Western Retail Lumbermen's Association Annual

Taconra, Wash., was selected as the 1927 convention city and C. J. Baldrvin, Bridger, Montana, was elected president for the coming year to succeed H. A. Templeton, Portland, C)regon, at the 23rd Annual Institute of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association, held at Portland, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 18, 19, and20.

New American Standards and grade marking were heartily endorsed, and the convention recommended the lifting of the tax burden on private interests now attempting the reforestation of denuded and cutover lands.

Retiring President Templeton and other speakers expressed the belief that the lumber industry is entering a new era, in which all branches will cooperate as they have never done in the past, and the convention appointed a committee to cooDerate with manufacturers and wholesalers of the Northwest to determine in what tvay industry problems can best be solved.

A proposal to locate the headquarters of the association at Portland was referred to the board of directors to be dealt with not later than the date of the next annual meeting.

California Delegates At Western Retail Annual

W. L. Buckley, Stockton.

Vaughan Black, Upson Co., San Francisco.

George Burnett, Burnett Lumber Co., Tulare.

B. J. Boorman, Boorman Lumber Co., Oakland.

E. R. Ellis, Palo Alto Lumber Co., Palo Alto.

G. W. Fraser, San Francisco.

Mrs. J. E. Fraser, California Retail LumbeFmen's Association, San Francisco.

J, C. Ferger, Swastika Lumber Co., Fresno.

Robert Inglis, San Joaquin Lumber Co., Stockton.

L. D. Kellner, Parafine Co., San Francisco.

Elmore King, King Lumber Co., Bakersfield, to prosper who lives the herrnit life," he said. ,.He must meet from time to time with other dealers and manufactur_ ers for exchange of ideas." tn revlewlng the progress of the association he divided the past 23 years into three epochs, saying he believed thev w'ere at the beginning of a fourth epoch-now in their assJ_ cratlon experience which he would call, ,,The development of the lumber industry's consciousness as a whole.n He stressed the necessity for cooperation with the other branch_ es of the industry. "We must stand all together; we must prosper or failto prosper together." In conclusion he said in part: "IJse your association, call on it for the solution of your many problems. Do not think of your association as t_he. secretary, .or his staff, or your president; think of it as being one thousand lumber merihants like yourself. l-iound together for common good.

P. M. Norbryhn, Rio Linda.

Byron A. Nixon, Nixon Lumber Co., Lockeford.

J. E. Neighbor, Neighbor Lumber Co., Oakland.

F. Dean Prescott, Fresno.

A. J. "Gus" Russell, Santa Fe Lumber Co., San Francisco.

H. W. Robbins, Weaver Roof Co., Los Angeles.

Wrn S. Wells, Upson Co., San Francisco.

J. F. Wright, Brey-Wright Lumber Co., Porterville.

An amendment to the bylaws was adopted providing that the affairs of the association shall be managed by a board of 24 directors. and that at least one vice president shall be appointed for each of the 10 states.

All sessions were rvell attended, Al convention to be the best in 10 years. from California.

^ P_resident Templeton in his address paid a fine tribute to A-. .L. Porter, secretary of .the association for the 23 years of its existence, who, he said, "has given us a high .t"ria"ra of progressive, intelligent, administlative servici not equat_ led anywhere, at any time, in the history of retail turiif., organization.

He also expressed his appreciation ofthe extent of the service given by the lumber trade papers to the association.

- Secretary-treasurer A. L. Porter in his annual report rc ferred to the necessity of selling the organization to the 1400 lumber merchants in their territory riho are not mern_ bers, and asked for a committee of five to consider this question of membership.

The jeports of Roy S, Brown, traffic manager, and that of the auditing committee we;re next. Then foll6wed addresses on "Business Getting Nfethods" by C. D. Hudson, Exchange f,umber & Manufacturing Co., Spokane, in which he urgEd h_is hearers to go after the business of selling hqmes in"as thorough manner as the dealers in automobiles and raclio sets. "ft is foolish to allorv the old belief to persist that there is a limit to the lumber business," he said, and continued in part : "We must bolster up the old American pride in home ownership and put on a definite campaign in favor of the 1926 model house. Let us bring oui iri ou, advertising and in our interviews that men are still rated by tJre. type of drvellings they occupy." The speaker got a good laugh r,vhen he said; "Lumbermen of fhe old -type must have started that slogan, 'no yearly models.' We h-ave Ieft behind and laughed the ancient fllvver ofi the street. but have hung a halo over the ancient house.,,

H. L. Pott-er, Portland, also spoke on the same subject as the last speaker.

Porter declaring the 19 were registere<l

P,roceedlngs opened Thursday morning with the singinq of "America", in which the gathering lvas led by Herbert J. Anderson, Portland. This was followed by the invocat:orr delivered by Rer'. E. L. Pence, after rvhich President H. A. Templeton introduced Mayor Baker of Portland, lvho delivered the address of rvelcome to the Delegates.

B. J. Boorman, Oakland, Cal.. responded to the address of rvelcome bringing greetings from the Hoo-Hoo Clubs of San Francisco,and Oakland. "No retail dealer can exDect

The aft-ernoon session was openecl with a song by Richard F'elt, George Felt Lumber Co., Salt Lake City. - This young rnan has a Iery fine voice and was heartily applauded.

F. Dean Prescott, Valley L!-rmber Co., Fresno, Cal., gave an address on "Delivering of Certified materials."

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TIT next speaker was Prof._ Earl Jay Glade, IJniversity of Salt Lake City, rvho took as his topic, "Why a Home Should be Built of Wood." The professor said he came from one of the tu'o "brick-minded" cities of America, but proved himself a true advocate of wood construction, giving 15 rnain reasons for the use of wood in Dreference to all other rr-raterials. This talk evoked much applause.

C. W. Gamble .chose as his subject "Voluntary and In-

(Continued on Page 10) voluntary Costs," and his carefully prepared talk was listened to with great attention. The session ended with an address by W. C. Deering, John Dower Lumber Co., Tacoma. on "Cost Accounting."

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All delegates and their ladies were the guests of the Portiand Entertainment Committee at a concert of the Apollo Club (Male Chorus). Herbert J. Anderson, Anderson Lumber Co., is president of this fine organization.

An appropriate opening for the Friday morning session was the singing of Joyce Kilmer's famous poem, "Trees", by H.J. Anderson.

Henry Schott, director of publicity for the West Coast Lumber Trade Extension Bureau, was the first speaker. He told them some of the plans of the manufacturers for market extension, and said that the main point of the movement to which the manufacturers are committed is that they are going to begin to view their business as lumbermen, ancl cooperate rvith each other and with the retailers, and assured them that anything done for the stabilization of the manufacturer must directly affect the retailer.

J. D. Tennant, vice president, Long-Bell Lunrber Co., acldressed the convention on the subject of "Grade and Trade Marking." He said the lumber industry was among the Iast to put a mark of identification on its product. "It is common practicb in Europe and other countiies to buy lumber altogether on the brand," he said, and he believed the adoption of grade marking by the mahufacturers would be beneficial to the retailer. He referred to Secretary Hoover's statement that grade marking was particularly necessarl' in the case of lumber, and his prediction that lumber would later on be bought and sold unseen as wheat and other products are at the present time. In conclusion he said: "The purpose of grade marking and trade marking is with the one pronounced thought of taking the mystery out of the lumber business."

Considerable discussion developed. Those taking part included: Robert Anderson, Logan, Utah; W. B.-Mick, P_ortland,9r.i J. M. Crawford, Walla Walla, Wash.; Ralph IT. Burnside, Portland, Ore.; C. H. Watzek, Wauna, 016.; $ajol Griggs, Tacoma, Wash.; J. C. Ferger, Fresno, Cal.; B. J. Boorman, Oakland, Cal.

R. B. Allen, secretary-manager of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association also joined in the discussion, ahd made the announcement that from now on a complete list of all members of his association would be advertised in the trade journals.

.__Foy F. Morse, manager, T ong-Bell Lumber Co., spoke or.r "New American Standards," and invited the retaileri to pa1a visit to Longview.

C. H. Watzek, Crossett-Western Co., Wauna. Ore., was Iirst on the program at the afternoon session, with ,,'Who Will Carry the Stock, Manufacturer or Retailer." as his subject. He concluded with the prediction that both in Irrture rvill carry more stock.

A. H. Landram, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., Tacoma. clelivered an address on "Economic Lumber Utilization" rvhiclr rvas characterized by the president as being the best talk ever given on that subject anywhere. Frank discussion on this subject followed, the president commenting on the amiable nature of this compared to discussions of 16 years ago.

Other speakers r,r'ere: E. M. Sybert, Livingston, Mont., on ."Shipping What is Ordered and Invoiced," Roy A. Dailey, on "What Price Distribution", and B. J. Boorman, Oakland. Cal., rvho gave an address entitled, "A Speech of Figures."

Mrs. Elmer Zanten of Portland opened the Saturday mo_rning session with a song, and received a hearty ehcore.

Speakers at this session were Robert Anderson, Logan, ITtah. whose topic rvas, "Why Sidelines", R. M. Graham.

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