March 2T<. i;)|c; 



W. W, KNIGHT. IXDIAX.vrOLIS, IND., NKW Ci. C. EDWAKDS, OTTAWA. OXT., RETIRING 



I'RESIDEXT. ■ PRESIDENT. 



B. F. !!ETTS, PltlL-VDELriHA. PA.. SECOND 

 VICE-PRESIDENT. 



. X)S0g:.t}ty. \ y.\:;;^yx>iTOO5ty.\^^^ 



TSlatJonal Wholesalers^ Annual 



More than three hundred lumbermen attended the twenty-fourth 

 annual meeting of the National Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Asso 

 ciation at the Bellevue-Stratford hotel, Philadelphia, on Wednes- 

 day and Thursday, March 15 and lO. The meeting wound up with 

 a banquet on Thursday evening, at which George Wentworth Carr, 

 a widely-known lawyer, aimed a scathing address against "the 

 peace-at-any-priee party;" Sir George Foster, Minister of Trade 

 and Commerce of Canada, advocated business intercourse between 

 the two countries as the best guarantee of lasting friendliness of 

 both Governments; Congressman S. D. Fess of Ohio, advocated a 

 government subsidy as the surest safeguard of the American 

 merchant marine; and Congressman J. Hampton Moore, of Phila- 

 delphia, told many details of the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Asso- 

 ciation. 



The committee which looked after the men visitors on behalf 

 of the Philadelphia Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association was 

 comprised of J. S. Williams, Jr., B. C. Currie, T. B. Butter, Jr., 

 A. J. Cadwallader, T. B. Hammer and R. B. Rayner. Those on . 

 the ladies' reception committee were Mrs. B. C. Currie, Mrs. 

 T. B. Rutter, Mrs. A. J. Cadwallader, Mrs. T. B. Hammer, Mrs. 

 R. B. Rayner, Mrs. G. F. Craig, Mrs. B. F. Betts, Mrs. J. R. Wil-^ 

 liams and Mrs. J. R. Williams, Jr. On Wednesday evening the 

 local wholesalers gave a double-headed entertainment and supper. 

 A smoker for the visiting men was held in the ballroom of the 

 hotel and simultaneously a musical for the visiting ladies was given 

 in the redroom. 



W. W. Knight of Indianapolis, was elected president; N. E. 

 Preisch of North Tonawanda, first vice-president; B. F. Betts, 

 Philadelphia, second vice-president; Henry Cape and E. F. Ferry 

 were re-elected treasurer and secretary respectively. Trustees 

 elected to serve until 1918 follow: G. C. Edwards, Ottawa, Ontario; 

 Charles Hill, New York ; H. I. George, Buffalo ; C. I. Millard, 

 Norfolk; T. A. Washington, Nashville; C. A. Goodman, Marinette, 

 Wis.; J. W. McClure, Memphis. Trustees elected to serve until 

 1919: F. R. Babcock, Pittsburgh; L. L. Barth, Chicago; J. R. 

 Williams, Philadelphia; R. L. Palmer, Boston; T. M. Brown, Louis- 

 ville; Horace F. Taylor, Buffalo; W. S. Harlan, Lockhart, Ind. 



When the convention opened Wednesday morning Howard B. 

 French, president of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, ex- 

 tended the hospitality of the city to the visitors. Alba B. John- 



son, president of the Baldwin Locomotive W^orks, was the first 

 speaker. He said in part: 



Your association was the first large body of the kind to pass a resolu- 

 tion urging liberal treatment of the railroads by Congress. Public opinion 

 has now followed suit and it Is realized that both the people and the 

 railroads need protection against the many conflicting laws of the various 

 states. The regulation of all commerce should be under the control of 

 the Federal government. The Interstate Commerce Commission should 

 have enlarged scope and there should be regional sub-commissions to give 

 prompt hearing to complaints from all parts of the country. 



The present Congress will be aslted to consider increased expenses of 

 the railroads for wages, supplies, etc., in the fixing of rates so that the 

 roads may obtain the capital necessary to keep up with the traffic needs 

 of the country. Though the supreme court has held that insurance is 

 not commerce, yet insurance is a commodity that is necessary to com- 

 merce aod should have the protection of Federal control, not be left to 

 the mercy of lawmakers of the fort.v-nine states to be overtaxed in an 

 unscientific fashion, persecuted and driven. Public opinion is learning 

 that prosperity comes from a proper understanding of the needs of the 

 big business interests and a sensible cooperation by all. 



Another address of welcome was made by Director of Public 

 Safety William H. Wilson, representing the mayor of Philadelphia. 

 He also touched upon the question of legislation, saying that his 

 experience in the Pennsylvania legislature had shown him the 

 tendency of lawmakers to over-legislate business. 



Address of President 

 J. Randall Williams Jr., formally welcomed the convention on 

 behalf of the Philadelphia Wholesale Lumber Dealers' Association. 

 W. W. Knight responded on behalf of the National association. 

 The convention then got down to business in earnest, and Presi- 

 dent Gordon C. Edwards read his annual report. Among other 

 things Mr. Edwards said: 



A year ago the conditions which prevailed were such that your board 

 of trustees, after careful consideration, was unanimously of the opinion 

 that it would not be advisable now In the interests of the association 

 to hold our annual meeting and banquet. A vote of our members was 

 obtained by letter, the result of which upheld its contention. 



In order to comply with our constitution and by-laws a meeting of the 

 board was held and the then existing orticers, trustees and committees 

 were, by unanimous vote, continued in offices for another year. 



It is hardly necessary to say that the last two years have been perhaps 

 the most unusual this association has experienced. The conditions which 

 have existed have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the standard 

 of interest desirable, but notwithstanding same, It is a pleasure to be 

 able to say that our secretarial staff has mot the condition and we have 

 weathered the storm and may now look forward to the future with con- 



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