14 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



May 10, 1922 



terniptedly, any recession in building activity will be moderate and 

 but for a short period. 



The belief has been previously expressed in these columns that 

 general normal condition would not have developed until the agri- 

 cultural implement people VFere again doing an active volume of 

 business and showing a fair earning on their activities. This is 

 quite likely true, but consistent improvement in the agricultural 

 outlook gives reason to expect that with one more good crop the 

 farm element will have largely li(|uidated and again be in the 

 market for equipment. 



So far as the trade in hardwood products is concerned, there is 

 evident a substantially increased demand for hardwood lumber and, 

 indeed, for almost all kinds of lumber, both orders and shipments 

 for April greatly exceeding production. Prices are showing a strong 

 tendency to advancement, though the considerable amount of dis- 

 tress stock moving ahead of the flood in the South has had its usual 

 effect in holding down any tendency towards too rapid advance- 

 ment. It is safe to assume, though, that practically all of this stock 

 that can be moved ahead of the flood has already come out and, in 

 fact, the reports of the past week or so register definite increases 

 in many items. In the veneer and plywood end demand has been 

 somewhat accelerated, though prices here also reflect unfavorably 

 on the producer. The extent to which the demand for veneers and 

 plywood has increased gives reasonable hope that the volume of 

 business will be substained over a protracted period, resulting in 

 the eventual realization of prices more commensurate with pro- 

 duction costs. 



So far as the hardwood lumber end is concerned, the completion 

 of the movement of distress stock will inaugurate without question 

 a somewhat more drastic advance in price, as the stock situation 

 both in the South and the North can not reasonably be exaggerated. 

 Obviously low grades are still in considerable quantity, but the 

 tendency in all lines is towards gradual working down from the 

 scarce upper grades into the lower grades, which are procurable 

 at prices substantially below the uppers. 



Association Loyalty 



IN ONE OF THE MOST SINCERE and forceful papers that has 

 ever been presented to a lumber convention, R. B. Goodman of 

 Marinette, Wis., expounded before the quarterly meeting of the 

 Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers' Association 

 meeting held last week those underlying principles which effect 

 not just the lumber industry but all industry, and which as applied 

 to the lumber industry provides the only means whereby fair com- 

 petition may be sustained and industry 's relation to the public 

 maintained on an honest and progressive basis. 



Mr. Goodman's paper, as rcportcil in the account of this meet- 

 ing elsewhere in this issue, was delivered for the purpose of selling 

 the membership on the importance of the association and its legiti- 

 mate activities, which purpose and principles are clearly defined 

 in the declaration embodied in Mr. Goodman 's address and en- 

 dorsed unanimously and unqualifiedly as a resolution of the asso- 

 ciation. 



But Mr. Goodman's remarks go further than merely defining for 

 the members the functions of the trade body to which they belong. 

 His address and his declaration of principles are in effect a demand 

 for recognition of the fact that industry must become assertive 

 if it is to attain that position in relajion to government which 

 it must sustain if its life be continued. Mr. Goodman sums the 

 purpose of his article in the following sentence: "Instead of our 

 association being an instrument to reduce competition, as claimed 

 in certain high places, it is the only means that the small operators 

 have of maintaining competition. 



"The avowed purpose of governmental and other activities 

 antagonistic to trade associations is to give the public a square 

 deal. Certain supervision of association activities is wise, timely 

 and necessary, but with such suggestive control as will prevent any 

 tendency to overlook public welfare, associations not only provide 

 the only means through which the smaller operator can hope for 

 existence, but on the other hand insure to the public the best type 

 of product, the most consistent quality, the lowest possible price 

 and the highest development of merchandising service." 



There can be no honest doubt in the mind of any intelligent man 

 that legitimate trade associations are not merely an asset but an 

 indispensable necessity to modern society. Such declarations as 

 Mr. Goodman has made will contribute largely to defining the posi- 

 tion of trade associations, and through this means of determining 

 the relation of the government to agencies of this nature. 



Trade Menace Apparently Dead 



THE LATEST ADVICE in the matter of the Edge bill, which 

 proposed that the Federal Trade Commission shall regulate asso- 

 ciation activities, seems to indicate that there is little likelihood of 

 this bill becoming enacted into law. In fact, it is very doubtful if 

 the subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary committee will ever 

 report the bill out. 



It might seem, without consideratiim of the purposes of this 

 measure, that it would provide a favorable situation for trade 

 associations, as one of the greatest difticulties which associations 

 have experienced has been the impossibility of determining what 

 they could do and what they could not do. A more careful analysis 

 of the measure involved, though, stamps it most emphatically as a 

 malicious proposal, one which would practically bar business men 

 from participating in their own industries. 



It proposes to make business law and to determine whether busi- 

 ness men have violated it. It proposes to confer upon the com- 

 mission, legislative, judiciary and governmental powers, to apply 

 not only to associations but to every individual member; the right 

 to fix standard sizes, trade customs and terms of sale, and the 

 further right to impose federal penalties for violation. 



Quite obviously the proposal is beyond the realm of reason, as 

 it attempts to give to the Federal Trade Commission the power to 

 prejudge association activities, a power which even the Supreme 

 Court does not hold, as no court can judge action until an apparent 

 violation of law has been committed. 



Table of Contents 



REVIEW AND OUTLOOK: 



General Market Conditions 13-14 



Trade Menace Apparently Dead 14 



Association Loyalty 14 



SPECIAL ARTICLES: 



Ten Year Review of Furniture Industry Improvements 15-18 



Moore Dry Kiln Co. to Move Forward Under Trained Management, Etc. 21 



Eleven Year Campaign for Figured Gum 31-32 



Construction to Begin on American Furniture Mart in June 32 & -^5 



THE EXECUTIVE'S ROUND TABLE: 



Why a Sales Code? 19 & 23 



YARD AND KILN: 



Steaming Gum Lumber 22-23 



WHO'S WHO IN WOODWORKING: 



E. G. Huthsteiner 26 & 28 



CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS: 



Miscellaneous 28 & 30 



Northern Millmen to Assure Clean Shipments ZO & 24-2S 



HARDWOOD NEWS NOTES 48-51 



HARDWOOD MARKET 51-54 



CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 56-57 



ADVERTISERS' DIRECTORY 55 



HARDWOODS FOR SALE 58-60 



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