State Retailers Hold Convention at Del Monte

I. O. Hcndley Genercl Chcirmcn oI Convention Commiltees

"Best ever" would seern to be a good two-word description of the annual convention of the California Retail Lumbermen's Association held at HotelDel Monte, Del Monte, Calif., on the Monterey Peninsula, Thursday and Friday, November 4 and 5.

This convention had the best attendance and probably the best quality business and entertainment programs in the Association's history. The registration was 319 compared with 164 last year. This was due to the new setup which has greatly increased the membership, and predictions were heard that next year's attendance rvill show a further increase.

The convention lvas efficiently managed. Both morning and afternoon business sessions started exactly on time, ran on strict schedule and ended on time.

President E. C. Parker made a big hit with his talk, and tl.re addresses by Almon E. Roth, Leonard E. Read and J. Wesley Cupp on topics of importance to all dealers 'ivere listened to attentively. The industry forum covered a wide range of subjects, and this system proved to be a great time saver in a one-day business session.

Great praise is due to J. O. Handley, of M. J. I\furphy, Inc., Carmel, general chairman of convention committees, and his chief assistant, Fred A. Witmer of Monterey, for the excellence of the convention arrangements.

Credit for the smooth runr.ring business sessions must be given to the committee consisting of E. C. Parker, chairman, Paul Hallingby, Earl Johnson of Pasadena and Kenneth Smith.

Other committees were:

Registration-Henry Harrsen, Union Supply Co., Monterey, chairman; Bill Good, Pacific Grove, Douglas Prince, Monterey and Bert Laing, Cleveland Publications, Los Angeles.

Finance-J. O. Handley. chairman, Fred A. Witmer and C. S. Tripler.

Exhibits-Fred A. Witmer and all Monterey Peninsula dealers.

Thursday

The breakfast meeting of the Redwood Relations Com- mittee and the retailers was held at 8:0O a.m. This rvas followed by the business session of the Rerhvood Relations Committee at 9 o'clock.

The golf tournament got under way at 2:00 p.m.

The lorv gross prize was won by S. 13. N{oore, Homer T. Hayrvard Ltrmber Co., Salinas, with a score of.77. Charlie Wilson, I-ong-Bell Lumber Co.. San Francisco, lvon the low net prize u'ith 63; Jim Henclerson. Peoples Lurrrber Co.. Ventura, won the second lorv net prize u'ith 67, anrl O. Thomas, El Rey Products Co., Los Angeles, won thircl lol'i' net rvith a score of 68.

Francis Boyd, Boyd Lumber & N{ill Co., Santa Barbara; Al Nolan, The Pacific Lumber Co., San Francisco, ancl I{arry S. Cheney, The Insulite Companv, Sar.r Francisco, tied for the blind bogey prize.

The Calcutta Pool prize winners were Joe Rogers, Jim Henderson. Fred Holmes, Al Nolan, I-. l,f. Tynan, J,ohn Helm,A. B. McKee, Jr., Jim Farley, S. B: i\{oore, R. A. Emison, Charlie Tripler, L. W. Blinn, II, Sarn J. Piercy, S. H. Ross, Carl Fatser, George Lou.nsberry, R. H. Martin, J. H. Kirk, R. E. Hills, C. W. Watts, H. Summers and Frecl Burgers.

T. A. Work, Jr., rvas in charge of the arrangements for the golf tournament. lle was assisted by Peter Hay, pr.ofessional at Del Monte.

The J. H. Holmes Cup was won by S. B. Moore, Salinas. The trapshooting prizes were won by lI. E. Kline, first; A. B. McKee, Jr., s,econd; George Clough, third and Ben Buisman, f'ourth. Trapshooti.ng arrangements rvere made byH. A. Prince, Tynan Lumber Co.. l\{onterey. State Association directors and all secretaries held a joint meeting at 6:00 p.m.

The m.en's smoker, dinner and entertainment brotrght out an attendance of 278. Golf and trapshooting prizes were presented after dinner by Peter Hay, Del Monte golf professional.

Friday Morning

The business session was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by George C. Burnett, Burnett Lumber Co., Tulare, who presided.

Attendance prizes of $20.00 and $10.00 rvere drarvn for at 9:05. These were won by Percy M. Olson, The Sisalkraft Co., San Francisco, and Alvin N. l-ofgren. San Francisco.

The Red Cedar Shingle Bureau's nerv talking picture "Here's How" u'as shorvn by Jack lvey, of the Bureau. The picture was directed byWm. W. Woodbridge, manager of the Rureau and Jack Ivey rvas assistant director. The cast consistecl ofWilliam Desmond, Kenneth Smith, Don Montgomery, Paul S. Collier and Jack Ivey. The picture is available to dealers for showing to architects, contractors. service clubs and schools.

E. C. Parker, Patten-Blinn l-umber Co., Los Angeles, president of the Association, addressed the convention on "tfow Can the State Association HelpYou to N{ake a Better Profit." Mr. Parker received hearty applause at the conclusion of his talk, rvhich appears in full elser,vhere in this isstte.

W. K. Kendrick, Valley Lumber Co., Fresno, spoke on "What has the Lumber Relations Committe Accomplished," giving a brief history of the committee, orga:nized in 1930 as the Redq'ood Relations Committee, ar-rd a resume of the proceedings of the rneeting the previous day u'ith the Redwood manu{acturers. He suggested expansion of the committee's work t'o include relations rvith other branches of the industry.

Leo-nard E. Read, western manager, Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Sa.n Frarrcisco, was the next speaker. His subject was "Where are \\re Heading? Where are Legislation and Competition Leading Us?" This rvas a most interesting talk, and a full report will appear in an early issue. This speaker was introduced by Kenneth Smith, Lumber c& Allied Products Institute, Los Angeles.

"What can the Lumber l,ndustry Learn from the \\rater{ront's Experiment in Collective Bargaining?" rvas the subject of an address by Almon E. Roth, president of the Waterfront Employers' Association of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Roth told what had been accomplished by his organization in collective bargaining with the maritime unions, and said the lumber industry can do just as well if they go about it the right way. \'roluntary agreements, he 'said, are better than arbitrati,on as the union men have no confidence in arbitration.He suggested that the lumbermen band themselves together to present a solid front to .organized labor, and that the first thingthey need is a joint labor relations board rvhich can settle all small disputes as theY arise.

Paul Hallingby, Hamm'ond Lumber Co., Los Angeles, 'introduced the next speaker, Herlry S. Patten, PattenBlinn Lumber Co., Los Angeles, r'vhose topic was "After 35 Years. Why I believe Supporting Associations is a Good Investment, Based on 35 Years' Experience as a Member of Retail Lumber Associations."

Mr. Patten said there's nothing the matter rvith the lurnber business, that the trouble is rvith individuals in the lumber business, and that it is up to them to make it better. The first step necessary is to become a member of 'a local association, and automatically of the State Association. He assured his hearers that every lumberman can gain by knowing his competitors better, and remarked that the $20,000 a year his firm pays out for association work is a fine investment.

Friday Afternoon

Paul Hallingby, Los Angeles, presided at the afternoon session. The cash attendance prizes of $20.00 and $10.00 were won by Steve Hathaway, Sunkist Lumber Co., Monrovia, and Orrie W. Hamilton, Lumbermen's Service Bureau, San Diego.

Austin Moore, deputy regional reconditio'ning supervisor, Region 6, Home Owners' Loan Corporation, San Francisco, spoke on the "Federal Home Building Service Plan," explaining the details of the Plan. In his explanatio,n of the place the lumber and building material dealer will occupy in connection with the program Mr. Moore said in part:

"As the dealer begins to see the opportunity t,o facilitate the financing of the projects which he i,nitiates, and to appreciate the value of having assurance that the materials he supplies will be incorporated in the house under competent technical supervision, his active cooperati.on should be forthcoming in most cases. Of course a seller of low quality materials will not find the Plan as advantageous as the quality dealer.

"The Plan will not throw into the discard plan services and plan books now generally in use. Where existing designs are good and where local technicians approve them as appropriate to the particular locality, they can very easily qualify under the service.

"The Plan was developed to fit into the existing home merchandising picture. It does not contemplate any change in the relationship between contractor or material dealer and the prospective home builder. The only control proposed is directed at the preliminary planning of the home to fit the family, the site and the neighborhood; a suitable design and the translation of that design and the material specification into a well built home."

The speaker answered questions by A. E. Fickling, Long Beach andCarl J. Hanson, Bay District Lumbermen's Institute, Santa Monica.

J. Wesley Cupp, attorney, of I ,os Angeles' was assigned the subject "What are the Fair Trade and Unfair Practices Act." He explained these two Acts and parts of the Robinson-Patman Act, a,nd then answered many questions.

Kenneth Smith put a number of questions to Mr. Cupp on the tlvo Acts that were asked on the cards provided for the purpose. Others who asked questions were Orrie W. Hamilton, San Diego; J. B. McKeon, Redwood City; A. E. Fickling, Long Beach; C. W. Pinkerton, Los Angeles; B' J. Boorman, Oakland; C. R. Wilson, San Francisco; C. G. Bird, Stockton; F. Dean Prescott, Fresno, and Ira S. Kennedy, Riverside.

This was followed bythe Industry Forum. President E. C. Parker answered a question as to the advisability of uniform cost accounting, and toldof the survey made in l-os Angeles on the cost of doing business.

The question "Is it Proper to Give Free Plans?" brought {orth answers and discussion from B.B. Barber, Fresno; B. J. Boorman, Oakla,nd; Sam Kellner, Fresno; G. E. Cavin, Oceanside.

"should we Cooperate with the Government in Promoting the Building of T ow Cost Homes ?" was a question that was answered in the affirmative by Steve Ross, Hanford; Sam Kellner, Fresno, and B. J. Boorman, Oakland.

"Should the 5% Cash Discount Allowed in Southern California be Abolished?" Henry S. Patten, Los Angeles; John W. Fisher, Santa Monica; Paul Hallingby, Los Angeles, and Sam Hayward, Los Angeles, said the cash discount plan had proved to be a great success.

"Does Yard Modernization Pay?" O. H. Barr, Santa Ana, said he is certain it does.

"IIow can Abuses of Grade-Marking be Eliminated?" This was answered by Kenneth Smith, Los Angeles, and Warren Tillson, Modesto.

A question was asked as to whether the Association should pay the expenses of yard owners who do not attend was answered by Warren Tillso,n, Modesto, who said all should pay their own expenses to come to the convention.

E. C. Parker ansrvered a question regarding rvhat the Association is doing about accident insurance by saying that the Associatio,n has arranged f'or a blanket policy with the Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Co., and that this is available to all members.

Mr. Hallingby called for a standing vote of thanks to J. O. Handley, Carmel, general chairman of convention committees, for his splendid handling of arrangements.

Mr. Handley replied briefly saying he had a lot of help and a lot of fun in doing the work. He announced that the total r'egistration was 319, made up of. 239 men and 80 women, as against a total of. 164 last year. The attendance at the morning business session was 155, and the afternoon session, 175.

The convention then adjourned.

LADIES' PROGRAM

No charge was made for ladies' registration, and there was no charge for green fees for those who wished to play golf. There was an attendance of 63 ladies at the dinner in the Copper Cup Room on Thursday evening.

There was a luncheon on Friday at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, followed by entertainment. This was attended by 58 ladies. All ladies were invited to the banquet and dinner dance.

The Ladies Entertainment Committee was as follorvs: Mrs. C. S. Tripler, chairman; Mrs. M. J. Murphy, I\{rs. Franklin J. Murphy, Mrs J. O. Handley, Mrs. T. A. Work, Jr., Mrs. Stuart Work, Mrs. James Greenelsh, I\{rs George A. Good, Mrs. Harold Prince, Mrs. A. I-. Hansen, and \{rs. F. A. Witmer.

Annual Banquet

The annual banquet, entertainment and dinner dance was held on Friday evening. Dean Maddux, well known radio entertainer, was master of ceremonies. The entertainers included Fred Scott, baritone; Randall Sisters, sophisticated hillbillies; Lela Moore, dancer; Clifford & Marion, comedy stars; Gladys Kane, singer and dancer; Rena Marcell, pianist, and Gagnon and Broughton, dancers.

Theexhibits

Exhibitors at the convention were the following:

United States Gypsum Compa.ny; Vancouver Plyrn,ood & Veneer Co., (Art-Ply) ; The Parafifine Companies Inc.; The Insulite Company; Columbia Steel Company; Calaveras Cement Co.; Johns-Manville Sales Corp.; Yosemite Sugar Pine Lumber Co. ; Certain-teed Products Corp.; Wood Conversion Company; The Celotex Corporation;

The Martin-Senour Co.; El Rey Products Co.; Armstrong Cork Products Company; Elliott Bay Sales Co. ; California BuildersSupply Co.; MonolithPortland Cement Co.;

Nicolai Door Sales Co.; Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co.;

Weyerhaeuser Sales Co.; Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Co.; Pacific Portland Cement Co.; Blue Diamond Corporation ; Wendling-Nathan Company; Holmes Eureka Lumber Co.; Alvin N. Lofgren, Snider Red Cedar Shingles; United States Plywood Corp.; Schumacher Wall Board Corp.; Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Co.; Cleveland Publications.

Registration

Adams, Geo. K., Noah Adams Lumber Co. ... Walnut Grove

Arms_troqg, W.,L., Certain-teed Products Corporation, San Jose

Arnold, H. Park, Fox-Woodsum Lumber Co. Glendale

Atkinson, Jas. E., Atkinson-Stutz Company San Francisco

Bacon, Ralph E., Strable Hardwood Co. . Oakland

Bahr, C. W., California Redwood Association San Francisco

Ball, J. R., Yosemite Sugar Pine Co. .. Merced Falls

Barber, Bernard B., San Joaquin Lumbermen's Club.,..Fresno

Barr, O. H., Barr Lumber Co. . Santa Ana

Barr. R. C., Lumbermen's Mutual Casualty Co. San Francisco

Baxley, Frank M., Brey-Wright Lumber Co. ...... Porterville

Beckett, Garner, Riverside Portland Cement Co.....Los Angeles

Bernhauer, A. W., Fresno Planing MillCo. Fresno

Beseck-er,-W. H.,. San Jose Lumber Co. ... .... San Jose

Bird, C. G., Stockton Lumber Co., Inc. Stoci<ton

Black, W. T., The California Lumber Merchant San Francisco

Blinn, L. W., The Pacific Lumber Co. San Francisco

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

Boyd, Francis E., Boyd Lumber & Mill Co. Santa Barbara

Brink, I. E., The Diamond Match Company ... Chico

Bronson, Glenn, Homer T. Hayward Lumber Co., Watsonville

Irylgn, Bob, Hammond Lumber Company San Francisco

Buckley, Henry M., Certain-teed Products Corporation San

Buisman, Ben. Pacific Retail Lumbermen

Burgers, F. W., Union Lumber Company

Burnett, G. C., The Burnett Lumber Co.