No Fraud in Philippine Mahogany Case

By Jack Dionne

Four days before he died, General Leonard \f,food, one of the best citizens America has produced in a generation, and straight as a man was ever made, said to the President of The Philippine Mahogany Association:

"Keep up this fight; we have'justice on our side, and I'll back you to the limit."

That is as good an indorsement as any movement ever had. The opponents of Philippine Mahogany-the men and firms whose iron-clad monopoly of foreign cabinet woods over Americdn consumers has been seriously threatened of late by these American grown Philippine woods-have attempted to bring into this case which the Federal Trade Commission has decided in favor of the foreign woods as against the American grown, the taint of fraud.

To any American citizen who has heard or read that aspersion, simply refer him to the words of General Wood, and ask him if he thinks General Wood was sponioring a fraud with such vigor and earnestness.

The fact is, as I stated in my editorial on this same subject in our September first issue, that there is no public interest in this matter. It is purely and simply a commercial fight in which a coterie which has enjoyed one of the tightest monopolies that the lumber industry has ever known, is feeling its grip loosened by the rapidly developing popularity of these beautiful Philippine woods, at their reasonable and economical prices, -and turned to a Governmental agency for assistance.

We do not believe that The Federal Trade Commission had any business trying the case until it had been shown that it was public welfare that was at stake. That the welfare of the public is being well served by the inroads of the Philippine Mahogany into the cabinet wood market of the United States, is easily proven. It has put within reach of our citizens at modest prices, woods of a texture, beauty, and value, that used to be considered attainable only by those of larger means and financial ability.

The average citizen is not interested in the botanical name of a wood, or its particular. tree derivation. What he wants to know is, is it beautiful, is it serviceable, is it valuable, and is it within his means. Philippine Mahsglny has put wonderful cabinet woods within the price reach of millions of people to whom the older Mahogany was unattainable, and in so doing has served a large public interest.

And, unless unreasonably restrained, it will continue to develop very rapidly in public favor, and general use. There is plenty of this Philippine Mahogany. There is a long future supply. There is strong competition in its production and sale. It is certain to be sold at reasonable prices for a long, long time to come.

The California Lumber Merchants believes that no fraud has been intended or practiced in calling it Philippine Mahogany, and that the public would be injured if the courts were to sustain the verdict of The Trade Commission. No one would be served except the producers of these foreign Mahoganies.

We believe that the courts will readily understand that the public is being helped and not hurt by Philippine Mahogany, and that the American nation will be benefited if the judges say to the Federal Trade Commission,-"flands eff!"