Wholesalers Hold Annual Convention

C. A. Mauk, Toledo, Ohio, was elected president of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association, at the annual meeting held at Washington, D. C', on Wednesd-ay and Thursday, April 10 and 11. Other officers elected for the coming ye"t *"t.: A. E. Lane, New York City, first vice-presid"e"t; wt. G. Truman, Chicago, second vice-president; O. N. Shepard, New York City, treasurer; W. W. Schupner, Nerv York City, secretary-manager.

The follorving directors rvere elected to serve for the term expiring in 1932: John I. Coulbourn, Ehiladelph?, 1".; 4. E.'Gor"clon, Tororito, Ont.; Dwight Hinckley, Cincinnati, Ohio; J. W. McClure, Memphis, Tlnt; Hr W. McDono-ugh, Bostori, Mass.; J. B- Montgomery, Pittsburgh,-Pa'; C. C. Patrick, Portland, Ore.; G. M. Stevens, New York City; T. G. Whittier, Nervark, N.J., and Ben S. Woodhead, Beauinont, Tex. To fiIl vacancies: L. K. Creason, Kansas City, Mo.; Thomas W. Tebb, Aberdeen, Wash.

President Ben S. Wood presided over the business sessions. Aside from the repbrts of the officers, among the various subjects discussed at the two-day -session were: legislation, tredits, relationship with-manufacturers, railro"ad and transportation matters, trade extension and the cost of conducling business. W. E. Humphrey, Federal Trade Commission, talked on the trade practice conference plan which has been adopted by the commission as the most ifiective wav in which to deal with undesirable practices in business. lValter F. Shaw, National Lumber Manufacturers Association, addressed the meeting on the activities of the association with reference to the major projects oi 1929, building code work, advertisilg and grade and.trademarking. ;6trn n. Whitehead, Nitional Association of Purchaiing-Agents, talked on grade-marked lumber' Mr' Whitehead'".-"hait*"tt of a lumber committee which has made a recent nation-rvide survey' spoke from the consumers' standpoint, and also stated that the National Association of Puichasing Agents has taken no action on the matter as yet but will piobably do so at its meeting^-in June' R' A. -Dailey, maniger oi the North Coast office, Seattle, 'Wash., glve a report on lumber conditions in the Northwest and also talked on the question of sales differentials'

Trade Extension and Grade Marking Resolution

The following resolution on trade extension and grade- rnarking as presented by the board of directors was adopted by the convention:-RESOLVtrD:

That we express our appreciation of the splendid work that is being carried on in behalf of the entire lumber industry by tfie National Lumber Trade Extension Committee, under the guidance'and direction of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, in cooperation with our olvn and other and allied organizations' Through advertising, research, building code,development' and ot[er varied activities, the use of lumber has been promoted in a most helpful and satisfactory rvay, and great credit is due those who are in charge of this work, for the energy and ability with which they have handled a difficult task.

That difierences of opinion should develop in connection rvith this work is but natural in view of its many-sided character, and because of recent differences on grade-marking and trade-marking', we desire to make clear the fact that in"accordance rvith foimer actions, we are in favor of gradernarked and Association trade-marked lumber (as long as nothing appears in the trade-mark symbol to identify 'the source of supply), and are sincerely rvilling to co-operate in its promotion.

Ho*ever, in fairness to all, we must insist that there should be no discrimination against unmarked lumber that is gradecl according to Association Rules and subject to official inspection.

Approximately 85 per cent of the lumber now produced by liige ancl small mllls, inclusive, is at, present unmarked. This lumber must be marketed in an orderly manner' largely through the r'vholesaler, rvho must and rvill insist that ii be given a square deal. Therefore, in.justice to those rvho, through choice or necessity, make, distribute, or con.u*e .r.-t-tked lumber, and to meet the situation brought about bv those who are demanding and insisting that.o-nly grade aircl trade markecl lumber be purchased or specified, ive state as an undeniable fact that marked arrd unmarked lumber is produced from the same class of trees, and one is no bettei than the other, when both are properly manufactured and graded.

Further, we suggest that when necessary our members furnish the purchiier rvith guarantees such as the following:

THP L. W. BLINN LUMBER COMPANY

Form No. l-to be used on order blanks or acknowleclg- ments:

This tumber witt t1"f'l*Tlt3.o,r* to Association Rules and in case of .dispute is subject to tifficial Ir;p;.ii.;, by_which rve mutuallv ag.ee to abide.

Form No. 2-to accompany the orcler to the mill to be placed in car when loaded:

The lumbe, i" thi.G.U'ti*m-T gracred according to Association Rules and in case of cli.spute is subjec? to Official Inspection.

Added.weight.may be given these forms by placing there_ on our Association symbol, indicating as ii does ihat the seller is a member in good stancling of the National_Ameri_ can Wholesale Lumber Associatio]r, It is to be understood that these suggestions shall not be construed as in any way opposing tEE orclerly clevelop_ ment of the use of marked lumber, ind are onty intended to help meet the difficulties that at present confront the lumber industry, in connection rvith tiris sul>iect.

Plan West Coast Trio

_At the meeting of the Board of Direitors hel<l altcr the adJournment of the Convention, action .r'as take, towarcl planning. for an a,ssociation trip to the West Cou.t J"ri"g July or August, the time to be later determined. This rviff be along the same lines as the visit in 1923, rvhen soecial cars were provided for a party of 28 rvhich visitecl a num_ ber of important lumber- ce.rt.r. in the u'est ancl which assisted in the splendid development of relations throush_ out the manufacturing and wholesale industries ancl- ir-, bringing about a better understanding of the problemi fac_ ing wholesalers on the two coasts. Tle contaits thus macle had important results and the Directors of the National_ American believe that it is timely to repeat such a trip during the coming summer.

I\{atters rvere leJt rvith _secretary-Directing Manager W. W. Schupner to arrang.e the itineriry and otirer cleta"ils ancl announcement will be _forthcoming shortly.

John I. Shafer, chairman of thi resolutions committee. presented the resolutions to the convention u,hich were unanimously adopted. Following the convention, the board of directors adopted the follorving resolrrtion :

RESOLVED: That the Board of Directors of the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association afproves the desire of the Northern'Hemlock and Hardrvood Manufacturers Association to aid insofar as compatil)le with g;;;l business ethics, in merchandising lumber-in strict ac&rrd_ ance with.standard grading rules,-but does not approve any plan which tends to confuse the recipient of the iumber as to the responsibility under rvhich the certificate is issued, or from whom such graded lumber may be purchased.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this resolution be referred to a committee of three from ihis Association to be appointed by the President rvho shall confer rvith the National Hardwood Lumber Association and the interes,ted hardwood manufacturing .associations to protect the best interests of lumber buyers :.nd wholesale <iealers.

. Preceding the convention, 'the presidential dinner given Uy thj retiring president, Ben S. Woodhead, to the past p.residents, directors and ofificers of the organization ancl their wives, was held on Tuesday evening,'hpril 9.

Structural Grade Redwood for Texas Bridge Construction

As a direct result of field work ,of the California Redwood Association, orders t,otaling 250,000 feet of structural grade Redwood to be used in bridge construction in Southeastern_ Texas, have been recently received by The Little River Redwood Co., and the Hammond Lumber Co.