve! Your stove or bench We'll help yOLl on the market put. We may not love the labor, hut We gotta Jive. HARDWOOD FINISH FOR PINE. Capt. Purse Talks of New Process 0 Wood-Preserving That is Claimed to Be of 1m ense Value. Capt. D. G. Purse of Savannah is ouring the south in the interest of developing the process fa drying all character of swamp and highland wood, more par ieular1y the swamp o.:ak, cypress, tupelo, etc. Re was attracte,d to this proccS5 some twelve months ago and has been for the past six months in ).Jew York conducting experiments with wood brotlght from Georgia, taken: from the native trees. The results of these tests and ex eriments have been so satisfactory and have made themsel es so attractive to all parties interested in the preservation and drying of this char-acter of lumber that a company who own the process have delegated C<Jpt. Purse to introduce this treatment in the "outhern states. As explained by Capt. Purse, the process of vulcanizing pine and watery gum timber consists of subjecting these \'\Ioods to intense steam heat in a huge steam cylinder. A certain degree of temperature is maintained for a fe-w hm1rs and the. aqueous properties of the ,\vQodremoved. The dens- 'er fluids, the albumen and pitch, the natural preservatives of the wood, are retained, evenly distributed in the pores of the wood, a.nd the. timber thus treated is hermetically sealed and made practically proof against the decay of time. The hitherto useless tupelo gum, the cypress tree and the sap pine become, under this process, as valuable as the mahog-any of South America, with the additional advantage that it has less than 011e-fourth the weight of that valuable hard- ""Toad. An idca of the practicability of the process may be Kained \"he.n it is stated that a plant consisting of a huge steel cyl-inder capable of receiving 22,000 feet of timbe-r, may be- es-tablished at a cost of 1,500 to $3,000: Twenty-four hours of treatment of the most aqueous and pulpy timber.converts that wood into a decay resisting.material which not only vies with but surpasses the 1110Stvaluable hardwood as to time resist-ing qualities, but it is also capable of being given the most beautiful finish. Capt. Purse exhibits ~;pecimells of cypress, gum and sap pine trees treated by this proccss and finished by a cabinet maker._ At first glance the gum is taken for rare old mahoKany, but turned over on the ,other side appears to be the finest grade of maple. The same metamorphosis is accomplished with the cypress and the sap pine, th~ latter being a wood which resists all attempts to fire it in its gree,:l state, and begins to crumble and decay the moment the dry-inK out process commences. One fact of immense significance in regard to lumber treated with the new vulcanizing process is that evcry pore- of the wood is hermetically, sealed for all tim~. This makes lumber so treated par excellehce. for intenor finishll1g of dwelling houses. Wood as used at present is a perfect culture bed for germs of disease and dangerous bacteria. Scientific investigation has proven. that the germs of diphtheria, scarlet fever and other dangerous infectious disease-sIllay be, communicated by the wood in the house for months after such an infected pe-r-sail has been in the room. The, vulcanizcd wood offers as little lodgment for dise,ase germs and bacteria as does the polished surfacc of porcelain. "It ii. our plan," said Capt. Purse, in an interview, "to es-tablish plants throughout the south. In order, however, that no particular section may enjoy an advantage over another, not "a single plant will be established in the south until each and cvery state in which this timber is found is ready to act. Then the plants will be started simultaneously. "This means more for the wealth of the south than any discovery since Eli \Vhitney il1Vented the cotton gin. Hither~ to any 111allowning land on which the gum and sap trees grew felt .that his la11dwas burdened with ~l useless p-roduct of nature, The pine was susceptible of treatment to the extent that boards might be made of it, but they rotted away within a few months of usage. Thc cypress and gum trees were good only for the purpose of putting out a fire. so heavily charged are they with aqeuous properties. Under the vql-canizing process these woods surpass mahogany, rosewood and all other nne woods known to civilization for their wear-resisting qualities and the beauty of finish which they take." The retail furniture trade has pulled the .buckle of its belt up another notch and placed many orders for goods. Panic or no panic, 'ledion aT no 'lection, the trade ~s out for busi-ness and nothing can stop it. Five Complete Lines of Refrigerators at RIGHT PRICES iI.JI Opalile Lined. (j! Enamel Lined. tl Charcoal Filled and Zinc Lined. fJI Zinc Lined with Removable Ice Tank. CJI Galvanized Iron Lined; Stationary Ice Tank. Send for new Catalogue and let U3name yoU pTice. SliOh'~ S616GtStUI6~ S611anOSati~fU D6a16r~anO Tn6ir Gustoill6rs MANY NEW FEATURES ADDED FOR SPRING SEASON OF 1908. EVERYTHING FOR THE BEDROOM [Medium and Fine Quality]. Office and SalesroOm corner Prescott and Buchanan Streets, Grand Rapids, .Mich. Line now ready for inspection by dealers. 27 ------------------------------ ---- 28 -!t~Mlf]ilG7JN ' .7IR..T I oS' AL"il + zee The Ro~al Push Button. One of the most intdesting exhibits in the January trade sales in Grand Rapids aind Chicago~ was that of the Royal Push Button Morris Chairs, manufactured by the Royal Chair Company, Sturgis, Mich. There arc about one hundred patterns in the line, made in oak and mahogany frames, with a liberal amount of midsion styles. The coverings are in beautiful shades of plushes and leather. The prices range from $6.25 to $30. Then there is a line of upholstered floor rockers, as attractive as anything on the market.' The Royal is one of the most: popular lines of Morris chairs ever Let Him Know It. When a fellow pleases you Let him know it; It's a simple thing to do- Let him know it. Can't you give the scheme a trial? It is sure to bring a smile And that makes it worth the while- Let him know it. You are pleased when an:y one Lets you know it. \Vhen the man who thinks "Well done" Lets yOli know it. For it gives you added zest To bring out your very best- Just because some mortal blest Lets you know it. \~rhen a fellow pleases you Let him know it; Why, it isn't much to da- Let him kncrw it. It will help him in the fray, And he'll thi'nk his efforts pay; If you like his work or way Let him; know it. brought out, and the push button attachment, by which the back can be adjusted to any position without getting out of the chair, makes it a delight as well as a comfort. Any furniture dealer who carries this line and takes the trouble to push it, make as much money from it as anything he keeps in his store. If you have not received their catalogue ~t would be wise to send for it at once. Reductions Not Asked. In discussing the results of the January sale. Major MacBride, secretary of the ::.relson~Matter Furniture com-pany, said: "Visiting buyers recognized the importance of maintaining prices and no reductions were called for.· I have not learned of any cutting in prices, excepting on onc or two hotel orders. Several of our friends seemed to be overanxious to make sales, and engaged in sharp compcthion Over a number of contracts. Not so many buyers visited the markets as last year,hut the traveling salesmen w-i1l ·call upon th-cm soon, and supply their needs. Of one thing dealers may rest assured: manufacturers will make no more goods than the trade require. They will not load up and carry stock for the convenience of dealers, as in the past." Ki(~mon~ Oair CO. RICHMOND. INDIANA MUSKEGONVAlLEY FURNITURE COMPANY Mosl<"lIon. Mich•• Odd Dressers Chiffoni.ers Wardrobes Ladies Toilets Dressing Tables Mahogany Inlaid Good. Ladies Desks Music Cabinets Line on we in ManufactureR' BuildiD8'.Grand Rapids. Double Cane Line SEE OUR NEW PATTERNS CATALOGUES TO THE TRADE • -----------------------------------_. - - Although the v.:inter s~lling "cason was not what it should be, jl wa::=.better than the corn trade of Nebraska a few years ago, when it cost more to market the product than it sold for. Several months. uSlIally active in trade. remain before tJJe opening of the presidenti.al campai.gn, and as Evansville goods arc easy to sell aud profltahle to the dealer, there is no reason why the factories should not be ill full operation before the ides of l\Jarch. 1Jany buyers, inspecting the exhibits in Chicago, have had an opportunity to examine Evansville goods in a group widl somc degree of satisfaction for the fint time. A heavy trade is looked for from comparatively new territory. The number of dealers in furniture in the United States is in-cr~ 8.scd anllually from R.OO to 1,000, and the manufacturers of Evansville realize the importance of keeping in touch with new trade The exhibit at St. Louis attracted much atten-tion and favorable comment. The \\101'11] Furniture company will be pleased to receive applications for their new catalogue. It contains many beautiful lwJi tone illustrations of the line. The "llig Six" combination, through their united corps of traveling sales-men and the liberal distribution of catalogues, are eompletely covering'. the trade of the United Sta.tes. It is the purpose of the furnilure makerf; of Evansville to keep the trade fully informed in regard to their offerings. A new catalogue illustratillg, descrihing and pricing the large line of chamber furniture. manufactured by the Karges Go-Carts and Baby Carrl"ages Fo,d-Job.",. Col~.. ibl, is the easieft to fold. the 8tron~ and best lookinll COlT! on the market. ~ Our complete line of $ll.mple5will be di5played in Ford·John-son Bldg" 1333.37 WablUh Ave .. including a ~pecial display of Hotel and Dining Room furniture. iI1I An furniture dealers are cormanyinvited to visit OIH bulklinll THE FORD & JOHNSON CO., Chicago, Illinois. 29 STAR CASTER CUP CO. NORTH UNION STREET, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (PATENT APPLIED FOR) We have adopted celluloid as a base for our Caster Cups, making the best cup on the market. Celluloid [s a. grtat improvement <Jver bases made <Jfother material. When it is necessary to move a pi~ce supported by cups with ceJ1ul<Jidbases it <:.an be done with ease, as the bases are per-fectly smooth. Celluloid does not sweat, and by tbe use of these cups tables are never marred. These cups are finished in Golden Oak and White Maple .. finished light. If you will t1'1f a sample ordM" of these goods you witl diJsireto handle them in quantities. PRICES: Size 2}{ inches, ..... $5.50 per hundred. Size 2}{ inches .••... 4.50 per hundred. f. o. D, Grand Rapids, TRY.A SAMPLE ORI/Ell. Furniture company, witl soon be ready for mail. It will interest every dealer in medium and fine goods. \-\lork on the new factory of the Standard Chair company is progressing satisfactorily. It will be ready for occupancy early in the year. The samples of Evansville goods from the big six factories exhibhcd at St. Louis filled ten cars; and those from the independent houses about as many more. e. F. Diekman, the manager of the Crescent Stove works, is \-vell pleased ",dth the business done last year. A new catalogue will soon be made ready for distribution. The Bosse Furniture company, under the capable manage-ment of 1'I1r. Ploeger, is one of the most prosperous industries in Evansville. Their line of knock down' wardrobes and kitchen cabinets is considered desirable and profitable to handle by thousands of dealers. Benjamin Bosse, the affable manager of the Globe Furni~ ture company, is ·well pleased with the results of last year's bllsiness transacted by the company and confident of a good trade in the future. An excellent line of low and medium priced chamber suites and dining room furniture is manu-factured. Their new catalogue will be mailed to applicants for the same. The ):1etal Furniture company's line of brass and iron beels is a strong feature of tbe furnhure industry in Evans-ville. The factory operated by the company is one of the largest in the city. j ~Janager Fellwock as received many compliments on the excellence of the lin of tables brought out for the current year of trade. The e ition of ten thousand catalogues, recently issued by tl1 company, has been broadly dis-tributed. A'very large and successful business in brass and metal beds has been established by the Evansville lvl eUl1 Bed company, under the experienced management of ""V. A. Koch. The goods command a ready sale in every market. How He Got His Start. "'But, after a{l, don't you think a good education is an essenti ..Jl in business success?" ").Jot much," replied the'wealthy man; "it was my poor e.ducation that gave me a start. I done a job of work for a rich fellow, and made out my bill for 'too' dollars. You see, besides the bad spelling, T forgot to cross the 't.' He sent me a check for $100." 30 Cosmopolitan Apartment. "Ve are living U"j) in Harlem in an extra swellish flat That's nothing if it's not High Art, and you can bet On that! For the hall is trimmed in figures, Egyptian, in relief, And the fron~door's Grecian columns wear the big acanthus leaf. There's;;t,.dome above the doorway-very stylish-Roman- ~iqu.e! Looki~,too, a 'little Moorish, for the carvings are grotesque! But th'edoor itself swings open to a Renaissance ideal And the beJlsJ,sd with mosaics, make a Byzantine appeal. . Katie says the Wattcall subjects in the panels are a dream; \Vith the Flemish woodwork, really! they do make a noble scheme! Stained glass windows, set at random, lend a solemn Gothic air Al1'delectric shades in crystal show Venetian fe.eling rare. Iran's rugs and Turkey's carpets carelessly about are strewn; Antique chairs from Spain and China with the symphony at-tune. Proud we are of all this grandeur, but the landlord's call last night \Vas the single factor needed to touch off the picture right. Atmosphere Italian dazzled from his tie-a radiant bow- As he glanced at our Penate.s-they are modest things we know! "You prefer," I questioned gayly, "Higher Art-things richer done ?" Signor Zetti smiled so sweetly: "High-a-Art! Ees dat da mOll?" -ELAINE DARLDIG. CHEAP BEDROOM FURNITURE, What a Salesman Ran Up Against in a Town Where Health Fads Are the .Only Things Talked About. Demar, the salesman, had been having hard luck for a month. He was beginning to think that alI his old customers ..were waiting for the Winter Exposition. Presently he struck a town which had always been pretty good to him. It wa1> a health townj and a lot of the money handled there came nut of the pockets of people who rode through the streets in wheel chairs. Demar thought he would make a winning there, Slire. He tackled his hest customer first. Gillette was a pro!:!- perous merchant, 'with a store a little '(00 big for the town. He was never ugly ",,'hen a salesman marked him for his own, but occasio!lally he grew pessimistic and sarcastic. The salesman found him in a disagreeable moo.d. He hardly looked up as Demar entered with the merry swing of a man who has got' to make a sale or go to the poor house. "vVhat's the grouch?" asked Demar, handing out a cigar and dropping into a chair. He had hunted and fished ..v..ith Gillette, and played poker with him, and thought he might cut out formality. When men play poker together and don't break friendship, it is surc that they are good fellows. "Business is bad," replied Gillette, lighting the cigar. "I'd like to shut up shop and go tiP north after deer, or somc-thing that would keep me on the move. You needn't get out your picture cards. I don't want a thing. I couldn't pay for the .stuff if 1 bought it. I'm up' against it." . "I'll take my chanc'cs on getting my pay," smiled the salesman. "Here! What's the matter with making a run on those fine bedroom suites?" "Bedroom suites!'"' repeated the merchant. 1I0f course! We've got some beauties! Look at these veneered goods. Eh? That looks pretty poor, what?" "What do they do with bedroom suites?" asked Gillette, .. with a perfectly straight face. There was even an anxiety in his eyes which seemed to await the answer as something impo:rtant. Demar grinned and threw off his overcoat. ~ I'The bedroom suite of commerce," he said,. "i's the thing conducive to repose. In other words, where you pound your ear! I've got some bedsteads here that make you sleepy to look at 'em! Look at 'em ~nd see!" "Have you got a bedstead that will turn off the gas at bed-time and walk out on the roof of the porch?" asked the mer-chant. Demar grinned. He was used to the merchant's way, and saw a sale coming. "Not yet," he replied. "Weare having some made." "They don't use bedroom suites any more in this man's town," sighed the dealer. "I haven't sold six in three months." "What do they use?" "Why, they don't even use the"sleeping rooms. How can a man use a bedroom suite if he hasn't any sleeping room to put it in?" 'iNo sleeping rooms," said Demar, becoming interested. "Where under the sun and moon do they sleep?" "That's where." "Where? That's where what? What are you doing with all those funny little bugs in your belfry?" "That's where they sleep." "That's where they sleep where?" "Under the sun and uloon." "Oh! And I presume they use the green, green grass for a mattress and the cerulean sky for a counterpane! \Vhy don't you go out of town for a few days?" UN 0, they don't slee,p on the grass. They're getting a contrivance made to keep 'em off the ground and out of the dew. The people about here are sleeping ill the open air, my friend, so where's the use of my buying bedroom suites ,., "Oh, of course, there are a few cranks who do that, blll there win always be a market for bedroom suites." Yes. Of course. They'll always have to buy somethIng to furnish their sle.epingrooms with, eh? Of course. Well, they've got 'em furnished already." "Don't they buy of you?" "They don't buy of anybody. They plant their things to furnish their sleeping rooms." "It is too bad," said Demar. "You used to be one of tht: brightest men on my route, and now you are t.alking abollt planting seed and raising bedroom furniture." "You bet they do!" insisted the merchant. "You go dOWl' here to the next residence street and turn to your right, or tUfl1 to the left, if you want, or just .stand .still, if that's your notion, and you can see the sleeping rooms from the sidewalk. You bet you can! How would you like to contract to fur-nish all those sleeping rooms? I gtleSs you'd be in a shirt without any sleeves if you undertook it." "What do they have in their sleeping rooms?" asked De-mar, not quite getting next to Gillette's obscure humor. "The one on the corner.," was the reply, "is furnished with a fountain and a brass dog. There are also some pille Lee" scattered about, to give the perfume and the moan of the health-giving north. Tlle bedstead is on the roof of the porch, and the ceiling of theslee.ping room is 50 far up ill the air that you couldn't reach it with a writ of habeas cor-pus." "So that is the latest fad I" exclaimed the salesman. "Sleeping in the open air! Wen, that gets me! Do they all sleep in second-story porches?" "I should say not. Some of 'em pull out a window in the sitting room and shove the head of the couch out on a flower bed. They've got a bedstead here that runs on a track to a French window, and out to the porch. "When a man gets ready for slumber he undresses by the fire, Rets into bed and tucks in, touches a spripg", ,11~dthee he is, with the North star for a bedfellow and the big dipper for a dream-producer. I'd like to see you sell furniture to a man whose sleeping room is half an acre in size., with it pump on the side and a carriage house to store toikt articles in." "The fad will die oUL" said the salesman. "In time;' s<:tidthe merchant, "but not in time for me to get rid of the bedroom suites I have on hand and pay my bills. They've got some: s.vell sleeping rooms up in the west end," continucd the merchallt. "One mall takes out the whole side of bis house so the air can get into his bone~. And tents! Say, what sort of bedroom furniture would yOL, buy to furnish a tent?" "The kind we make, of course." "\,,-rell, the last sleeping room I was in up there was fur-nished with a hot-water bag and a bottle of malted Inilk. The occupant slept with his head through a hole in the wall of the 'tent and took a bite of pure air for breakfast. That is, he took a bite when the wind was in the south, and a bite and a half when the wind ,vas in the north. He told me that he ,vas feadul of getting dyspepsia eating so much north wind, How would you like to put in new machinery to make bed· room suites for that man!" uYou haven't looked at my pictures yet," solid Demar. "1 don't want to look at them," said Gillette. "'I've got all the furniture I need in the store, and more! \'\Then a man breakfasts on north wind, lunches on malted milk, and wraps the whole dog gasted landscape about him for a sle,ep, what's the use of selling- furniture? The landscape experts are furnishing the sleeping rooms around here. One of the new styles is an American beauty rosebush covered with wild ctlcumbe' t'Jl'lC~. I guess they expect the combination tn give an old English effect to the chimney! Ko, you can't sell allY bedroom outfits around here, unless you've got rubber goods and nursery stock!" HI think ['II have to go up and see this sleeplng room thal is furnished with a fountain and a brasss dog," said the sales-man, with a smile. "Oh, that's all right! Go There may be other articles of a red roof, and a brick chimncy. as ornaments." right on up and look at it. furniture, like an iron fence, I've seen wheel-chairs used "TllCfC'S ahvays some fool fad Oil," grumbled the sales-man. "And all the fool fads hit the furniture t'ade," replied the merchant. "If you think I'm stuffing you about the out-door sleeping rooms, just you go ahol1t (Own and ~ize things up. Pretty soon they'll get VI eating condensed food t1'I capsules, and then there will be. no n~ore dining r00111 fUTlll-ture." "About the only real good trade in this town is the cas

Date Created:

1908-01-25T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Grand Rapids Public Library (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Collection:

28:14

Subject Topic:

Periodicals and Furniture Industry

Language:

English

Rights:

© Grand Rapids Public Library. All Rights Reserved.

URL:

http://cdm16055.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16055coll20/id/99