The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-24
PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS METHODS

Of Il. G. WEIcnMANN & Co., New York,
failed. with over 100000 liabilities. aud
with less than 100000 Of good assets.
Some thirty years ago Mr., WEIcnMANN start
ed in the cloth business in an humble way,
and that business grew until II reached the
magnitude as above shown. 1t is true
that while others begun the same line of
trade much more recently than he, they
have advanced until their assets are to-day
numbered among the millions of dollars.
MR.. WSIcHMANN.was man ofgreat industry
severe economy, and scrupuous integrity.
IL becomes, therefore, pertinent inquiry
why he failed when his competitors are
succeeding. In an interview with u New
York reporter he tells his own story as to
the causes. He says: 1.-THE chief one ia
that the whole system of business has been
changed within the last few years and
was slow to recognize 1t. Instead of the
merchant tailor or other customer coming
to the wholesale establishment, as In for.
mer times, he is visited by travelling sales
man, who takes his order and forwards il
to the wholesale house. was opposed to
the new methods employed by other houses.
There was no good reason that could find
for selling goods on the road, and | stuck
to the conservative rule of conducting my
house until was forced to succumb to the
modern idea. | am free to confess that
made grand mistake in holding ont so
long. | realize that was behind the times
The argument that applies to that once
prosperous house, applies to every other
industry in the country. The lesson that
ia taught by its bankruptcy is lesson tina.
may be read by every merchant, manulac-
turer, mechanic, newspaper, and all the en-
terprises. II we will stop to review the
condition of things for the past dozen or
fifteen years We will begin to appreciate
the vast changes that have been made in
every line of life. Business methods are
by no means an exception to the role. Not
very long ago the bulk of newspaper mer.
camille advertising was confined to few
men who had patent medicines or
something of that ilk to
sell, whereas legitimate trade was
averse to such mode of announcing its
wares and goods for sale. The former were
seen to become enormously rich through
printers ink, and one by one, regularly
established houses began to follow suit and
found 1t a necessity, until the exceptional
cases were those who omitted to advertise
Within the last few years the system of
drummers has grown in favor, and mum.
beers OF these latter are constantly ON tho
road with their samples. But where they
reach only few men in n day, the daily
paper speaks and proclaims to thousands
every morning what tho merchant has for
sale, giving often the exact description of
the articles offered, the scale of prices, etc.,
etc. We are proud, and correctly so, TO es.
innate the general character of a man nv
one developing feature. So, when we sec n
man abreast OF the times. pressing his
claims before the communities whose ps.
tronage no courts, we set him down as n
live individual, and seeing that he pursucs
the best modes TO sell, conclude that he has
been equally awake in the iudiciousness of
his purchases to tho end that he may offer
the best bargains to his customers. Mn.
WElcnMANS realized only too late that he
was behind the times in adopting current
practice. &c. IL Is with the newspaper
that fails to get the largest amount and the
best quality Of the latest news, or to use
the most approved modern machinery to
mako the issue the equal or superior Of
any competitor. SO with the factory, tho
mechanic, the dealer In all articles of de.
sire. Tue goods TO DO sold and the names
Of the parties selling them must be made
~ familiar ~ household words. ana tho
most effective way 70 do this IL through ths
columus Of The paper that regularly ross 10
ths hsAzthslonss and The countsp Of thor.
sandu OF homes and stossa. True. ~.
must b done with wiss diuerssSou, sThsrr
y bsnsdclAl. and there V foolish ~
d advsfllulhs. The ozsl sorS 4 I splpu6lj
lnveasmsAt, o. lASlsr \ N absurd sQuan