June 10, 1922 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



17 



The American's Position 



The position of the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Associa- 

 tion was summed up by C. H. Shorrill of Merrvville, La., who acted 

 as spokesman for that association. Serving with Mr. Sherrill with 

 the same association were D. F. Dulweber, Greenwood, Miss., and 

 W. M. Bitter, Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Sherrill 's statement was as 

 follows: 



In coming to a definite conclusion with regard to a general settlement 

 with respect to standard specifications and the measurements of hardwood 

 lumber we are not in a position to answer positively. There is much to 

 be said for and against the idea. 



As the lumber world and the public generally knows, the American 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' Association was unfortunately called upon to 

 answer by the Federal Government for an alleged violation of the Sherman 

 anti-trust law. We who were brought into court on that subject felt at 

 that time, and still feel, that our efforts were strictly within the law. 

 The Higher Court has spoken, and there were some features of our opera- 

 tion and management that were not endorsed, and tor several months we 

 had been waiting for a final answer and were necessarily forced to be 

 inactive in our efforts. 



During this period of time we tried to keep intact our rules, and recog- 

 nize the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association rules, which by 

 our agreement were, at the time this case was brought into court, prac- 

 tically the same as the National Hardwood association rules. We are just 

 now in the situation of trying to get ourselves settled on a course of 

 activity which will be strictly beyond suspicion and absolutely in accord- 

 ance with the Sherman anti-trust law, and also to Invite and to have the 

 recognition and endorsement of the public at large. Very soon we hope, 

 as the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, to get ourselves 

 reorganized in strict conformity with these laws, but today, with a very 

 few supplements that we made a short time ago in the National Hardwood 

 Lumber Association rules, we are using the same rules. 



I believe I express the opinion and the judgment of the best interest 

 of the hardwood industry when I say that we are not fighting each other, 

 but that the brains of both of these organizations are earnestly endeavor- 

 ing to find ways and means by which we get together in accord and 

 sit at the same table on the question of inspection rules and measurements 

 of hardwood lumber. I believe the time is close at hand when that will 

 be the case. 



The hardwood industry is anxious to arrive at a conclusion that will 

 give to the public at large a simple set of rules to control the handling of 

 our production. I do admit that there is great room for improvement, 

 but when we can once sit down together and simplify our rules and make 

 them so clear and simple that the public can easily comprehend them, we 

 will to a very great extent eliminate the complaints that may have been 

 offered in the past with respect to handling our production. 



We must all admit that there are many complications that face the 

 hardwood manufacturer that do not face the yellow pine industry or the 

 Pacific Coast industry, because of the fact that they manufacture one wood 

 only, whereas we have many varieties and species in the hardwood Indus- 

 try, and each of these goes in large measure to different consuming ele- 



ments. Therefore our contentions multiply and multiply by a hundred, 

 1 might say, in comparison with those of other Industries. Therefore our 

 problem is a greater one than these other representative bodies have. And 

 yet we are willing and anxious to co-operate in every way we can to find 

 a solution that will be practicable for the questions that are before us 

 today, which are causing complications and will continue to cause them 

 until we are able to simplify our inspection rules. 



Saunders Differs with Sherrill 



A slight difference of opinion, however, from that of Mr. Sherrill, 

 was expressed by W. L. Saunders, Michigan Hardwood Manufac- 

 turers' Association spokesman of Cadillac, Mich., who expressed, 

 as the opinion of his association, the belief that his association 

 would do what the majority of the softwood people wanted to do. 



"I think that in our industry it will be very easy to line up on 

 the proposition of standardization and marking of grades and so on. 

 While we have many kinds of wood, there are really but iive grades, 

 which certainly is none too many," Mr. Saunders said. 



So far as the standardization of grades is concerned, I cannot see, after 

 4') years of practice, how it is easy in a short period of time to benefit by 

 any changes that might be suggested. I think the grades are well defined 

 anil are recognized in the trade. Sizes and thicknesses of hardwood are 

 governed wholly by the demand. The width and length of a board is 

 determined, in the hardwood trade, by what the log will produce. Hence, 

 sizes should not be considered, I think, in anything that might be sug- 

 gested. 



I do not think that grade marking would be at all objectionable to our 

 membership, both as to Wisconsin and Michigan, excepting possibly in the 

 lower grades. For instance, take what we call No. 3, which is the low 

 end of the log and Is generally conceded to be from 25 to 35 per cent of 

 the entire product. That goes almost entirely into one class of work and 

 can not In any way be juggled. We would be opposed to going to the 

 expense of marking anything of that kind. 



-Vs to the better grades, firsts and seconds, that is an easy proposition. 

 We have our No. 1 common and No. 2 common, and our select, and we have 

 our hemlock. Those things are all easily taken care of, and we will join 

 with the majority of the building trade production, whatever they decide, 

 whatever their sizes may be. Tw'O-thirds of Michigan's hemlock is put out 

 on a quarter of an inch of basis. 



In concluding I feel safe In saying that we will do anything that the 

 majority of the softwood people want to do. We are in favor of standing 

 by the established grades now in use. 



Recapitulation of Votes 



A recapitulation of the final votes as registered by each associa- 

 tion on the three major phases of the program, i. e., names and sim- 

 plifications of grade; standardization of sizes, and third, guarantees 

 of grades and quantity, are as follows: 



{Continued on page 30) 



Southern Pine Association 



West Coast Lumbermen 's Association 



Western Pine Manufacturers' Association 



California Redwood Association 



California White and Sugar Pine Association 



Michigan Hardwood Manufacturers' Association 



North Carolina Pine Association 



Xorthern Pine Manufacturers' Association 



Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Mfrs. ' Association. 



Southern Cypress Manufacttirers' Association 



American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association.... 



National Hardwood Lumber Association 



Georgia-Florida Sawmill Association 



In favor 



Opposed 



Divided 



Not voting 



Not instructed 



Not present 



