The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-10-14

LIS AGENT NAY
BE RLGI7I RI " I'D q
For the Afflicted Condition Of
the Window Glass

= l.
article on window glass affairs:
Light demand and comparatively
few inquiries about sums up the
general business conditions in the
window glass trade during the week
The low price era has by no means
been q. panacea for the window
glass mans Innumerable Ills and at
the present time there does not ap-
pear To be any relief in sight.
The present situation is peculiar
to say the least. despite the abb
normally IoW prices and the below
normal production there is no move
nent apparent on the part of buyers
to load mp This condition has been
brought about through the price
cutting tactics INDUCED in by mahu---
facturers resulting in destroying
what little confidence tobbers and
dealers formerly had in the4window
glass market, and thus preventing
them from buying except for actual.
requirements. in addition, the
stocks OF glass carried by the big
machine interests has been a sort Of
Old Man of the Sea as far as the
HpNlSluk VuUAAC 40 SoASCA AASSAs
further slash in prices is feared and
when confidence in the market IS
destroyed there's nothing doing in
the way of dealers carrying any
more glass than they actually needs
Something must be done by the
manufacturers II they expect to con-
tinue in the business and make a
legitimate profit on their invest
ment Many plans have been sug-
gested from time to time, but all
these have came to naught up to
the present time. Each manufac-
turer appears to be waiting for the
other to do something. and an seem
70 be aimlessly Drifting with the
current.
While discussing the general sit
uation with a we'll known glass
man this week he gave expression
to the following views and sug-
gestions which will doubtless prove
OF Interest to every man identified
with the window glass industry:
II n comparison were made with
the methods Of doing business be-
tween the window glass industry
and other lines of manufacture, it
would be apparent, even to an out
slider, that on a competitive basis
the manufacturing end of the win
dow glass industry compares favor
ably with any other industry, espe-
call. in that the cost OF operation
and manufacture has been brought
in close comparison with compettt-
could be done by any manufacturer
that would place his cost on lower
basis If the same comparison were
made with the sale of the product
OF window glass with other lines 1t
becomes apparent that in almost
any other line OF business the indi-
vidual interests are large enough
to maintain selling organization
and properly market their product.
The window glass manufacturer
has devoted the greater part of his
attention to the manufacture and
not to the sale. of his goods the lat
ter being left almost entirely to the
jobber. The jobber today. as he sees
conditions, is not willing to take
chances, especially on account Pt
the possibility of overproduction and
manufacturer as in days gone by.
1t would seem, therefore, that if
some method were devised whereby
the various factories could maintain
selling organizations that would be
in their direct control. it would in
a large measure overcome their
present ANTIQUITIES; in that way they
would be able to place their goods
before the trade on a systematic
basis.
While the law absolutely prohibits
the pooling of a product in order to
maintain fictitious prices. there is
nothing in the Sherman law, or any
other law on the statnte books, that
will prohibit the hand manufac-
turers from employing a sales agent,
either on a salary or commission, to
market their goods, provided. how
ever, that they do not all appoint
the same sales agent. Two or three
sales agents could readily market
the hand product. and by reason OF
the organization they would main
tain could better protect the fac
tory interests in the sale of theil
goods into the different territories
0Contlnued on page 30