The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

They seem to think that a heavy key is
necessary for security. All sorts of novel;
ties would sell well also"
MARKET FOR FURNITURE.
A dozen people have told me of the great
market offered in Germany for American
furniture. The Germans have little cabinet
wood, and most of their furniture is heavy
and made by hand. The best of it comes
from France and Austria, and 1t is the pre-
vailing opinion among Americans living
here that a fortune awaits the man who
starts a furniture store on a Grand Rapids
basis. There are a few folding beds in Ber-
lin brought over by Americans, and one
gentleman has ordered q dozen or more
from time to time for German friends who
have seen his, but no merchant seems TO
have had enterprise enough to bring in a
stock.
Another chance equally good awaits
wagon and buggy manufacturers There
are no factories in Germany. All vehicles
are made by hand at little blacksmith shops
at the cross roads and in the villages and
hey are heavy and of poor materials. Rich
people order their landaus and victorias
from Paris and their carts and road wagons
from England. A gentleman who under
stands the wagon trade was telling me that
he watched a blacksmith putting together
a carriage the other day. Every part of it
was made by hand-even the wheels, and
he counted three different kinds of wood in
the SDOkeS. Inc shafts also were OF O11Ier-
ent materials, and when he came to set the
tire he drilled the holes by hand. A Ger
man wagon is very heavy. In ordinary
teaming there is usually about a ton and a
half of wagon to half a ton of load. 1t is
explained that the wagons have to be heavy
because the material is so poor. There is
no hickory in Germany.
But whoever comes here to sell American
goods must do business on the American
plan. 1t is useless to adopt German meth
DDS or trust to German agencies. 1t is also
necessary to observe the moral law with
scruples. Many Americans have come to
grief by trusting German methods, but
more nave failed because of misrepresenta-
ton. The Germans cannot be h~umbugged
more than once, and the merchant who at
tempts it might as well give up business,
because his reputation will be destroyed.
There is no room here for 'sharpers." The
commercial code is more strict and exacting
good field in England for all kinds of bogus
operations. The English like to be hum
bugged, but the Germans are not to be
trifed with. There is even q law to punish
MISREPRESENTATION in mercantile trade. 1t
is properly called 1.-The law against unfair
competition and under it any person may
swear out a warrant for the arrest of any
merchant who has cheated him or has tried
to cheat the public by misrepresenting the
value of his wares. The publisher of a
newspaper who exaggerates his circulation
may be sent to Jail, and any form of COM
mercial dishonesty is liable to a severe
penalty.
THE EXACT TRUTH WANTED.
Not long ago an American merchant, de-
string TO introduce his goods into Germany.
prepared a circular in which their merits
were described in glowing terms. They
were represented TO be 1.-THE greatest things
on earth" and he no doubt enjoyed in an
ticipation the excitement his announcement
would create. But when his German agent
read the document and explained the law
against misrepresentation ne felt different
w. The whole edition of the circulars was
thrown into the waste basket, and a new
one was prepared which stated the exact
truth.
Not long ago a German buyer ordered a
twenty-horse power dynamo from an
American manufacturer. Under our prac-
tice electrical machinery is rated at it's
maximum capacity. In Germany the rule
is different. and machinery is rated b. its
ordinary everyday normal capacity. When
the machine arrived and was put TO the
test il developed about eighteen-horse pow
er. The German refused to pay for 1t. and
il lay around here for several months until
the manufacturer succeeded in disposing of
IL at a price that barely covered his ex-
penses. What is more serious he lost the
confidence of the German community, al
though he did not intend 10 deceive. If he
had been a resident OF this country ne
might have been punished for what was an
innocent Misrepresentation.
But all Misrepresentation on the part of
American merchants are not so innocent.
Consul General Mason and other people who
are familiar with business affairs i'm Ger
many can tell some humiliating stories on
this point. and they lament with good cause
the dishonesty OF some of their fellow-coun-
trvmen. Cantain Mason says: I'm many