II. IIIMMELHEUGEK. MUKEIK HSK. 

 riRST VrCE-PRESIPENT 



MO.. 



CRAWFOKD, COAL GROVE, OHIO 

 TREASURER 



LEWIS DOSTEK. CIXCIXNATI. OHIO. SECRE- 

 TARY 



materially assist in tlio accomplisliincnl i)f tin- impoi-laut woiii to be done. 



Our bureau of grades has done a noble work this year as all will testify 

 who have availed themselves of Its benelits. We don't grade for shipment 

 or at point of origin, except for export, but the work done at the mills, 

 calltHl mill instruction and the reinspectiou system, have been of great 

 beoclit to our members. 



This is a very important feature of our work as you well know. 

 Fairness and honesty with respect to it is the only proper course and 

 that is what our association stands for — in fact a "square deal" is our 

 motto, and by reason of this principle we are sure to continue to 1m' 

 successful and be of lasting benefit to our members. 



We frown on all forms of trickery and protest most emphatically 

 against the mixing of grades, and all other forms of dishonest practice. 

 A year ago we opened an aggressive campaign against this pernicious 

 practice of mixing grades, and have made it unpopular to such an extent 

 that the reputable manufacturer of today will not accept an order from 

 a dealer who specifies to have certain grades, well mixed in loading. 



Also, an earnest and honest effort was made by this association this 

 year looking to the establishment of one set of grading rules or a single 

 standard of inspection, and a conference at Chicago in September, and 

 another at a later date In Louisville. Ky.. was held for that purpose. 

 It developed the fact that a board or a plank had two sides and the 

 further fact that the interests of all were not identical, the conference 

 was adjourned without accomplishing the purpose for which it was 

 called. I am of the opinion, however, that before long, sooner than we 

 now think, this one single standard will be adopted, provided the 

 manufacturers of hardwoods co-operate in a sincere and earnest endeavor 

 with that object in view, 'this association will at all times use its best 

 endeavor for the accomplishment of this end, if it can be done without the 

 sacrifice of the basic principle which would Inure to the detriment of the 

 trade generally. 



Our membership in iioint of numbers is most satisfactory, having gained 

 prominent manufacturers during the year and the most cordial support of 

 others who will join in the very near future. 



Our production is worthy of notice also, creeping up close to the 

 billion mark of hardwoods alone. Many members manufacture much 

 hemlock, pine and spriwe, w'hich we do not include In the hardwoods. 



I think it timely we should be warned against the campaign of unrest 

 that socialist speakers and agitators and writers are carrying on through 

 out the country. The crowds are listening to these people, most of them 

 are entertaining and superficial, and a gospel of discontent and unrest 

 Is thus being propagated to a dangerous degree. A question we must 

 ask ourselves, as business men. is "What are we going to do about It?" 

 In my judgment it Is a very pertinent question, and I commend it to your 

 serious consideration, and if these questions are left to the business men 

 ot this country, I do not fear the result. I want to lake this occasion to 

 champion the honor, the integrity, the fairness, the loyalty and patriotism 

 of the great army of business men of this country. I have known many 

 of them for twenty years or more and I want to say that I am proud of 

 the business men of my land. 



The time is coming, however, and In fact now Is. when the business 

 men must take a more Important part In our political life. If we had 

 more business men In our legislative halls, you would not now find on 

 our statute hooks laws that arc used as a mighty Instrument of torture 

 by the demagogues ag:ilnst the buslncHS of the country. Do you Imagine 

 that a law that goes hunting lo prosecute men of business, representing 

 such wide and varied Interests as they do In this country, will have no 

 h&rmful effect on the buHlness of the country? The astounding thing Is 

 that the results have not been ev<'n more disaslrotts. Every nation has 



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at some time in its history tried in some way this paternal meddling 

 with its business and every one of them has plunged its commerce into 

 disaster. 



The history of the world shows that under the freest and least meddle- 

 some governments the greatest progress has been made, and it is really 

 amazing that the American people have suffered so long men with no 

 experience or capacity or knowledge of business to determine how the 

 commerce of the country shall be managed. 



In this connection I am most happy to inform you that by reason of 

 the fact that we In no sense violate neither the spirit or the letter of 

 any of the anti-trust statutes, we need have no fear of our work by the 

 powers that be. 



I want to congratulate out members on the business of the year just 

 passed. While prices have not been satisfactory in many cases when com- 

 pared with cost of production, yet as a whole business, where properly 

 managed, have yielded fair returns, failures have been few, and collections 

 have in the main been satisfactory, and the attention of all .should be 

 directed to the broken condition of stocks. 



Inventories just completed show much less stock at the mills than a 

 year ago : In many Instances that 1 know of, but little more than half as 

 much in stock as a year ago, and I want to especially call your 

 attention to the scarcity of plain oak and oak timbers and to the 

 constantly increasing cost of producing It, as also the low price and lack 

 of profit at which it has beeu marketed. This item, perhaps, more than 

 any other, needs your careful consideration. 



The association Is well organized. The members as a rule are not only 

 willing workers btrt capable workers. There is every reason to believe 

 that the coming year will be the most successful year from a strictly 

 association point of view we have ever had. Certain necessary economics 

 have been worked out and effective work along other lines started that is 

 sure to contribute to the power for good that this association is sure to 

 achieve in the future for the hardwood industry of these United States. 



I feel highly gratified at the representative attendance and feel that it 

 is a real compliment to the association, and wish to thank Ihi' members 

 and visitors tor the interest taken in the meeting and trust they may 

 get out of it the real benefit guaranteed by earnest cooperation. 



The splendid stn-vice of our able secretary should n(»t by any means he 

 lost sight of : his kindly nature, magnanimous disposition, earnest en- 

 deavor, honesty of purpose and devotion make him a valuable asset of 

 the association and deserving of your cordial support and appreciation. 



I also personally want to give expression In a public way of my appre- 

 ciation of the very great assistance accorded me at all times by your 

 most worthy first vice-president. Without his assistance and most cordial 

 support, whenever called upon, certain things accomplished during the 

 year would not have been done, and I want to thank him most heartily 

 for his valuable assistance to me. 



The work ot the year just passed has brought me not only In close 

 touch with the splendid gendemen who compose your executive board 

 and the various committees, but with the association itself and what It 

 stands for, and I assure you, and I also want to assure my successor, that 

 he can call on me at any time and I will only too gladly respond to the 

 call wherein I can In any way assist In the work lo be done as long as 

 it occupies the present high prominence along business lines and its 

 avowed purpose to benefit the industry it represents, and I have every 

 leason to believe It will so coutlmu'. 



I may mistake the fuluri', but In my humble opinion the association 

 that seeks power by gathering together the prejudlci's of the I'ouulry's am 

 bilious poo|)le will find Itself burled beneath an overwhelming disaster. 



President 'i'ownsond then introduced F. K. Habcocii of Pitts- 



