January 23. 191S 



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Lumber Week Features 



Tlie following pages give detailed review of the importaut hap- 

 penings at Memphis last week when four well-known associations 

 of lumbermen held annual meetings. The result of these gather- 

 ings was a merger of two large associations handling specialized 

 products and important developments at the meetings of the other 

 two associations. 



The American Oak Manufacturers' Association with the Gijm 

 Lumber Manufacturers' Association each at its respective meet- 

 ings formally adopted the report of the committee of fourteen 

 looking to a merger of the two associations. The result is the 

 formation of a much more potent organization entitled the Amcr- 

 man Hardwood Manufacturers' Association, which will be the 

 parent to numerous divisions covering different hardwoods cut 

 :iiid marketed in the United States. 



The parent body was organiked as a means of cutting down 

 overhead in administering the affairs of the different woods, but 

 the various divisions, headed by men selected from the ranks of 

 the manufacturers of the respective woods, will govern their own 

 actions irrespective of the actions of divisions handling other 

 species. 



The traffic meeting was full of 

 potent discussion and was per- 

 vaded by a definite w-ar spirit, 

 that is, a spirit which took cog- 

 nizance of the importance of the 

 times and the importance of the 

 lumber industry in solving our 

 war problems. 



The meeting of the Southern 

 Alluvial Land Association was 

 enthusiastic and gave evidence 

 of the tremendous opportunity 

 for development in agricultural, 

 live stock and manufacturing in- 

 dustries in the South. 



The outstanding feature of the 

 merger meeting is that the new 

 association officially adopted as 

 one of its prime purposes the 

 carrying on of such methods and 

 policies as may eventually lead 

 to uniform standard of hardwood 

 inspection. From this standpoint 

 alone the meeting was momen- 

 tous. It brought about the ter- 

 mination of the American Oak 

 Manufacturers' Association and 

 the Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Association as they have existed, 

 although the activities of those bodies will be carried on as here- 

 tofore under division supervision. 



At the meeting of the board of directors of the new association, 

 steps were taken to immediately organize the oak and gum di- 

 visions. As provided for in the constitution other divisions cover- 

 ing other woods will be organized as manufacturers of those woods 

 deem it necessary. 



Another important development was the action of the Com- 

 mercial Rotary Gum Association, with headquarters in Memphis, 

 securing for it formal merger with the new American Hardwood 

 Manufacturers' Association. Thus there are already three def- 

 inite divisions of the new body with a prospect of others being 

 formed in the near future. 



The new association starts out with promising enthusiasm both 

 on the part of the officers and its members. This body can truth- 

 fully be said to be the final outcome of the initial formation of the 

 Memphis Lumbermen's Club several years ago as the aggressive 

 and constructive spirit which has m"arked the development of that 



club has brought about many developments important to the hard- 

 wood trade. It was carried through the very important traffic work 

 resulting in the organization of the Southern Hardwood Traffic 

 Association. It has been responsible for the organization of the 

 Sduthern Alluvial Land Association, the importance of which need 

 not be emphasized; has put gum nu the maji through the organiza- 

 tion of the Gum Lumber Mjuuifacturers' Association, and has 

 made great strides in re-establishing oak in its proi)cr place 

 through the formiition dI' tlic .\nicriean Oak Mainifacturers' As- 

 sociation. 



Thus Memphis shows that it is entitled to first consideration as 

 to its importance in hardwood manufacturing circles. The ac- 

 complishments coming out of Mcmi^his have been made possible not 

 merely by numerical strength, but more largely by the spirit which 

 has pervaded the Memphis trade since hardwood became an im- 

 portant factor in that busy and rapidly developing center. 



All Memphis Is Host 

 Every association and individual in Memphis jiarticipated in the 



pleasant task of acting as host to 

 the hundreds of visitors during 

 the week. The entertainment 

 features were unusual and pleas- 

 antly surprising. The chief af- 

 fair in the entertainment was the 

 banquet given at the Hotel 

 Gayoso at Memphis on the last 

 evening of the meetings. The big 

 dining room of this famous stop- 

 ping place was crowded to the 

 limit with a good-natured crowd. 

 Instead of the usual rather un- 

 interesting professional entertain- 

 ment the diners were treated to 

 the efforts of unusually good 

 talent of a different kind. Mus- 

 ical features were interspersed 

 with speaking, the chief musical 

 entertainers being Mrs. W. E. 

 Hyde, wife of W. E. Hyde of 

 Memphis, who is well-known in 

 hardwood circles, and Mrs. Davis 

 L. Grifiitli. They were assisted by 

 the Westminster Quartette of 

 Memphis. 



Among the prominent speakers 

 called upon by President J. P. 

 McSweyn were Earl Palmer; whose title was "Happy Thoughts For 

 Lumbermen;" C. P. J. Mooney, managing editor of the Memphis 

 Commercial Appeal, who responded to the toast "Spirit of the 

 Times;" Col. John M. Woods, president of the National Hardwood 

 Lumber Association; Douglas Malloch of Chicago. Their remarks 

 were happy in the extreme and the program showed unusually well 

 balanced subjects. 



President McSweyn who assumed the gavel for the first big meet- 

 ing since his recent election was in fine form. Mr. "Mac" seems 

 mentally capable of meeting any emergency when on his feet and 

 handled the program with expedition, grace and smoothness. 



"Uncle" John Woods reminisced in a most entertaining style. 

 His thoughts reverted back to the days when it cost more to ride 

 by rail for twenty-five miles into Boston than it now costs to go 

 all the way from Boston to Memphis. Mr. Woods confessed to a 

 great many more j'ears behind him than anyone in the room thought 

 possible. 



In the line of "eats" Memphis provided a substantial luncheon 

 in the banquet hall, prior to each meeting. 



FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION ADOPTED BY THE 

 AMERICAN HARDWOOD MANUFACTURERS- 

 ASSOCIATION 



The objects shall be to secure a full understanding of conditions 

 surrounding the hardwood industry; to adopt such measures as 

 will provide for uniform standards (amplification of this feature 

 is shown in the empowering resolution which specifically states 

 that it is working toward a uniform standard of inspection rules 

 for hardwood) and improved methods of manufacturing and market- 

 ing hardwood forest products; to acquire, preserve and dissemi- 

 nate information in connection therewith; and to generally pro- 

 mote the interests and welfare of hardwood manufacturers. 

 « « « 



The membership shall consist of individuals, firms or corpora- 

 tions actively engaged in the manufacture of hardwood forest 



products. 



♦ • • 



A majority of members representing two-thirds or more of the 

 production within the association of any particular wood, may, 

 upon petition to the board of directors, or by vote at any regular 

 or called meeting of the association, organize a department for 

 that wood or for carrying on other lines of activity that will be of 

 mutual benefit to the membership. 



♦ * » 



These divisions are to be governed by a committee of five, 

 selected by the membership, this committee to be known as the 

 "governing board" for the wood in question. These respective 

 fU>mmittees will have the power to fix assessments in the produc- 

 tion of the respective woods. 



♦ ♦ • 



The work will be carried on by an assessment with a fixed maxi- 

 mum covering the entire production in all woods, this part of the 

 assessment to go into the fund of the parent association. The 

 respective divisions will then determine their own assessments not 

 to exceed a fixed maximum. 



