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Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



March 25, 1922 



Perry Defends Trade Association Work 



A vigorous defense of trade association benefits was made by 

 Thos. D. Perry of the Grand Rapids Veneer Works. Grand Rapids, 

 Mich., speaking as president of the Plywood Manufacturers Asso- 

 ciation at the annual meeting of that organization, held in Chicago 

 at the Auditorium Hotel on March 15. Mr. Perry said: 



At the end of three years of Association activity, it is prudent 

 to look back over the accomplishments and profit by the mistakes 

 we have made, and push vigorously along the lines of successful 

 endeavor. The first year and a half was a time of unusual business 

 volume and of rising prices: and the last half of the period has 

 witnessed one of the most violent business reversals that the pres- 

 ent generation has seen or is likely to see. Times like these not 

 only try men's souls, but put the ultimate value of association co- 

 operation to the acid test. A very few of our members feel in 

 these trying times that association w^ork must be dropped, partly 

 for reasons of financial economy and partly because of a disap- 

 pointment that the association could not prevent the inevitable 

 lowering of prices and more or less unscrupulous competition. 

 A little thought will convince everyone that it is possible for our 

 association to be of greatest service in the present readjustment 

 problems providing the members will give interest and attention 

 to the questions in w^hich they are involved in more than an indi- 

 vidual w^ay. There is no argument to justify the position of our 

 withdrawing friends, that, as unaided individuals they can not 

 solve these perplexing problems as efficiently as we can by work- 

 ing together. 



Perhaps our association made a mistake in starting too many 

 activities, but each of our major tasks has been a very real and 

 immediate problem to our members and the progress w^e are mak- 

 ing in our joint campaigns is far more than individuals could have 

 accomplished alone. 



Opportune Time for Expansion 



Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery but we should 

 not let our heads be turned by the fact that no less than four or- 

 ganizations along similar lines of work have expressed a desire to 

 either affiliate vv'ith us or organize their activities through our 

 worthy Commissioner. It certainly seems to be an opportunity 

 for correlating, along legitimate lines, a much larger group of 

 veneer and plywood manufacturers and jobbers than has ever 

 worked together before. 



We have before us the situation of a large industry producing 

 upwards of $50,000,000 worth of goods annually. Shall we let a 

 wonderful opportunity for a working relationship through a suit- 

 able association fail through neglect? 



Detailed reports of the activity of our Valuation Commission, 

 our Trade Extension Campaign, our Traffic Committee and our 

 Glue development will come in in their regular order. 



Three problems are causing considerable anxious thought on the 

 part of our members. They are: 



(1) The reduction in freight rates. It is agreed by railroads 

 and shippers alike that this must come, but only at such a time 

 and in such a way as shall prevent embarrassment to the railroads. 

 Those organizations that have made the best presentation of their 

 case for reduction or reclassification will undoubtedly obtain first 

 recognition. We have made a good start on docket No. 8131, and 

 must "carry on." 



(2) The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on 

 the so-called "Open Price Plan" of the American Hardwood Manu- 

 facturers Association is much less disconcerting than a superficial 

 examination w^ould indicate. Recent correspondence between 

 Attorney General Daugherty and Secretary of Commerce Hoover 

 indicates clearly that the two chief things which the law forbids 

 under the present interpretation are price and production control 

 by agreement. Our Association has never advocated joint action 

 along either of these lines and the large idle capacity of the ply- 

 wood production units is sufficient evidence that we could not if 

 we wanted to. 



The Vegetable Glue Situation 



(3) The final cause of anxiety is the vegetable glue situation in 

 which our association has shown substantial interest during the 

 past year or two. We have known all along that we had a big job 

 on our hands but probably none of the members realize that the 

 decisions and the reports which are arranged for our timid con- 

 sumption in threatening terms are the result of activity commenced 

 before our Association attacked the problem. Litigation originated 

 since the above time, speaking as an individual who is under suit, 

 has given our attorneys and experts confidence that our defense 

 will open a new page in the history of this matter. It is not pleas- 



ant to expend time and money in defending litigation for the use 

 of a minor product, but when we realize that the whole industry 

 may suffer through neglecting to build up a co-ordinate defense, 

 it immediately becomes a responsibility in which we all ought to 

 express a substantial interest. The Schenectady decision resulted 

 from a trial held more than a year ago and brings out no new 

 points of importance. In this free country of ours it is up to each 

 individual user to decide w^h ether he will approve the tactics of 

 and patronize the offending Glue Company, or w^hether he \vill 

 join in a vigorous campaign to prevent a monopolistic control in 

 the woodworking industry. 



Our ow^n Plyw^ood Association Standard Glues are making good 

 progress and in the near future w^ith two licenses will be better 

 able than ever to supply the requirements of the trade. 



Subjects That Need Attention 



There are three subjects that should engage our early interest 

 to which we have as yet given no attention. 



( 1 ) The standardization of a method for marking our product 

 to indicate its point of production. Some members are using steel, 

 brass, or rubber stamps, others stencils. It ought not to be diffi- 

 cult to devise a method which could be standardized and which 

 might, on lunnber cores, take the form of a particular type of 

 joint. 



( 2 ) The standardization of finishing methods that will prevent 

 the loosening of veneers and the opening of veneer joints. AH 

 plywood producers are familiar with customers' criticisms as 

 offered from time to time. It is quite apparent that much of the 

 trouble is due to a lack of co-operation between those that made the 

 glued stock and those who assemble and finish the furniture. 



(3) The investigation of glues other than vegetable, which cer- 

 tain members may want to use, should be undertaken by our Glue 

 Committee as soon as time and funds are available. 



Ward Is Elected President 



The following officers were elected by the Plywood Manufac- 

 turers to serve their association for the ensuing year: President, 

 F. B. Ward, Hanson-Ward Veneer Co., Bay City. Mich.; First Vice- 

 President, J. T. Breece, Breece Mfg. Co., Portsmouth, Ohio; Second 

 Vice-President, C. B. Allen, Allen-Eaton Panel Co., Memphis, Tenn. ; 

 Third Vice-President, L. H. Sergent, Roddis Vsneer & Panel Co., 

 Marshfield, Wis.; Treasurer, E. W. Benjamin, Cadillac Veneer Co., 

 Cadillac, Mich.; Chairman Valuation Committee, F. L. Zaug, Amer- 

 ican Plywood Corp., New London, Wis.; Chairman Publicity Pro- 

 motion, E. V. Knight, New Albany Veneer Co., New Albany, Ind. 



Mahogany Association Made Permanent 



The permanent organization of the Mahogany Association was 

 effected at a dinner of the members of that body, held at the Hotel 

 Commodore in New York City on March 2 and 3. This action fol- 

 lows a six-months' advertising campaign by the association to fur- 

 ther the use of genuine mahogany. It was taken for the purpose 

 of further developing this publicity effort as well as to deal with 

 matters of general interest to the foreign wood importing industry. 



The organization is said to contain virtually all the importers 

 and manufacturers of mahogany and other foreign woods in the 

 United States. At the New York meeting Thomas Williams was 

 unanimously elected president and the following selected as mem- 

 bers of the executive committee: T. R. Williams, F. D. Sawyer, 

 Henry Freiberg, F. G. Otis, C. C. Mengel, Jr., and Douglas R. Allen. 



Many 



Invitations to Evansville Market 



A great many invitations are being sent out to retailers in the 

 various parts of the United States by John C. Keller, secretary of 

 the Evansville Furniture Manufacturers' Association, Evansville, 

 Ind., asking them to attend the semi-annual stove and furniture 

 market that will be held in three large buildings in Evansville from 

 April 3 to 8. A good many responses have been received and the 

 furniture manufacturers believe that the market this spring will 

 be very successful and that both the attendance and sales will be 

 satisfactory. 



