March 25, 192 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



25 



managers and executives of the railroads are digging into each 

 others' ribs in excess of hilarity because of the lumber witnesses' 

 own confusion. Yet that is exactly what has happened many times 

 and what is going to happen again many times unless we can do 

 something with respect to the maintenance of the position, honor- 

 able as it has been, profitable as it has been, in many instances, 

 which the lumber industry has oceuj^ied in the past. To what will 

 the Lumber Congress address itself specifically in the large aspects 

 of this situation?' I think, among other things, it should discuss 

 publicity and advertising. I don't mean propaganda, I mean com- 

 bined efforts, using all the organized facilities of the lumber trade, 

 or any part of it whatsoever, for the purpose of laying unitedly 

 before the people who use, or may be made to use lumber, the exact 

 facts with respect not only to the lumber industry, but with respect 

 to the usefulness of its product. I believe that with respect to sizes, 

 Grades, brands, terms of sale, within limits, building code activi- 

 ties, there is a distinctive common interest, a common interest 

 which has never been associated in an organized national way. 

 We have, for instance, attempted to reach all towns and cities 

 of a population of five thousand, or over, for the specific purpose 

 of putting exact technical knowledge and scientific facts into the 

 building codes of those communities." 



Dr. Compton also discussed the opportunities offered by the 

 American Lumber Congress in securing the establishment of a just 

 taxation system, touching also upon the opportunities presented 

 for lumbermen to take an active and helpful interest in the discus- 

 sion and solution of the housing problem, and concluded, "I have 

 every reason to believe that if you have the same interest as I 

 think you have in the future security of the industry to which you 

 have committed yourselves and your fortunes, you will be glad to 

 participate in such activities as I have outlined, and to take your 

 full share in the responsibility of them, and to contribute that 

 which you can so intelligently and efficiently give to help in placing 

 the lumber industry in a higher position among the American 

 industries, a position to which it is entitled on its merits, not only 

 because of the men who are in the industry, but also because of 

 the importance of the product which these men sell. If you are 

 satisfied with things as they are, if we are willing that the lumber 

 industry shall hereafter be, as it for sometime in the past has 

 been, the victim of its misdirected efforts because of our quarreling 

 among ourselves as to the methods by which we shall protect the 

 lumber industry and extend its market, then I have no thought 

 that you will be willing to participate in such an activity as I have 

 outlined." 



W. H. Schuette of Pittsburgh was elected president of the Na- 



tional Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association at the closing ses- 

 sion of the convention; the association decided to hold its next 

 convention at Pittsburgh. Charles A. Goodman of Marinette, Wis., 

 was elected first vice-president; Dan McLachlin of Araprior, On- 

 tario, second vice-president; Henry Cape, treasurer, and W. W. 

 Schupner, secretary. 



Herbert W. Blanchard of Boston was elected a member of the 

 board of trustees to fill the unexpired term of H. W. McDonough, 

 resigned. His term will expire in 1924. Trustees elected for the 

 term expiring in 1925 include F. E. Babcock of Pittsburgh; W. L. 

 Sykes of Conifer, N. Y.; Daniel Wertz of Evansville, Ind.; Charles 

 A. Goodman of Marinette, Wis.; H. F. Taylor of Buffalo, N. Y.; 

 Fred S. Underbill of Philadelphia, and T. T. Adams of Rich- 

 mond, Va. 



President McClure Opens Convention 



The convention was opened at the New Willard Hotel on the 

 morning of Wednesday, March 22, by John W. McClure of Mem- 

 phis, president of the organization for the last two years. Mr. 

 McClure extended "very hearty greetings" to the friends and 

 members of the organization and called attention to the gratifying 

 fact that the present convention marked the thirtieth anniversary 

 of the association's life. 



Mr. McClure reviewed brifly the services that the association per- 

 forms for its members, its growth and prestige, and reported that 

 the "finances of the association are in a sound and satisfactory 

 condition. ' ' 



Touching upon conditions in the lumber industry, Mr. McClure 

 said that "we now have the satisfaction of knowing that the worst 

 is behind us and that the future course is turning upward toward 

 better things. There are many reasons for believing that 1922 will 

 show a substantial improvement in business over 1921, even though 

 that improvement may come so slowly as to be scarcely percept- 

 ible. ' ' 



Mr. McClure also addressed his attention to the railroad situation 

 and made a powerful appeal for the repeal of the Adamson Law, 

 holding that the railroads could not be restored to an adequate, 

 healthy functioning as long as this legislation is upon the statute 

 books. 



A most comprehensive survey of association activities was de- 

 livered by W. W. Schupner, secretary, in his annual report. 



Mr. McClure jjresided over the convention with his usual dignity 

 and dispatch. 



^^Human Engineering 



99 



I 



If memory serves aright it was "Charlie" Schwab who orig- 

 inated the term of "Human Engineering." From time to time 

 Mr. Schwab has had occasion to seek, through the channels of 

 some of our greatest universities, men who have been trained 

 rigorously as civil, electrical, mechanical or industrial engineers. 

 To these men he has offered an opportunity for broad service and 

 financial rewards commensurate with their real earning power. 

 This is enough to challenge the best efforts of any ambitious 

 individual. 



Doubtless Mr. Schwab in his large experience with men and 

 affairs has come to realize the tremendous importance of human 

 engineering, or handling man power so as to produce the least 

 friction, limit the strain, and produce the best possible results. 



It doesn't make any difference fundamentally whether we are 

 handling steel, pigs, battleships, or hardwood products, standing 

 or manufactured — the facts remain the same that our success to a very 

 large degree is measured by our ability to get alon^ with people. 



Unfortunately there are some individuals who are not very 

 successful in getting along with themselves. This is unfortunate 



for we cannot hope to control others until we have won the citadel 

 of self. The Good Book tells us that the man who can control 

 his own spirit is greater than the one who can capture a city. One 

 of the most weakening of influences which we can turn inward 

 upon ourselves is that of self-pity. Self-pity never gets us any- 

 where or anything. It only makes us weaklings and ridiculous 

 in the eyes of our associates. 



A pouting or sulky child is a disagreeable spectacle. A pouting 

 or a sulky grown-up is absurd and contemptible. The man who 

 would succeed as a human engineer must be a good sport. He 

 must so develop his own latent powers, his resources of initiative 

 and optimism and his ability to put up a brave front, that others 

 will believe in him and this in turn will force him to believe in 

 himself. 



The executive who aims to become a skilled human engineer 

 must cultivate the habit of self-restraint. The man who is over- 

 free to talk of his affairs with others, scatters himself like bird 

 shot. The owl gets its reputation for its wisdom because of its 

 silence. There is a time when words fitly spoken are like apples 



