HARDWOOD RECORD 



29 



J. W. THOMPSON, J. W. THOMPSON LUMBER 

 COMPANY, MEMPHIS. 



Hardwood Lumber Association a change for the 

 better was soon apparent in these undesirable 

 conditions. A set of inspection rules was pre- 

 pared and each member of the new organization 

 made it his business to procure their adoption 

 by the local exchange of which he was a mem- 

 ber. One by one the large markets fell into 

 line and today there is no hardwood market 

 of the United States, untrammeled by statute, 

 that does not accept the standard of inspection 

 prepared by this association. Nor is this all 

 that has been accomplished. The miasma of 

 doubt and distrust that for so long a time 

 hung over the hardwood trade has been in a 

 large measure dispelled. The manufacturer of 

 hardwood lumber in any section of this country 

 may now accept an order from a dealer or con- 

 sumer in any market, based upon the inspection 

 of this association, with the assurance that he 

 will be fairly treated and the dealer or con- 

 sumer may place his orders with the manufac- 

 turer regardless of locality with the certain 

 knowledge that he will receive that which he 

 buys if the order reads "National Inspection." 



Those who were wont to thrive by dishonest 

 practices, made possible by a confusion of stand- 

 ards, find themselves balked at every turn by 

 the inspection of this association, and as a 

 result the hardwood trade has never before 

 been so free from rogues as it is at the present 

 time. 



A spirit of fellowship has sprung up between 

 individuals, between markets and between widely 

 separated localities that cannot fail to be produc- 

 tive of highly satisfactory results. These im- 

 provements in prevailing conditions began with 

 the inception of the National Hardwood Lumber 

 Association, and have increased in proportion 



K. .7. DARNELL, MEMPHIS. 



as the influence of the National Hardwood Lum- 

 ber Association has expanded. I, therefore, be- 

 lieve that I am justified in the statement that 

 the proximate cause for these highly satisfac- 

 tory conditions of the trade today, which are 

 clearly apparent to every intelligent lumberman, 

 is the influence exerted by the National Hard- 

 wood Lumber Association. Therefore, if noth- 

 ing more were accomplished by this organization 

 and if the association were to disband its mem- 

 bership today, that which has been already 

 achieved by its efforts during the past eight 

 years would still remain a priceless heritage 

 of the trade at large. 



But as we approach finality in our original 

 undertakings the horizon of opportunity for fur- 

 ther effective action widens, and therefore this 

 association is not content today with the real- 

 ization of that which was its hope six or eight 

 years ago. There is another work that prop- 

 erly follows in the train of that which has 

 already been accomplished. 



This association has wrought out a standard 

 of inspection that is generally acceptable and 

 accepted. It now assumes responsibility for 

 the proper application of that standard. It 

 has supplied a system wherewith the quality of 

 lumber may be properly determined in every 

 market. It now essays the task of directing 

 the use of that system in a manner to eventuate 

 in the complete protection of those who rely 

 upon its efficacy to perform that function. The 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association cannot 

 do what the law has failed to accomplish these 

 thousand years — make all men honest — but it 

 can and does afford a means of defense to its 

 membership against dishonest aggression. 



This now brings me to that part of my report 



I 



.MAX SONDHBIMEE, E. SONDHEIMER COM- 

 PANY, MEMPHIS. 



that lias to do with the occurrences of the past 

 year that came under the supervision of the 

 outgoing administration. 



The policy of the executive, concurred In by 

 the board of managers, was to abstain from 

 any ostentatious advertisement of the work be- 

 ing performed, as it was the united judgment 

 of those who had the work in charge that the 

 affairs of a commercial organization were of a 

 strictly business nature, and as such were en- 

 titled to the same discreet treatment that is 

 usually accorded to the business transactions 

 of individuals, hrms or corporations. It would, 

 however, be unfair on the part of this mem- 

 bership to assume, because of the absence of 

 drum-beats and bugle blasts, that the interests 

 of the association had been neglected, for, as a 

 matter of fact, they have received the same 

 vigilant attention from the officers and directors 

 of the association that those gentlemen are ac- 

 customed to devote to affairs of a strictly per- 

 sonal nature. 



The board of managers has assembled on four 

 separate occasions during the past year, and 

 at each meeting there has been present not only 

 a quorum but a large majority of the board. 

 At inch of these meetings the condition of the 

 association was exhaustively considered and any 

 action necessary to its welfare was promptly 

 taken. 



MEMBERSHIP. 



Hilling the pasl year there lias been a highly 

 satisfactory addition to our membership regard- 

 less of the fact that then- w;is no systematic 

 effort towards proselyting new members. It 

 has been the belief of the president that the 



W. II. RUSSE, DIRECTOR, RUSSE & BUR- 

 GESS, MEMPHIS. 



GEORGE BURGESS, RUSSE & BUEG1 

 MEMPHIS. 



E. E GOODLANDER, DIRECTOR, Gl 

 LANDER-ROBERTSON LUMBER ' 

 PANT, MEMPHIS. 



