22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



June 23. 1022 



eiples, " as outlined in the Hoover program. The speaker con- 

 tinued: "The hour has arrived when we must recognize the equal 

 rights of all and the special privileges of none. The hardwood 

 industry stands out as the oue industry that has made the least 

 progress of any in the country, over a period of a hundred years. 

 We must now recognize the fact that the time of progress is at 

 hand. The Hoover declaration to the lumber industry is on a con- 

 structive and sound basis. In the past failure to take into con- 

 .sideraf ion the public 's rights, from a selfish standpoint, along with 

 lack of knowledge, intelligence and thought concerning the outcome 

 of such methods, has held back the industry. There has been too 

 much thought of money alone. It is the business of the government 

 to follow its people and protect them. You should hail with delight 

 and full appreciation an opportunity such as this, and indorse it 

 fully. " 



The speaker stated that while it was not given to the temporary 

 chairman to decide matters of importance, there were two prin- 

 ciples worthy of consideration and of prime importance — one being 

 standardization of names, grades, etc., and the second for all public 

 service to be equal. He argued in favor of forgetting anything 

 destructive and concentrating on constructive matters alone, with 

 no time for petty matters, jealousies and conflict. That there was 

 no time for such matters, he stated, was recognized fully at the 

 Washington conference, which he attended. 



B. F. Dulwebcr nominated John M. Pritchard, former secretary 

 of the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, as tem- 

 porary secretary of the meeting. Mr. Pritchard accepted the office. 



Mr. Sherrill: "I wish to add and emphasize the fact that I wish 

 you gentlemen to .-ippreeiate the fact that our minds are all open 

 for conviction, and that we will be glad to hear from anyone on 

 any matter or thought. ' ' 



Dr. Compton Talks 



Dr. Wilson Compton, secretary-manager of the National Luinlur 

 Manufacturers' Association, made a very interesting talk, in bring- 

 ing before the delegates the true significance of the meeting at 

 Washington, or Hoover conference, in which his organization 

 pjayed such an important part. Mr. Compton went over various 

 matters concerning the conference. He recommended the principle 

 of adhering to the good, taking on the better idea and discarding 

 the remainder. He commented on the large number of manufac- 

 turers present from the South and East. The speaker stated that 

 conditions today leave little room to doubt but what it is a case of 

 the lumber manufacturers adopting self-government as against 

 Federal control. He held for a sound system of standardization 



of product on a scientific classification basis, of sound product on 

 a sound merchandising basis. 



Dr. Compton stated that he was not going to discuss grade 

 manipulation. He held that such houses as work on short quantity 

 and lower grade than specified in orders force all others to either 

 adopt that sort of policy, lose money, or retire from the industry, 

 as competition can't stand it. False standards of retailers or dis- 

 tributors set false standards of prevalent methods of doing busi- 

 ness. He said: "No man really wants an unfair or unsound basis 

 of doiug business within his own industry, and such situations have 

 caused the clouds under which the lumber industry has labored 

 before the American public. It is impossible probably to eliminate 

 all bad conditions, but if you countenance such conditions you 

 can't object to intervention for the benefit of the American public. 

 Grade marking is for the purpose of uniformity, on the simplest 

 possible identification basis to identify a given product, so that it 

 can be recognized for what it is. This is not impossible." 



Dr. Compton held that if some makers of rules are to withhold 

 inspection from non-members there can 't be the opportunity for 

 classification and subdivision of product on a standardized basis. He 

 discussed arbitration, suits and arguments. " Self-Government as 

 a Constructive Program," and open inspection to anyone or sub- 

 stitution of government regulation, with no choice of alternative, 

 were discussed. 



He said: "It is a constructive program to which the lumber 

 industry has pledged itself on a self-government plan." He dis- 

 cussed the fact that at the Washington conference one association 

 failed to vote, and another voted against the program. He held 

 that it was idle to claim that the producer's interest ceases when 

 he cuts through the log, as his interest stays with the lumber until 

 it has given satisfaction in the use for which it is best destined 

 through maintenance of integrity of product. He said: "The lum- 

 ber industry committed itself to the program with the one idea of 

 settling for all time the dispute concerning the bogey of public 

 regulation, and it is important that the lumber industry, both the 

 soft and hardwood divisions, go into this matter solidly for the 

 betterment of conditions. 



Dulweber's Address in Full 



B. F. Dulweber, who along with C. H. Sherrill, was recently 

 expelled from the National Hardwood Lumber Association for 

 expression of opinions disliked by that organization before the 

 Hoover conference, delivered a very interesting written talk con- 

 cerning the Washington conference, reasons for calling the Louis- 



E. A. Lang, Director 



Ja4. E. Stark, Chairman Committee of Nine 



H. C BohUsen, a Charter Member 



I 



