II United Stotes Gypsum

"Don't talk America short. The greatest calamity that could hit this country, short of war, would be another depression like we endured in the 30's. There seems to be a lot of propaganda and misinformation being dished out to the American people by "crepehangers" and "Prophets of Disaster', whose predictions since the war ended have been, to a great extent, as sour as vinegar and as distasteful as bilgewater. Nearly all of them take a slap at lumber. In spite of .'bellyachers,,' the productio'n of lumber continues to increase, the housing situation continues to improve, big construction is under way, and all that is necessary for lumber people is to keep working like they are doing now, and close their ears to the cry of "'woLF."

The above is the gist of J *J."a advertisement of the Sabine Lumber Company, of Houston, Texas, that has brought them tremendous acclaim from widely scattered lumbermen. *t<*

George S. Benson, the now nationally famous president of little Harding College, in Arkansas, is the author of a powerful letter addressed to our citizenship generally, in which he also attacks the present talk going the rounds about threats of depression. He offers suggestions that he says would successfully "_"-O:, any such danger.

He says that the safe and sane protection of this nation against financial or economic storm lies along one road and only one-production. We tried, increasing wages, and everything else went up, wiping out the wage increases. It will happen all over again, says Dr. Benson, if we continue on that routg and inflation will grow.

There is no way to go, says the eloquent Doctor, except toward hard work and high produ,ctivity. That's the formula that will enable us to keep business good and employment high, provided we start using it right now. We should tighten our belts, get our feet on the ground, and go,to work just as hard as it is possible for us to work. and there will continue to be good times for all. A greatly increased productivity per man hour is his formula for a hopeful America.

With increased productivity, with an honest hour's labor for every hour's pay, we could see a considerable lowering of prices with our present labor force and without increasing working hours. Indeed, he thinks it possible to increase output as much as 40 per cent, which would be enough to bring about a deep reduction in general prices.

In his printed letter Dr. S.J"or quotes freely from recent suggestions from the "elder statesman,' Bernard Baruch on that same subject. Mr. Baruch says that the postwar world will be prosperous "only if men work,,' and he suggests a 5-rl day, 44 hour week, without strikes or layoffs until January, 1949 as a means of getting the vitally needed production.

Mr. Baruch says that a way must be found for production to flow smoothly, and that when this is achieved ,,a sense of security would return to worker and employer, and the reaction upon the economy of the world would be deep andl lasting."

Dr. Benson "tro ,rr"tl" "*nr.J for the return of high minded competition to this nation and its industry as one of the saving graces that will get production high and thus bring costs and prices down. He pleads for speed, stamina, accuracy, dependability, and initiative in our production efforts.

With much the same ino,lrn.*r,.r mind Dr. Lyndon o. Brown, President of Knox College and formerly a merchand'ising expert, said recently in a public address: ..To say that purchasing power can be increased merely by raising wages or by cutting prices, is a fool's argument. The source of purchasing power is production. Without a high level of produtcion, purchasing power suffers. A high income is of no value unless it represents the power to purchase, now or in the future, goods or services. A rebirth of craftsmanship is what we need in America today. We can have prosperity if either a high or low level is in such balance as to encourage production. We can have prosperity if we earn it." * * *

I agree that prices are generally too high. I deny that there is any possibility of fixing blame for those prices on any men or groups of men. Everything we have done for years past has aimed to develop our present situation. That situation will adjust itself as production and demand become properly lined up. Let us pray that it happens without too sharp a readjustment period. The old law of supply and demand is as dependlable and inexorable as the Law of Gravity. It has never failed yet when allowed free rein. Getting production up so that prices will adjust themselves smoothly and naturally, will ride us over the present nervous situation.

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(Continued from Page 8)

A yogng man in flouston, Texas, is establishing an all-time high record for advertising Red Cedar shingles and shakes. A couple of years ago he bought a big shingle mill in British Columbia and became so enthusiastic over the product he makes that he is now spending over FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH to advertise it; and that in only the Southern part of the State of Texas. He thinks it is money well spent. Thus Maurice Angly is setting a hot advertising pace for the rest of the Red Cedar Shingle industry to shoot at. And particularly an industry that has never been lavish in its merchandising spending. All those who can read or hear in Angly territory have been made to learn about Red Cedar shingles and shakes. Such enthusiasm warrants notice, particulady with a man who spends advertising money fof only one purpose; to make more money.

Here are several wisecracks in semi-humorous vein recently made by Dr. Frederic P. Woellner of the University of Southern California in an add,tess to a lumber convention. "Those who can do-do. and those who can't do -1ssqh, and those who can't teach-practice law." "Trouble with many public .servants is, they have so much more power than they have ability." "If a man hasn't sense enough to meet a payroll, he writes a book on economics." "A dictatorship is a pyramid with the apex at the bottom." "Lincoln said. that no man is good enough to rule another man." "Freedom means a man's right to act like a jackass if he wants to and has sufficient intelligence." "Salesmanship means selling people on wanting things, for if you do they will buy twice as much from you as you would try to sell them."

"An executive," says 1n. *rrrnlo, Association of Commerce in Chicago, "is one who has the ability to plan, organize, teach, delegate, inspire, and secure maximum results through skillful leadership." And, they might add, who does most of his work on an overtime basis.

Letting well enough alone is a fine proverb for a man without ambition, but a drag-anchor on one who wants to get ahead. Nothing is well enough if you are capable of doing better. There is an old Spanish proverb that'says: "I will enjoy the little I have while the fool is hunting for more." The ambitious man turns that around and savs:

"While the fool is enjoying the little he has, I will hunt for more." The way to hunt for more is to utilize your time and ability without stint.

*,F*

Walter Lippmann was at his best when he wrote: "Where all think alike, no one thinks very much." And Ken Smith, of San Francisco, President of the California Redwood Association was recently heard to remark: "In Russia it's against the law to think, while in the rest of the world it's against human nature."

**:t

Over the entrance of the Archives Building, in Washington, are these words: "What is past is prologue." If Uncle Joe Stalin's research boys should stumble on the secret of the atom bomb, we could change that to read: "\Mhat is past is all there will ever be."

And the great bard, Flomer, when asked for a definition of man, replied: "MAN IS AN ANIMAL THAT WRITES.''

WCLA Membership Directory Avcilcrble

A revised edition of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association membership directory, which includes a detailed listing of manufacturing equipment and products, is norv available upon request.

Copies may be obtained witl,out charge by u'riting the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, 1410 S. W. N{orrison Street, Portland 5, Oregon.

Listed in the directory are the leading sawmill and remanufacturing plants, loggers, rvood pipe, wood treating ancl prefabricating companies of the Pacific Northrvest.

The l2-page directory details the ecluipment used by each company, the species of lurnber offered, and the prod. ucts manuTactured. Buyers 'ivill find the information of particular value in locating sources oi specialized items.

Best Money He Spends

Best money I am spending. Do so enjoy reading all the up-to-the-minute nellrs about many of my old lumber gang.

Rod Hendrickson 85 West 55th Street New York 19, N.Y.

Cedar Shingle Supply Increases

Hugh W. Mason of Fisk and Mason, Inc., South Pasadena wholesalers and lnanufacturers of red cedar shingles an4 shakes, in speaking of the cedar shingle situation recently said:

"The supply of red cedar shingles is steadily increasing and a greater demand has developed for the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau's Certigrade labeled shingles. This is apparently due to'the effect created by the large amount of inferior quality shingles that have been shipped into California in the last month or two. My opinion is that the price of shingles is rapidly approaching what will prove to be the normal postwar level.

"Dealers who refused to stock shingles at the recent inflated prices are now stocking and selling them again."

Forrest Wilson Announces Resigmction

Forrest W. Wilson, sales representative for the Masonite Corporation, has announced his resignation which will become effective July 1. He was with the company one year in Southern California, nine years in the Pacific Northwest and two years in Northern California.

Forrest intends to take at least three months' rest at his Hidden Valley ranch in the Joshua Tree National Monument. He acquired this picturesque homesteaded property about a. year and a half ago, and he plans to make some improvements on it, in fact he may develop it into a high class guest ranch.