February 10, 1917 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



21 



inspection, appeared early last summer in the way of nc&uLia.Uuiis- between 

 tbe National Hardnood Lumber AssociatitMi andthe Federation of Fxirni- 

 ture & Fixture Manufacturers. All of you know tbe details of tbis trans- 

 action and are acquainted witb the rules that were finally agreed upon 

 by tbeir respective coniniittees. and which were to be presented at tbe Na- 

 tional Hardwood Lumber Association's Chicago meeting. Juue 15 and 16, 

 1910. Your board of governors felt that this probably offered an opportu- 

 nity, and perbaos the last opportunity, for the two hardwood associations 

 to agree upon one set of rules, and at a meeting held in Chicago, June 1, 

 adopted the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the proposed cbanKcs of and additions to the present 

 rules of the National Hardwood Ijumlier Association are satisfactory to the 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' Association and if adopted by tbe National 

 Hardwood Lumber Association tbis association will change its rules to con- 

 form to the National rules as amended, witb a view of having a uniform 

 set of inspection rules, suggesting, however, that in the grading of cypress 

 the rules of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association be adopted 

 in view of the fact that the menihersbip of that association produces the 

 preponderance of that wood. 



In passing this resolution it 

 was not tbe thought of tbe board 

 tliat the Hardwood Manufactur- 

 ers' Association was surrender- 

 ing the fundamental principle 

 upon which its rules are based, 

 viz. : that both sides of a board 

 shall be talien into consideration 

 in making tbe grade. 



An analysis of the proposed 

 changes in the National rules in- 

 dicated that in the final result 

 they were not far dilterent from 

 the rules of this association. It 

 is not necessary to tell you that 

 the proposed changos were not 

 adopted by the National associa- 

 tion, and this matter is bron.ght 

 out rather fully for the purpose 

 of correcting any false impres- 

 sions as to where the blame lies, 

 there now being in existence two 

 sets of grading rules for hard- 

 wood lumber. 



It should be understood that 

 the Hardwood Manufacturers' 

 Association went as far as it 

 could and did everything in Its 

 powei; to establish uniform rules 

 for the inspection of hardwoods. 

 which is one of the chief objects 

 for which the association was 

 organized. 



Trade Extension Wokk 

 Last year we told you that 

 your association had taken a 

 very active interest in the trade 

 extension work of the National 

 Lumber Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion and that many of its mem- 

 bers had subscribed very sub- 

 stantial sums of money to its 

 support. Tbis support has been 

 continued and during the year 

 some of our members have con- 

 tributed several thousand feet 

 of hardwoods to the permanent 

 exhibit that has been instnllod 

 by the National Lumber Manu 

 facturers' Association in the In- 

 surance Exchange Building, in 

 Chicago, and to the traveling ex- 

 hibits prepared for the purpose 

 of showing at fairs and other 

 gatherings of people who are in- 

 terested in building materials. 



This kind of advertising brings results, as it places the actual lumber 

 before the prospective user in the various finishes and gives a practical 

 illustration of just bow wood may be used. 



This is mentioned because the National Lumber Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation will continue tbis work and push it vigorously, and there vrill be 

 other calls tor lumber, and I desire to express the hope that if any are 

 called upon for contributions they will respond promptly and cheerfully. 



The proposed reclassification of forest products by the railroads for tbe 

 purpose of laying a heavier freight burden upon lumber was one of the 

 subjects considered by your board in the last year. It was decided by the 

 board of governors that the reclassiilcation of forest products was not in 

 the interest of the lumber industry, and that this association should stand 

 firmly behind President Downman, of tbe National Lumber Manufacturers' 

 Association, in bis fight against the railroads. Your association not only 



-gave'its moral support, but contributed liberally in a financial way to the 

 employment of legal talent. 



On .July 11 your secretary met in Chicago with Dr. Pratt, chief of the 

 Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce ; Commissioners Parry and 

 Davics, of tbe Federal Trade Commission ; Chief Forester Graves and about 

 twenty-five members of the lumber industry. The purpose of this confer- 

 ence was to consider plans to send five or six representatives to Europe to 

 investigate the lumber market. It was estimated the cost of this Investiga- 

 tion would be $72,000, $12,000 of which is to be paid by the Government. 

 This meeting was reported to tbe board, which decided that tlie associa- 

 tion should help finance this project and if necessary make an appropria- 

 tion of funds to help defray tbe expense. Every lumberman called upon for 

 a subscription should bear in mind that whether or not be exports lumber 

 any contribution he may make will bear directly upon the development of 

 bis own business, as lumber taken out of the country decreases the amount 

 to be placed upon the domestic market. 



Tiiis is mentioned so that you may know what your association has done 



in this matter, and to bring out 

 the point that the Government is 

 ready and willing to help tbe 

 lumberman in the development 

 Id' the foreign market and that 

 tbe initiative in this instance 

 was taken by Government ofli- 



cials. 



A lifESsrrY 



OF TitADE Associa- 

 tions 

 are any lumbermen 



M. W. STARK, ST. 



If there 

 who bav.' doubts as to the neces- 

 sity of trade associations and 

 tbeir legitimate standing, they 

 should read and ponder over this 

 statement made by Chairman 

 Hurley, of the Federal Trade 

 Commission, at Boston, on 

 March 28, 1916: 



Special commendation should 

 be given to associations that are 

 endeavoring to build up industry 

 in these constructive ways. Suc- 

 cessful production and success- 

 ful merchandising require many 

 steps in the process of changing 

 the form of the raw materials, 

 and putti.ig tbe i,roduci; on the 

 market at a figure adequate to 

 cover tile cv)st of production and 

 the cost of seliin..^ and net simo 

 profit to tbe producer, without 

 charging tbe consumer an exces- 

 sive in-ice ; anil neither the indi- 

 vidual manufacturer nor tbe 

 Government alone can work out 

 the many serious economic and 

 business problems involved so 

 successfully as can a group of 

 associated producers laboring to- 

 gether in cooperation. These as- 

 sociations, wdien conducted in- 

 telligentlv and rationally, with 

 the thought of bringing about 

 improved business conditions, 

 will make it possible for our in- 

 dustries to compete in price and 

 quality in the markets of the 

 world. 



Trade associations should not 

 only be encouraged to increase 

 the'ir membership, but should be 

 furnished by the Government 

 with complete statistics in their 

 particular line and should be as- 

 sisted in every way to develop 

 and stabilize the industry. 



And tbis one made by Presi- 

 dent Wilson in a letter addressed 

 to Chairman Hurley made public 



ALBANS, W. VA., TREASURER AND CHAIRMAN OF °° ^^^^ ^^' "'^^ = 



OPEN PRICE COMMITTEE Your suggestion that trade as- 



uii.A iKn.ij i.u.MJiiixj.1:^ sociations, associations of retail 



and wholesale merchants, commercial clubs, boards of trade manufacturers' 

 associations, credit associations and similar organizations should be encour- 

 aged in every feasible way by tbe Government seems to be a very wise one. 

 To furnish them witb data and comprehensive information in order that 

 thev may more easily accomplish tbe result that they are organized tor is a 

 prober and useful Government function. , These associations, when oiyan- 

 zed for the purpose of improving conditions in their particular industry, 

 such as unifving cost accounting and bookkeeping methods standardizing 

 products and processes of manufacture, should meet with the approval of 

 every man Interested in the business progress of the country. 



If, after this assurance, there still remain those who are afraid and un- 

 willing to coiiperate, and who have been using their fear of the Government 

 as an excuse for not participating in association work, it can only be 

 assumed that they prefer to belong to the "umbrella" class and profit by 

 the efforts of others. 



In every phase of our activity there has been an increased interest and 



