"The True Status Philippine and African Mahogany"

Special Bulletin lssued Decemler 98,1936, bv the Philippine Mahogany Manufactuiers'

"For some time past the Mahogany Association, Inc., and particularly certain members of that organization, who are importers of Mexican and African Mahoganies, have been engaged in disparaging Phrlippine Mahogany, and not truthfully describing the status of Philippine and African Mahogany under the existing rulings of the Federal Trade Commission. Much of th:s propaganda has found its way to retail and wholesale furniture dealers, as well as to furniture manufacturers.

"The purpose of this bulletin is to inform furniture dealers and others of the facts. Possessed of these facts, you will knorv better how to interpret this propaganda and the motives behind -t. We are sufficiently confident of your American spirit of fair play to believe that you will treat any future attacks of this klnd with diminishing respect.

"In June 1931 the Federal Trade Commission, after consiclering some six thousand pages of testimony which included all the known facts and every shade of opinion regarding mahogany woods in general and Philippine Mahogany in particular, dismissed its complaint in the Gillespie case, and under the ruling in that case and the stipulations entered into by all the parties in interest with the Commission, our Philippine wood was held to be ent;tled to be known and described as Philippine Mahogany. The parties concerned agreed to use in all instances the word 'Philippine,' just as they always had, and as they always wlll.

"Before the Co,mmission decided the Philippine Mahogany case, it brought a case agairrst I. T. Williams and Sons of New York, in which their right to use the name mahogany to describe the several species of woods imported from Africa was involved. This case was also disposed of by the Federal Trade Commission under a stipulation by which the Williams Company agreed to always use the lvord 'African' with the word'mahogany' in the sale of their several kinds of African woods.

oflmport Association, Inc.

"Thus, the Federal Trade Commission's rulings established the names 'Philipprne Mahogany' and 'African Mahogany' as proper names for the Philippine and African woods respectively. This was done five and one-half years ago. Except in a few cases, which we believe were due to carelessness rather than intention, Philippine Mahogany furniture has been advertised and described as such.

"This Association insists that both Philippine and African mahoganies should always be designated as such, so that the public may decide for itself which of 'the several woods it prefers.

"More than two years ago the Mahogany Association, Inc., asked the Federdl Trade Commission to reopen the old Gillespie case. The Mexican Mahogany interests have given great publicity to their efforts to get the Commission to reopen this old settled trade fight. Some of the statements that have since been circulated have led to believe that the use of the name Philippine Mahogany has been prohibited. This is not the case at all. The Commission has not reopened the Gillespie case, and even if it did so, it would be reopen:ng a lawsuit which would have to be reconsidered in all of its complicated aspects before a final decision could be rendered.

"The facts, therefore, are:

"1. That both Philippine and African mahoganies may be described, advertised and sold as such under the existing rul:ngs;

"2. That the rvords 'Philippine' and 'African' are require<l to be used to describe respectively the Philippine and African woods:

"3. That it is good business, good ethics and in conformity with Federal Trade Commission rulings to use these distinguishing terms; and

"4. That you should not be intimidated or misled by propaganda circulated by a few of the importers of Mexi- can and South American mahoganies, who are seeking to monopolize the word 'mahogany.'

"The term 'mahogany' has, since earliest colonial days, been applied to many different kinds of 'woods, without regard to their botanical classifications, brrt all of such lvoods have possessed a numl>er of properties and clualities in common, rvhich have become associatecl in the public m;nd rvith those of 'mahogany', After more than three hundred years of such elastic use of the word, it is manifestly too late to give selfish Mexican and South American mahogany interests exclusive rights to the term; it is not only right but also to the interest of the public and the trade to dlstinguish between the several commercial mahoganies.

"All of these woods have their proper places in the manrlfacture of furniture, for all of them are woods of merit: Philippine Mahogany, by its acceptance through the years, has established its place which it is entitlecl to hold uncler its ou'n distinguishing name.

"Call it Philippine Mahogany and be proncl of it, as \\'e are."

loohey-Twohy

Miss Beverlv Twohy, daughter of Mr. ar.rd Mrs. Arthur Twohy, and Thomas J. Toohey, son of Mrs. Thomas J. Toohey, socially prominent yotlng Los Angeles couple, were recently united in marriage in St. N,Iary of the Angels church by the Rev. Ray O. Miller in the p1 esence of several hundred friends of the young couple and their families. Both attended the University of California at Los Angeles and are active in college circles. The bride r,vas given in marriage by her father, Arthur Twohy, well known rvholesale lumberman. Following the ceremony there was a reception at the home of the bride's parents.

Miss Ann Freeman was maid of honor, and the Misses Barbara Christensen and Maxine Ferner were bridesmaids. Lyle Thompson served as best man. Richard Twohy, Jerry Rose and Nort ood Smith acted as ushers.

Mr. and Mrs. Toohey spent their honeymoon visiting in Carmel, Monterey and at the Awahnee in Yosemite Valley. They rvill make their home in Los Angeles.

Perbct Record for Club Attendance

Henry NI. Aclams, Frank N. Gibl>s, August Schumacher and Roscoe B. Young, four members of the Anaheim Kilr'anis Club, have not missed attending a Club meeting in the past ten years. Mr. Adams, the first president of the Club, has not missed in sixteen years.

A member is permitted to absent himself from his own club if he attends some other Kirvanis Club meeting the same week, but among this group there have been very few "make-ups." Mr. Schumacher recalls a couple of times in the ten years, but Mr. Young, rvho has been secretary for a decade "just can't remember" lvhen he rvas not at a meeting. Messrs. Adams and Gibbs have attended Club meetings at distant points rvhen on business or on vacation. Mr. Young has also served as president of the Club.

Mr. Gibbs is president, and Mr. Adams vice-president, of the Gibbs Lumber Co. at Anaheim; they also have yards at Fullerton and Placentia.