TlicTf has just been (mssctl fur iniljli.atum luiiiplete Diliiutcs ot 

 the meetiiii; of the vehicle and luiiilnr rrpn-sciitutives at Chicago 

 on May 18. Since that meeting, at wliifh a mutually satisfactory 

 prugram was outlined, there has been a jjuoil wurkinii; basis for the 

 proiluetiun and supply of hardwood niati'rials used in army wagon 

 construction. 



Throughout the controversy between the hardwood and vehicle 

 interests, II.\iU)\vooD Recoud has not watched as a disinterested by- 

 stander, but has been always ready to do its small part in working 

 for the best interests of the government and its war production 

 and for the protection of the industries which it represents. 



Hardwood Recorb has urged from the beginning that the inter- 

 ests supplying wood for wagon construction are fairly entitled to 

 equal council in determining a fair valuation for their product, and 

 that representative lumbermen were not only eminently entitled 

 to participate equally with wagon manufacturers in all councils 

 having to do with wagon supply, but for the best interests of the 

 government wagon program their counsel was distinctly necessary. 

 This was brought about at the Chicago meeting in May through the 

 appointment of a committee of si.K made up of three prominent 

 wagon men and of three prominent lumbermen. 



Another feature of that meeting was the ironing out of mis- 

 understandings which on their face impugned the motives and spirit 

 of the wagon manufacturers. Happily more frank discussion 

 brought the matter out in its true light and Hardwood Recoiu) is 

 glad to concur in the lumbermen 's complimentary expression of 

 confidence in the motives and patriotism of the representative 

 wagon manufacturers who have formerly had charge of army wagon 

 production. Thus the matter seemingly is disposed of to the satis- 

 faction of all, and it is now up to the wagon people as well as to 

 the lumbermen to exert themselves to the utmost to see that the 

 wagon production program in the future is not threatened by con- 

 troversies between the two industries most necessary to progress. 

 Hardwood Record as heretofore is ready at any time to do what- 

 ever it may be called upon to do to protect the government's inter- 

 ests to any possible degree. 



Incidentally it would seem now that as the use of dimension stock 

 for wagon manufacture is in the interest of production, those rep- 

 resenting the wagon interests should consider dimension produc- 

 tion from all angles, and not as a simple question of lumber produc- 

 tion. A true study of the situation would convince the wagon 

 interests that it is decidedly unfair to criticise the lumber manu- 

 facturers because they have shown no great enthusiasm for whole- 

 sale dimension production. A full understanding of the facts will 

 show clearly why this absence of enthusiasm exists. At the same 

 time such a study would be distinctly helpful to the vehicle people, 

 for if they really desire to purchase dimension stock to the ex- 

 clusion of plank, the.v can readily determine wherein they can help 

 stimulate the production of dimension through recognition of its 

 real value and in other ways. 



The following are accounts of two important meetings of the 

 vehicle and lumber people: First, the Chicago meeting of May 18 

 and the second the first joint meeting held by the new committee 

 in Washington on June 26. The May meeting was attended by the 

 following men: 



Ralph L. Jurdcn. John W. McClure. B. F. Dulwcber and S. M. Nlckey, 

 Mi-iiipliis. Ti-nn., representing American Hardwootl Manufacturers' Assocla 

 tlon ; E. O. Uol)lnson and Fred W. Mowbray, Cincinnati, O.. representing 

 Hardwood Manufacturers' Association ; Thco. Fathauer and F. P. Fish, 

 Chicago. III., representing National Hardwood Lumber Association ; M. E. 

 Thomas. Cndlllac, Mich., representing Northern Hardwood Emergency 

 Bureau : C. S. Brantlngham, Rockford, HI., G. A. Ranney, Chicago, 111., 

 vr. II. Stnclthousc. Springfield, Hi., F. R. Todd and W. L. Clark, Moline, 

 111.. R. V. Board. Louisville, Ky., A. B. Thiclens, South Bend. Ind., repre- 

 senting Xntioniil Implement & Vehicle Association ; Col. W. S. Wood, Wash- 

 ington, D. C, of the U. S. Quartermaster's Department, representing the 

 sovernmcnt. 



Upon motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, E. 



O. Robinson w:is elected chairman and V. R. Todd secretary. 



The chairman cjilled upon Mr. Urantingham for a statement of 

 the purpose of the meeting. 



Mr. Urantingham made the following statement: 

 That tile niwling had been called as a rcBult of a conference between 

 Wni. Bulterworth, R. L. Jurden and J. W. McClure and correspondence 

 that had followed this conference, which indicated that a misunderstand- 

 ing existed between the representatives of the hardwood lumber industry 

 and of the National Inipli'incnt and Vehicle Association, ami particularly 

 the members tliereof having to do with the manufacture of army wagons, 

 regarding the price reconiinendation of the purchase coniinlttce of the 

 National Implement and Vehicle Association, the estimate submitted by 

 the manufacturers to the liovernmcnt, and the costs ot said manufac- 

 turers ; that as a result of this misunderstanding and the (act that the 

 American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association's special committee had 

 not l>een fully supplied with the facts In relation thereto, It seemed wise 

 that a meeting should be held to clear up the situation : 



Further, that the American haniwood committee's report of March 2S, 

 1918, had led to charges in certain publications that wagon manufacturers 

 had prollteered upon government wagon contracts ; that it was desired 

 to submit to the hardwood lumbermen facts and figures which would 

 show that no such profltcerlng had occurred, and permit them to make 

 any Investigations that might be necessary to ascertain the facts in the 

 premises, to the end that If it were found that the i)Ositlon of the wagon 

 manufacturers had been misunderstood the matter should be cleared up 

 in the minds of those who might have drawn the wrong conclusions from 

 said report of March 28. 



Mr. Jurden made the following statement as to the causes lead- 

 ing to the appointment of this committee, and its investigations: 



That the activities of the so-called wagon and vehicle purchasing com- 

 mittee, now known as the Woodstock committee, were finally called to the 

 attention of the American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association by their 

 members. CertJiin firms who were members of the National Implement 

 and Vehicle Association, and avowedly acting under the instructions of the 

 wagon and vehicle purchasing committee, were sending out letters to the 

 lumber manufacturers making offers for hardwood lumber and stating 

 that the prices offered were fixed by the purchasing committee for the 

 government. Many of these wagon manufacturers stated in their letters 

 that the prices fixed by the purchasing committee were government-flxed 

 prices and further stated that they were not permitted by the purchasing 

 committee to pay more than the prices fixed by that committee. In one 

 instance, one ot these firms stated that it they paid in excess of the prices 

 fixed by the purchasing committee, they would be subject to prosecution ; 

 That every effort was made to create the impression in the minds of 

 the hardwood lumber producers that the maximum prices offered were 

 government-fixed prices. Investigations through the proper channels at 

 Washington developed the fact that the government had not fixed prices 

 on hardwood lumber ; 



That at a conference held in Chicago l)etween the purchasing committee 

 and a committee representing the Southern Hardwood Emergency Bureau 

 and a large number of lumbermen, efforts were made to reach an agree- 

 ment as to the fair market price ot hardwood lumber at that time ; this 

 effort failed, as the purchasing committee took the position that the 

 maximum prices they had fixed should prevail. Offers were made l)y the 

 lumbermen then, and at later periods, that the lumbermen would obligate 

 themselves to furnish whatever amount of hardwood lumber might be 

 needed, at whatever price the wagon manufacturers had represented to 

 the government as their cost. This offer was not accepted ; 



That an effort was then made by the lumbermen, through the director 

 ot lumber and the War Industries Board, to ascertain the cost ot lumber 

 used by the vehicle manufacturers in obtaining their contracts from the 

 government. These efforts were successful only after the matter was 

 placed before the Quartermaster General, who ruled that the prices to be 

 paid for raw material were those prices used by the vehicle manufacturers 

 as their cost when they obtained their contracts. Firms who were mem- 

 bers of this committee placed private contracts for large amounts ot hard- 

 wood lumber with various lumbermen, and these contracts were made in 

 the open market when it was reported to the purchasing committee that 

 the prices on these private condiKfs wire In I'xi.'ss nf Uinsc prices fixed 

 as maximum prices by the |i>)i '<•'■ \' "1'^ 



by these firms to cancel their !< 



to the effect that on account 



ing higher than those prices i ud 



vehicle purchasing committee, lli:it th.y w.-r.- rmiiii.-llicl to < :mc.-I the 

 contracts. The lumbermen denied the right ot this purchasing committee 

 to in any manner interfere with existing private contracts, and likewise 

 denied the right of this purchasing committee to fix prices on hardwood 

 lumber, particularly when they were the buyers of that commodity. 



That in order to ascertain the tacts, a committee was appointed by the 

 American Hardwood Manufacturers' Association to go to Washington and 



—23— 



