40 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



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Mr. Palmer then read a resolution tendered by F. I. Nichols of 

 Nichols & Cox, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. Palmer stating tliat tho 

 committee did not recommend its adoption. 



Brictlr, tlic resolution called for what Mr. Nichols described as an 

 improvement in tho character of service rendered by tho deputy 

 insi>cctors employed by the association. This improvement, accord- 

 ing to tho resolution, was to bo realized by tho maintenance of a 

 school of instruction to bo established at the headquarters of the 

 National Hardwood Lumber Association, which school would be 

 equipped with suitable space to carry samples of from 500 to 1,000 

 feet each of the various kinds of hardwoods, these samples to be as 

 near the lino of grades as possible, each board to be numbered and 

 grade properly recorded after being passed upon by tho inspection 

 rules committee. 



The resolution further provided for the appointment of an assist- 

 ant chief inspector to have direct charge of this school and to 

 instruct and examine all inspectors of the association, those not being 

 able to inspect within two per cent of the recorded lumber not 

 being allowed to perform association work until they had further 

 perfected themselves. Examinations should take place once a year. 

 Mr. Nichols moved the adoption of tliis resolution, but after 

 considerable discussion it was finally referred to the board of 

 directors. 



President Barnaby asked F. S. Underbill of Philadelphia to speak 

 briefly regarding a special membership arrangement of the national 

 Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Underbill said that under this new 

 arrangement the National Hardwood Lumber Association is entitled 

 to its association membership and twenty-five individual member- 

 ships. This is the aesult of a campaign for indi\-idual members, 

 5,000 such memberships being open. The members are permitted to 

 attend meetings, but cannot vote individually. He said that up to tho 

 first of June seven members had applied for the individual member- 

 ships and eighteen more were necessary. He asked for individual 

 subscriptions on this basis at $25 a year. As a result seven or eight 

 additional members were secured. 



Secretary Fish then read a letter from the American Forestry 

 Association, issuing an invitation to the mid-summer meeting of 

 that organization to be held at Chautauqua on July 9 and 10. 



President Barnaby then made the formal announcement of the 

 new officers and directors to be elected. 



John M. Woods moved that a committee of five be appointed to 

 bring in the names of seven directors to serve for three years. John 

 M. Woods, J. W. Dickson, T. M. Brown, C. A. Goodman and P. Moore 

 were appointed. 



W. W. Knight of Indianapolis moved that balloting for the office 

 of president be made by written ballot. 



President Barnaby then introduced a question which was earnestly 

 and heatedly discussed for an half hour. It seems that there is a 

 specific provision in the by-laws that voting by proxy will not be 

 permitted. It seems that there had been considerable discussion 

 and difference of opinion as to exactly who constituted a proxy. 

 One side maintained that any representative of a firm, not actually 

 a member of that firm, is a proxy and not entitled under the by-laws 

 to vote. The other faction maintained most emphatically that any 

 accredited representative of any member of the association had the 

 unquestioned right to cast the ballot of that member, and after a 

 heated debate on this question it was finally decided that that was 

 the case. It eventually turned out that this discussion was futile 

 as the election of the new president was unanimous, the nomination 

 being closed after his name was suggested. 



Notwithstanding the fact that there had been up to the very hour 

 of the election of the president, active campaigning by the partisans 

 of both of the candidates, this campaigning being done on rather 



elaborate linos, it proved when the actual timo for nominationi 

 arrived that the preliminary work really wont for nothing. 



President Unrnnby culled for nominations for tho ofUro of proai- 

 dent for tho ensuing year, and then very mucli to tho surpritio and 

 amusement of the convention, there was an entire absonco uf action 

 of nny kiml on tho part of tho adherents to either faction in tho 

 election. Tho plans of both parties seemed to go somewhat awry, 

 and finally H. R. Humjdiries of the Aberdeen Lumber Company, 

 Pittsburgh, arose with a smilo and looking around in a questioning 

 sort of a manner, proposed the name of E. V. Babcock of Pittaburgh 

 as president. 



This nomination was seconded by Juno Allen of Memphis. J. L. 

 Kendall of Pittsburgh spoko in behalf of Mr. Babcock, telling of 

 his unusual record and tho unquestionable proof of his extraordi- 

 nary ability. 



After Mr. Kendall's talk, it was expected that tho partisans of tho 

 other proposed candidate would nominate their man and fight the 

 issue as far as possible on tho floor of the convention prior to the 

 election, but as minuto after minute went 'by and nobody arose, a 

 murmur of distinct amusement spread throughout tho hall and finally 

 tho whole convention was voicing a humorous expression of the 

 unexpected development. 



Finally F. A. Diggins of Cadillac arose and moved that the nom- 

 inations be closed, which motion was immediately carried. 



On motion, the secretary was instructed to cast the ballot of the 

 association for E. V. Babcock as president, and an interesting con- 

 test was thus tamely wound up. 



Secretary Fish then read an announcement from John M. Pritch- 

 ard of Memphis, secretary of the Gum Lumber Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation, requesting that all those interested in tho production of gum 

 lumber meet him in his room in the hotel after the convention 



President Barnaby appointed John M. Woods and F. A. Diggins as 

 the committee to bring in the newly-elected president. These two 

 gentlemen adjourned to the corridor immediately. 



Before Mr. Babcock appeared, Mr. Barnaby voiced himself briefly 

 in appreciation of the support he has received during his term of 

 oflice by the secretary, fellow-olBcers and members of the association. 



Mr. Babcock then appeared escorted by Mr. Woods and Mr. 

 Diggins. 



Mr. Babcock voiced himself briefly, but forcibly, in outlining 

 what might be called his platform for the year. He told of the need 

 for association patriotism, likening the insi)iration of such patriotism 

 to the inspiration which results in national and state patriotism and 

 municipal pride. Mr. Babcock expressed himself as being opposed 

 to changes in grading rules other than those which appeared to be 

 absolutely necessary. 



In commenting of the importance of the lumber industry, Mr. Bab- 

 cock spoke as follows: 



The manufacturing lumber Industry of tbc United States employs about 

 785,000 men. Its manufactured products arc valued at $1,100,000,000. 

 The products of the great Iron and steel Industry of the country are 

 valued at slightly less than one billion dollars. 



The business that we are engaged In Is no mean business. The National 

 Hardwood Lumber Association witb Its 900 members is the greatest 

 organization of Its kind In the civilized world, having for Its main purpose 

 the standardizing of Inspection rules for hardwood lumber and the grading 

 of lumber according to those rules. These rules have now become the 

 recognized standard rules of the United States, Canada and all other 

 markets. Occasional changes In the rules and the establishing of new 

 grades arc necessary, but frequent and continual changing of the rules 

 should be discouraged by this association. 



Its membership Is greater and It Is more prosperous and beneficial, 

 both to the public and Its members, than any other lumber organization. 

 It has been and will be the policy of this organization to encourage hearty 

 cooperation between the manufacturers and wholesalers of hardwood lum- 

 ber, for this association believes that one Is dependent upon the other — 

 that they are inter-dependent one upon the other. 



The association should encourage the selection of Its annual convention 

 cities at our great manufacturing, distributing or consuming centers 

 or districts. 



With Mr. Babcock in the chair, the nominations for vice-presidents 

 were then opened. 



W. W. Knight nominated J. V. Stimson for first vice-president. 



