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Negative Aspect

The Merchant Magazine

David Cutler, editor-manager

4500 Campus Drive, suite 476 Newport Beach, Ca. 92660

Dear Mr. Cutler:

Regarding your 'News Briefs', Jan. 1975 issue. three out of four editorials on the economic "state of the nation" are stressilg negative aspects and in one insta:rce was strictly al opiniou.

There is an old adage that certai:ily could be used today. "When you have nothilg good to say, say nothing". A balance in the type of editorial or1 iuly zubject, eqpecially those motivating fufure effects, is the responsibility, it would seem of a:r editor.

Perhaps I'm too seusitive to this because of the prejudice shown in our newspaper industry, but it would seem that 3 positive articles and 1 negative one are a better balance. A11 customers are human ald are bound to react somewhat to excessive "sad" news articles. Business is not ail that bad but if we continue to accentnate the negative it can get that way.

Perhaps you could not find 2 out of 4 but next time write me urd I'11 give you an opinion of aTacomaiumbermarl on such a subject.

Keep "in there" and don't let comments bother you but please remember gloomy declarations of "top econo. mists" could be just as far off as the 'smiley' ones that sell better.

Wm. J. Blessins

Ble ssilg Lrrmb-er S ales

420 N.E. Ravenna Blvd. Seattle, Wa. 98 115 lile don't like bad news any more than you, but we would be failing at our iob if we brought you only the good news and ignored the bad. The important to remember about gloomy predictions from economists is they have been wrong more often thm right, as the general prospeity of the last 25 years proves, but we still can't disregard them. ed.

Latin America

Dear Mr. Cufler:

I have just filished reading the article "Latin America: An oncomi-ng source for hardwoods in the future," by John Osgood, The Merchant, December, 1974.

While I don't disagree with Mr. Osgood i:r general, I think it is important to make the followilg comments.

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1) Hondurian Mahoganyhas always remained in tfie highest of demand. It is the zuppiy which has depleted. When discussing Latin Americal hardwoods, it is necessary to realize tlere are hundreds of species which remail turclassified; example, out of the possible 250+ species in Paraguay, only a fraction have been classified, orfy 25-30 are beilg used commercially. Buyer confidence will be very difficult to establish due to the lack of grading rules and policing associations.

(4) It is importurt to realize business ethics il the U.S. do not necessarily apply to Latin America. If we wish to do business in these couutries we will have to bend our ideals somewhat.

I have been involved in timber ildr.rstry development h Lati:t America for seven years. My activities have been quite varied, all the way from logging to product marketing, this includirg plant location, design and implemeutation.

To me it seems the most important factor i:r dealilg with Latin Americatts is to leam how they thintr; artd do busiless their way aud be wiliing to compromise.

Silcerely, Kenneth M. Sowles University of Idaho College of Forestry Moscow, Id. 83843

Dear Mr. Cutler, Regarding your January iszue editorial "A Littie Perspective, Please" (it is) a good idea, but not much charisma in the writing.

Seiichi Nobe, Pan Asiatic Trading Co., Inc. 2735 E. llth St. Los Angeles, Ca. 90O23

WHAT'S A HOO-HOO?

The following is a copy of a letter from Joe Mayfield, Mendo Mill & Lumber Co., Ukiah, Ca., and cunent president of the Lumber Merchants Association of Northem California, to Dave Marteney, the cutrent president (Snork) of the International Order of Hoo-Hoo. -ed.

Dear Dave:

Reference is made to the news release which appeared tnthe Rochester Post-Bulletin based on a 15 minute interview with Bob Pitz and Eric Canton and the subsequent letter to all intemational officers, directors and affiliate officers. Apparently Mr. Canton and Mr. Pitz are srggesting that the name of onr Internatiorral is undignified, oddball ald not serious-therefore it should be changed to the Forest Indnstry Fraternity.

These genflemen should be informed that the Internatioual Order of HooHoo is the proper and accepted rtarne of the fratemal order of iumbermen. If clnb * 12 wishes to call itself by another name, that is their option.

I am opposed to the idea that our name should be changed simply because one of our affiliate clubs fi:rds itself unable to commnnicate with one reporter.

I would further zuggest that we remind our members that the purpose of our fraternal organization is to promote welfare atd ll,armory within (Please turn to Page 39)

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