Vrgabond Editoriafs

By Jack Dionne

One of the greatest men the world has produced died the other day. He said-"Let there be light-happiness- music-joy-progress-power"-and innumerable other things that made life worth living. And there WAS. That was Edison.

A few days later one of the greatest men the lumber industry has ever produced, passed over the dark river. J. M. Rockwell, of Houston, Texas. To spread, and preach, and practice understairding, tolerance, fairness, honor, loyalty, joy, happiness, good will-these were his daily works for a long span of life. He gave of himself freely. He served his fellow man. Ife was great in the broa{est and best fashion. The world has seen few like hirn, anywhere, in any walk of life.

Signs of the times. fnteresting how many people want to "mooch" publicity. Folks who have something to sell to the lumber industry, send our editorial desk literature, and their letter says: "Here is some news we are sure your readers will be interested in." And, since we eat or not according to our advertising sales, we drop the ,.news(?)" quietly in the waste basket, and sigh for the return of old times when they said-"Run us an ad." *{<* f remarked in this ".r"-" ,".: issue that the first thing we knew they'd be wrapping lumber in celophane. They're wrapping almost everything else in it. By return mail c:une a package of lumber from the Exchange Sawmills Sales Company, of Kansas City, a sample of Arkansas Soft Pine Trim, wrapped in celophane. That's service ! *{<* fnsulation of homes and other buildings now occupies the center of the stage. Everybody's doing it, making it, pushing it. You might think it would go slow in the South, but such is not the case. I have heard wise men predict that within five years every house built in the South costing as much as $5,000, would be equipped with an air cooling and conditioning system.The price of such equipment has reduced rapidly. They are getting common. This boosts insulation. Easy to keep an insulated house cool. Easy to keep it warm. And there are fifty other arguments for insulation, even in warm*climates. ff your grandfather did things the way you are doing; or if you are doing things the way your grandfather did; get busy and check up on your business. There'isn't any business nowadays that can operate as grandfather did, and do justice to itself, its owners, and its custorners.

Some of the retail lumber associations are fighting hard to hold their memberships this year. Associations, like individuals, catch Hades in times likethese. Stick to your Associations, men. The lumber industry can,t do without them. You wouldn't see them die. Then don't rely entirely on the other fellow to "hold the bag". Even though it requires sacrifice-and no doubt in many cases it DOES -stick to them through this storm, so they can serve you in the days to come, as they have in the past.

Andnow Doctor Tesla announces that the theory of Doctor Einstein is allHooie. Splendid ! That practically settles all our problems. All we have yet to do is discover ways and means to feed, clothe, shelter, and protect ourselves. These two old birds have attended to everything else for us.

The fastest growing thing on earth today is the development of the display of goods for sale. Probably more progress has been made in that respect in the past two years, than in the previous ten. It has become an overwhelming rage today to improve the wrapper, the container, the appearance, and the handling, of everything that goes on shelves. That is because 75% of all goods sold in stores is sold on appearance. Good looks make the first sale. Quality inside makes the*customer repeat.

"DON'T LISTEN", says Habit, "out-of-date, slip-shod methods are good enough". * *

Big people are preparing in a big way to grab the tide that always follows the depression-upward. ft is authoritively reported that General Motors is budgeting the greatest sales promotion expenditures ever planned-convincing testimony of G.M. executives' confidence in the future.

Twelve years ago the Red Cedar Shingle industry tried to sell its mills the idea of packing shingles by the squar€ -the measure used by all its competitorsi They nearly put it over. Not quite. Two strong men broke down that effort, and put square pack back twelve years. Today square pack is back, and is doing wonders. It is interesting to note that the two strong men who broke the movement twelve years ago, have both been broke and out of the game_long ago.

*

We could well take a lesson from England, in our lum(Continued on page 8)

We are factory representatives in Northern California for the full Creo-Dipt Line of building materials. Our usual prompt service is guaranteed.