April 10, 1921 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



23 



Inter-Association Arbitration 



By another resolution the plan of the Inter-Association Arbitra- 

 tion Committee, was adopted in its entirety, which means the in- 

 clusion of the compulsory clause "shall arbitrate.'' 



This adoption was made according to the recommendations of 

 the association's arbitration committee, presenteil by J. B. Mont- 

 gomery, chairman. 



This resolution further provided for approval of the full report 

 of the arbitration committee, in which report was the recommenda- 

 tion that the membership of the committee be increased by two and 

 that "the rules of the arbitration committee be so amended that 

 all claims in the amount of $100 or less may be referred to one 

 arbiter for adjustment. The committee was ui-ged to "proceed 

 to use their best efforts to bring about the matter of Inter-Associa- 

 tion Arbitration." 



With regard to the use of one arbiter for small claims the com- 

 mittee felt that this means of economizing time was practicable 

 because the members of the association undoubtedly have suflScient 

 confidence in one another to submit small differences to any one 

 arbiter that might be selected. The committee pointed out, in 

 making the recommendation that under the old 

 method just as much time must be spent and as 

 many persons be involved, on a smal claim as on 

 a large one. 



Horace F. Taylor of Buffalo was chairman of 

 the resolutions committee and had with him the 

 following: Charles Hill, New York; E. H. 

 Burgess, Chicago; W. R. Butler, Boston; W. G. 

 Power, Canada; C. V. MeCreight, Pittsburgh; 

 C. H. Barnaby, Greencastle, Ind. 



Several other resolutions other than the ones 

 referred to above were introduced and adopted, 

 and these will be mentioned farther on in this 

 report of the convention. 



President McClure's Address 



The address with which President McClurc 

 opened the convention at 10 o'clock on the 

 morning of March 29 expressed the spirit of 

 iopefulness, the feeling of confidence and the 

 sturdy resolve to push forward against all the 

 bitter obstacles of this trying epoch, with which 

 the members of the National Wholesale Lumber 

 Dealers Association had rallied to Chicago. 

 "We find ourselves today at the ebb-tide 



after a struggle against forces more potent than any which we 

 have ever faced before," said Mr. McCUire, stating in continuance 

 that "we have the satisfaction of knowing that our industry as a 

 whole has not only survived the ordeals of both prosperity and 

 adversity in a creditable manner, but we are fortunately in the 

 strongest position perhaps of any of the basic industries of our 

 country, barring none. 



"Lumber values, under the spur of intensely competitive condi- 

 tions, which are essentially a part of our industry," Mr. McClure 

 asserted, "have adjusted themselves more readily to the changed 

 conditions than is the case, perhaps, with other important com- 

 modities. He stated, however, "that undoubtedh' the pendulum 

 has swung too far and prices have declined to a point below the 

 values justified by reduced cost experience under the new normal 

 conditions." ■ 



Looking into the future he said that "this is a situation which 

 must right itself in time and even a slight increase in the present 

 demand will be reflected quickly in a greater degree of stability 

 in the market. Fundamental conditions indicate that we are now 

 on the threshold of a change for the better, with an upward ten- 

 dency in demand and a strengthening in values. This process of 

 improvement will undoubtedly be slow and gradual in the begin- 

 ning, gaining momentum and force as the months go by. We can 

 congratulate ourselves that our feet are now on solid ground; that 



V/. W. Schupner, Secretary 



we are safe and sound after the sudden fall which our industry 

 recently suffered, and that we have a future which holds for ns 

 great promise of rich rewards for those who have the faith to look 

 upward and the stamina to push forward." 



Proceeding to the questions of governmental extravagance, the 

 inflated and exorbitant state of railroad costs and railroad rates, 

 and the housing problem, Mr. McClure said in connection with this 

 latter that "the fact that lumber has led the industrial field in 

 meeting readjustment conditions is greatly to the credit of the in- 

 dustry." He further said that "as soon as the other elements of 

 cost, including labor and other building materials, follow the ex- 

 ample of the lumber industry, a long step toward the solution of 

 this vital problem (the housing problem) will have heen made." 



Discussing association matters, Mr. McClure said that there 

 had been a suggestion that a branch office be located in Chicago 

 for facility in serving the membership of the association in this 

 territory, particularly in traffic matters and perhaps in information 

 service. This, he said, was a matter "for future consideration, 

 and as this section presents a rich field for membership resources, 

 vi^hich has yet been scarcely touched, it is not beyond the bounds 

 of possibility that a further considerable growth in membership in 

 this direction may warrant and support the ad- 

 ilitional expense involved in the maintenance of 

 such a branch.' ' 



The Secretary's Address 



The report of Secretary Schupner dealt large- 

 ly with the service activities of the association, 

 showing what indespensable and effective serv- 

 ice such departments as the credit bureau, the 

 collection and adjustment department, arbitra- 

 tion and the transportation bureau, together 

 with opinions on commercial disputes, have ren- 

 dered to the members during the past year of 

 constantly fluctuating and always precarious 

 conditions. Especially did he dwell on the ad- 

 vantage gained from the Credit and Collection 

 Departments when the whirlwind of deflation 

 struck the country and the financial status of 

 nearly all business concerns was rapidly read- 

 justed. Through this department the members 

 of the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers As- 

 sociation were enabled to follow the changes in 

 financial rating of their customers and reduce 

 their losses and mistakes to a minimum. In this 

 connection Mr. Schupner said "there have been 

 some failures and there will be more, but so far they have oc- 

 curred almost altogether in a class that developed from the war — 

 opportunists, many of them were — who started with little capital 

 but because of rapidly advancing prices could do business profit- 

 ably, but succumbed when their capital and experience were in- 

 sufficient to meet reverse conditions. On the other hand estab- 

 lished and conservative customers foresaw the inevitable turn and 

 prepared themselves accordingly. ' ' 



Considerable time was given during the afternoon session of 

 March 29 to the national forestry policy question, resulting in the 

 adoption bj- the association of a resolution indorsing the idea of a 

 constructive forestry policy and recommending that the trustees 

 see to it that the association and its members are kept in touch 

 with the progress of national forestry movements. 



This action followed after consideration of a resolution from 

 the resolutions committee that the Capper bill be condemned and 

 the study of the Snell bill be recommended, and resolutions in- 

 troduced from the floor having the effect of indorsing the Snell 

 bill. After discussion the members decided that a definite com- 

 mitment should be left until they have had additional time to con- 

 sider the problem. 



A report on the forestry policy was made by J. Eandall Williams, 

 Jr., chairman of the Forestry Committee, and an address was de- 

 livered by W. L. Hall, former assistant U. S. Forester and Seere- 



