97 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



June 10. 1921 



Fish Chronicles a Year of Success 



Amitlier year of success was veviewe<l by Frank F. Fish, secre- 

 tary-treasurer of the National Hardwooil Lumber Association, in 

 his report to the twenty-fourth annual convention, delivered 

 directly after President Taylor's address on the morning of June 9. 

 Secretary Fish recorded a net membership growth during the year of 

 27.), giving a total membership of 1,443. 



Mr. Fish opened his report with a review of conditions during the 

 jiast year as contrasted with the year preceding, declaring in con- 

 clusion of this part of his paper "that the worst is over and that 

 we are even now entering upon a period of expanding demand, 

 wliicli will likel.y approximate a normal condition before the sum- 

 nin- i.< ciidt'*!. ' ' 



The text of the report follows: 



Mr. President and Gentlemen: In subniiUiiis my sixteenth rcpni't nt 

 this, the twont.v fourtli annual niectinc of this association, it may not 

 lii» inapproprlatn to institntc a iiriof comparison l)Ptwcon conditions oxist- 

 Inj; in tlio Inmlior trade today and tliose prevailing at the time of our 

 former mrotinjr. (me year ago. I do not do this with the hope of enliKlit 

 cniUK this membership in any manner concerning its own business, but 

 with the belief tliat an otfieial record upon the subject may possess more 

 or less value. 



When we mot in Chicaso one year ago the demand for hardwood lumber 

 was at high tide, and, owins to competitive l>idding on the [lart of bu.vers. 

 and to no otlier reason whatever, prices had soared to beia:bts beyond the 

 fondest dreams of any lumberman. Consuming patrons, in order to make 

 sure of tbeir supplies of bardwood, bad adopted the vicious practice of 

 ordering twice or thrice as much stock as it was possible for them to con- 

 sume, which practice resulted most disastrously to the lumber tra<le by 

 reason of the wholesale cancellation of orders whicli followed upon tbe 

 slacking up of general business. While, for the time being, the situation 

 l)ossessed tbe appearance of being a liarvest time for tlie hardwood inter- 

 ests, it is very doubtful if mucli good grain was garnered. For the past 

 six months we have been looking at tlie reverse side of the picture. With 

 scarcely any warning the demand for lumber ceased to exist. It was not 

 even a buyer's market, because there were no buyers. Prices W'ere rushed 

 to tile bottom by panic stricken or needy holders of stock without tbe 

 i"e<'ompensing feature of obtaining a sutficient amount of Itusiness to justify 

 sucb sacrifices. Tlie lowei- prices wvut tbe b^ss interest they inspired on 

 tile part of possible buyers — and today we are at low tide. But fortunately 

 tbe beacb is not strewn with tlie wreckage of lumber interests. Tlie lum- 

 bermen have met the situation with courage and determination and have 

 lirmly resolved to "carry on." It is my belief, concurred in by those who 

 are in a position to know, tliat the worst is over and that we are even now 

 entering uiion a period of expanding demand, which will likel.v approxi- 

 mate a normal condition before the summer is ended. This belief has for 

 its foundation tlie final, tbough tardy, acquiescence of Germany in the 

 reparation demands; the gradual, but iiersistent, improvement in the con- 



<lition of foreign exchange : tlie change in the attitude of the Government 

 at Washington toward the business interests of the country, evidenced by 

 tbe slogan, "Less government in business and more business in Govern- 

 ment." and the liquidation of war prices on essential commodities, the first 

 of which to go being lumber. 



Lumber Has Liquidated 



I desire that the word go out to the country from this great convention, 

 that — whether cheerfully or not on the part of the lumbermen — the prices 

 on lumber have been fully and completely liquidated. So much cannot he 

 said of other factors in the situation. Unfortunately, there are elements 

 which enter into the cost of construction of houses and their furnishings, 

 wbicli is tbe crying need of the hour, that as yet have not reduced their 

 prices and wbicii still serve to chunlt the wheels of trade and commerce, 

 which, without such obstacles, would promptly begin to revolve toward 

 general prosperity. Among these obstructive factors the most prominent 

 are transportation and labor, which still tenaciously cling to the prices 

 only made possible'liy conditions of war, and wliich must yield to a univer- 

 sal process of liquidation to a i)eace basis befm-e tliat prosperity conies to 

 which we are justly entitled. 



While the past year — taken as a whole — has not been a period of even 

 average prosperity to the individuals constituting this membership, the 

 progress of the National Hardwood Lumber Association has not been 

 retarded in any manner whatsoever by tlie untoward conditions prevailing 

 in the lumber trade, but instead, these unfavorable conditions general to 

 tlu* trade have resulted in an ever-increasing demand for the good offices 

 of tlie association from lumbermen who herCTofore had not appreciated the 

 advantages resulting from a connection wiffi this organization : and, upon 

 trial, they have not been disappointed in uie will and the ability of the 

 National Hardwood Luniljer Association to^Serve the interests of its mem- 

 bers. It is in just sucli a period of depression as this through which we 

 are now passing that the lumbermen require an effective agency for the 

 protection of tbeir interests and tliis assoc£.tion has not Ijeen found want- 

 ing when the adequacy of the protection it affords has been put to the test. 

 From time to time attempts are made to stir up factional strife within our 

 ranks by those wiio are still on tlie outside looking in. and the charge is 

 continuously and tiresoniely reiterated that this is au organization domi- 

 nated by tlie wholesaler and operated solely in the interest of that branch 

 of the trade. While this charge has been frequently and deflnittdy branded 

 as an unmitigated falsehood, the lie still persists and finds favor with those 

 ndio are unable to bring any other charge against the National Hardwood 

 Luml>er Association. 



Preeminence From Merit 



It is quite true that there are wholesalers as well as manufacturers in 

 our membership. The organization was originally formed in the belief that 

 tiiere was common ground upon which all lumbermen could stand and com- 

 mon interests which might be served by a proper spirit of genuine confidence 

 and co-operation. The success that has followed upon the expression of 

 this belief through the National Hardwood Lumber .\ssociation is sufficient 

 justification that the theory upon which the organization was founded was 



(Conlinui-d frnm iittije 21) 



picqiosed. Most earnest and conscientious study has been given this matter 

 during a period of several weeks, and the project bears the strong support 

 of one of our most imiiorlaut liardwood markets, and is. therefore, entitled 

 to the close interest and fair consideration of this membership. 



Pleads Fair Play for All 



For all these matters I bespeak the most fair-minded and democratic 

 consideration and treatment, with full confidence that a hearing of tliat 

 sorl will result in a wise decision reiiresenling the judgment of tbe entire 

 industry: and such consideration on the part of tliis convention must 

 result in the entire satisfaction Ixith of those who favor and those who may 

 oppose tbe jilan, whatever decision you may reach. 



It is my <lesire to accord the liigliest commendation to all agencies of 

 our organlzati(m contributing to tlie recognized success of its work. Such 

 reco.gnition is a custom of the president's address, but I am especially 

 anxious to make it clear that I am not governed alone by custom. In all 

 our activities, the measure of devotion to your interests involved is much 

 gri'ater tlian can come to tlie immediate knowledge of a large part of our 

 niembersliip. 1 know I speak the sentiment of every member in expressing 

 our high regard for the work of tbe Inspection Rules Committee, of which 

 .lobn W. McClure has again been .good enough to serve as chairman. 

 'I'liis commitlee writes the "Bible" of our Association, and I am sure its 

 work will hi' ai-corded the esteem to which it is entitled by its hi.gh merit. 

 Mr. McClure lias given his customary time and interest as closely as ever 



to this work. I am in doubt whether he should be rewarded with the title 

 of Moses, the law giver, or of Job, the man of infinite patience under 

 trilnilation. 



To the members of the Board of Managers and the Executive Committee. 

 whose consistent loyalty and active interest could not be surpassed, I 

 desire to express our obligation. In remarking our appreciation of the 

 cliaracteristic and able work of our secretary-treasurer. Frank F. Fish, 

 I voice the genuine feeling of every member who uses our facilities and 

 who knows Frank Fish, and this leaves nobody out. His recognized force 

 and ability form tiie key of our association work, and I am glad indeed that 

 tile program provides as usual for his report, for he is above all best fitted 

 to indicate to you the real accomplishments and the standing of our 

 organization. 



If I seem over-enthusiastic in my esteem of the order. I believe you will 

 understand and appreciate the convictions that occasion that feeling. 

 Witli so large and loyal a membership, our influence in the hardwood field 

 is all-pervasive : and our membership and inspection record alone do not 

 tell the whole stor.v, for indeed the hardwood man is hard to find anywhere 

 who does not .govern his shipments by our rules even though he may never 

 have come into the fold. 



To serve such an organization as president has l>een a privilege which 

 comes to few men, and which I have cherished accordingly. Your gracious 

 fori>earance and your unbroken loyalty and support to the association have 

 made the past year for me a very happy experience. 



