18 



HAKDWOOD RECORD 



May 25, 1921 



Efficient Distribution Is Vital 



American Wholesale Lumber Association in Annual Session Points to Value of 

 Its Slogan — Year of Success in Arbitration Work Is Also Recorded 



The ijlcasuie of pii'seiitiiig a word of conimouilutioii from Presi- 

 rlciit Harding was experienced by J. Howard Burtonj president of 

 the American Wholesale Lumber Association, delivering his address 

 at the first annual meeting of the association in the Florentine room 

 of the Congress Hotel, Chicago, May 18. 



The President's word of praise applied to arbitration, which is 

 the especial purpose and pride of the association. He also asked 

 aid in (ivercoiiiiiig the hou.ting shortage. The notable letter 

 follows: 



"My Dear Mr. Burton: 



"I would be grateful if you will extend my message of greetings 

 and good wishes to the members of the American Wholesale Lumber 

 Association at their convention in Chicago next week. 



"Your industry is one of those that are in position to render 

 useful service to the country in the present period when stabiliza- 

 tion and liquidation are so higlily important. There is need for 

 the largest measure of mutual understanding and toleration among 

 all elements in business, and I feel that the efforts of your organi- 

 zation to establish arbitration of differences in the industry deserve 

 commendation. The comparative suspension of building operations 

 for a long period makes it especially desirable that in every possible 

 way encouragement should be extended now to those who would 

 help cope with the shortage in housing conditions, and I trust your 

 members will find a way to contribute in that direction, 

 ' 'Most sincerely yours, 



"Warren G. Harding." 



At the close of the two-day convention on May IS), Mr. Burton 

 was re-elected president «f the association amid a demonstration 

 of enthusiasm which brought the members to their feet shouting. 

 Because of ill health and the wishes of his family that he relinquish 

 some of his burdens, Mr. Burton had asked that his name not be 

 presented to the convention, but the enthusiasm of the members 

 for his achievements of the past year would not permit him to 

 retire. 



When he found that he had been swept back into office by this 

 wave of enthusiasm, Mr. Burton addressed the association briefly, 

 warning the members that the wholesaler is today in fully as 

 precarious a position as he was during the war, and that it is most 

 imperative that they stand together shoulder to shoulder for mutual 

 protection. The same influences, he said, that are conducting such 

 a menacing campaign in Washington against the grain exchanges 



are also turning their power against tlic miildleniau in the lumber 

 industry. The re-establishment of the War Industries Board or 

 any similar war organization, he warned, would constitute the grav- 

 est menace to the business life of the wholesaler. "Unless we 

 work together in a national way, our business is in grave danger," 

 he said. 



President Burton's Message 



"There is one message which I should like to have each of you 

 take home with him and preach. You should preach the necessity 

 of wholesalers combining their efforts, in a legal way, to maintain 

 the honor and integrity of their position in the economic arrange- 

 ment of the country, through national co-operation. The only way 

 the wholesaler's voice can be heard in a national way is through an 

 organization that represents the wholesaler's point of view 100 per 

 cent. We should co operate with all branches of the lumber indus- 

 try and the industries using wood. We should sell service to all, 

 and iireach the gospel of the national wholesale organization, as 

 typified by the golden rule code of ethics of the American Whole- 

 sale Lumber Association." 



Ben S. Woodhead of the Beaunjont Lumber Company, Beaumont, 

 Tex., was re-elected first vice-president with a wildly enthusiastic 

 demonstration. 



Waldo E. Holmes of the Pacific Fir Company, Seattle, Wash., 

 was elected second vice-president to succeed C. W. Johnson of the 

 Charles W. .Tohnson Lumber Company, Seattle, Wash. 



The following directors were also elected: 



Directors for Northwest Kegion- — John G. Saari, Portland, Ore., 

 regional vice-president; J. G. Wallace, of Minneapolis, Minn., and 

 Frederick 8. Palmer, of San Francisco, Calif. 



Directors for Southwest Eegion — Marcel Krauss, of New Orleans, 

 legional vice-president; A. W. Stickle, of Dallas, Tex., and Thomas 

 S. Dennis, of Kansas City, Mo. 



Directors for North Central Eegion — Max Myers, of Cleveland, 

 Ohio, regional vice president; L. Germain, jr., of Pittsburgh (re- 

 elected), and Dwight Hinckley, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 



Directors for Southeast Region — Charles B. Carothers, of Mem- 

 phis, Tenn., regional vice-president, and H. W. Taylor, of Jackson- 

 ville, Fla. 



Directors for Northeast Eegion — George W. Stevens, of New 

 York City, regional vice-president, and B. L. Tim, of New York 

 City. 



(Continued on page 21) 



It is higlily i>rol)al>lc that President Hafding may be the head- 

 liner at the twenty-fourth annual convention of the National Hard- 

 wood Lumber Association in Philadelphia, June 9, at the Bellevue- 

 Stratford Hotel. A committee from the association, composed of 

 Horace F. Taylor, president; E. V. Babcock, Earl Palmer and 

 Charles H. Barnaby, directors, and F. F. Fish, secretary-treasurer, 

 called upon President Harding at the White House by appointment 

 on April 29 and invited the chief executive to address the conven- 

 tion. Members of the committee state that the President gave 

 them a very cordial hearing and pi'omised to give serious considera- 

 tion to the invitation. The committee has good reason to believe 



that the President's decision will be favorable, and he will talk to 

 the assembled members and guests on the opening day of the 

 convention. 



Regardless of what President Harding's decision may be, how- 

 ever, there will be a national figure present to address the conven- 

 tion. Arrangements have been concluded with James J. Davis, 

 secretary of labor, to address the hardwood men on Thursday, 

 June 9. Secretary Davis' subject, as a matter of course, will be 

 "Labor," and being not only peculiarly qualified officially, but 

 personally, to discuss such a subject, his address will undoubtedly 

 contain a message of importance. 



