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Copyright, Thi Haedwood Coupant, 1917 



Publithed in the Interest of the American Hardwood Forests, the Products thereof, and Logging, Saw 

 Mill and Woodworking Machinery, on the lOlh and 25th of each Month, by 



THE HARDWOOD COMPANY 



Edgar H. Defebaugh, President 

 Edwin W. Meeker, Managing Editor 

 Hu Maxwell, Technical Editor^ 



Seventh Floor Ellsworth Building 



537 So. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO 



Telephones: Harrison 8086-8087-8088 



Vol. XLIV CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 10, 1918 No. 8 



General Market Conditions 



WITHIN THE PAST THIRTY DAYS there have been conventions 

 of hardwood men which altogether have involved practically the 

 entire hardwood manufacturing trade. In no case has there been the 

 slightest pessimism or the slightest uncertainty of future strength 

 expressed. 



Conventions in the North have taken in all northern hardwood 

 producing territories. Conventions in the South have taken in men 

 from the extreme southwest and from the extreme southeast in the 

 hardwood belt. 



Opinions expressed et these meetings were neither boastful nor 

 ambiguous. Formally prepared reports on conditions as well as pri- 

 vately expressed analyses of the present and prospects for hardwoods 

 were firm and conservative and prognostications were based on definite 

 things and definite facts. 



Some hardwoods will not in themselves have sufiScient strength to 

 climb to abnormal heights, but the list as a whole is in so great demand 

 and the supply, not only for the present but as promised for the future, 

 is so restricted that the few weak sisters will be easily buoyed up ty 

 the strength of the remainder of the list. 



Lumber is climbing steadily and surely upwards and it is doubtful 

 if anything within the realm of possibility could happen to seriously 

 affect the industry. 



Cutting Out the Deadwood 



CONCEEXING THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL of the Hardwood 

 Manufacturers' Association last week, the most frequent comment 

 about the convention quarters had to do with the absence of deadwood 

 among the delegates. Deadwood has been a hindrance to conventions 

 of business men ever since the idea of getting together first supplanted 

 the idea of staying as far apart as possible. Deadwood doesn't mean 

 merely the human element involved. The convention at Cincinnati was 

 especially notable for the elimination of deadwood on its program 

 in addition to the deadwood whicli commonly helps to fill up the 

 convention floor. 



The feature is encouraging and noteworthy not because of time and 

 space saved but because of the possibility promised. People who went 

 to Cincinnati were there for purposes of earnest deliberation and 

 patriotic action. The spirit or encrg)', resourcefulness and confidence 

 displayed is the spirit which gets things done and gets them done 

 right. The strength of confidence in the ^lanufacturers' Association 

 is shown in the numerical attendance, which was more than gratifying ; 

 in fact, was even surprising in view of the wholesale delays and 

 absences caused by abominable train service. 



Regarding the biggest thing now before the Manufacturers' Asso- 



ciation, namely, the open-price plan, the best way of briefly stating 

 its success is to cite the progress it has made not only in finding new 

 advocates who are willing to sign up, but in covering a gradually 

 broadening list of woods. The plan, it is true, has met with criticism 

 and probably wUl never find complete sympathy in all quarters. It 

 may even merit some little revision, but it is safe to say that when 

 this revision becomes apparently necessary, it will be made. 



The plan is so radically different from usual methods that it must 

 necessarily meet with opposition, and it is rather a question of time 

 when everyone will realize that even though he may be sacrificing a 

 little himself in joining the plan, he is benefiting from what the other 

 man is sacrificing and from generally raised standards of morale in 

 the trade sufficient to more than overbalance what he gives up on his 

 own account. 



The Saving Grace 



VEBY RECENTLY A UNITED STATES SENATOR, who is not 

 a socialist, declared that socialism is here now; and a wealthy 

 and powerful steel manufacturer declared that political changes 

 were at hand in this country by which wealth would lose its power 

 and the professional politician would lose his hold. These prophe- 

 cies show the trend of thought among some people who are in 

 positions to secure extensive views. 



If by socialism and political changes they mean anything re- 

 motely approaching what has taken place in Russia and what 

 seems to be threatening Germany and Austria, the prediction should 

 be revised. It is unthinkable that any such catastrophe as has 

 overtaken Russia can threaten the United States. In four years 

 that country has passed from absolute monarchy to absolute 

 anarchy, and it has no farther to fall unless it degenerates to the 

 condition of cave men and head hunters. Old world political 

 storms may menace this country, but the saving grace with us 

 is that the people are educated. We have been accused of unread- 

 iness, and in some respects the accusation is well founded, but in 

 the matter of political danger from sudden and boisterous agita- 

 tion, we are prepared and are in no danger of disaster. 



Our people, rich and poor alike, are educated and arc supplied 

 with common sense, and no braying fanatics, like those with which 

 Europe is cursed, can ever get much of a hearing in this country. 

 Their doctrine of violence and insanity cannot make any impres- 

 sion on enlightened people. In all factions, cliques, cabals, and 

 aggregations, the most ignorant are the most violent. After the 

 war of arms, and accompanying that struggle, will come a war of 

 politics of the most dangerous and detestable kind, such as is now 

 sweeping Russia; but Americans have reason to be thankful that 

 this storm has not caught us unprepared. Our preparation was 



