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f r-eveN DEALERS from LMA battended our National Lumber And Building Material Dealers Association annual Conference With Congress, March l5 - 16.

For those of you that have not attended this conference you have missed one of the most interesting and important activities of the year. Our group visited our two state Senators and seventeen Representatives. During the past five years, I have seen the interest of our Congressmen change from one of tolerance of our industrv problems to one of keen interest.

Wh-e!, you can visit a Congressman along with a group of y.our fellow dealers, in that Congressman's Washington-Of- fice, you have his attention. When we return to Waihington we do not have a constituent from each area of 43 Repre- sentatives and 2 Senators but we make it clear that we are representing dealers in all areas of the state. Every dealer owes a great deal to those LMA dealers who traveled to Washington at their time and expense to represent the industry. Those attending were, Joe Mayfield, chairman, national legislation; Herb Eaton; Clyde Strouss, Bruce pohle; 9ordon Knott; Merle and John Mensinger; Chal Cross, Kern Hunewill;Harry Mendenhall, LMA's exec. v.p. and I.

Wc break our group into teams and call upon as many of our Congressmen as time will permit. Every dealer must remember that regardless of whether the Congressman from your .district is of your political party or wheiher you voted for him, he ls your representative and must consider vour thoughts. In most cases the Congressman from your disirict will be responsive to your problems since the voter of today does not follow hard party lines but more frequently votes along either liberal or conservative lines regardless of party affiliation. Our Congressmen are aware of this and do noi know if you voted for them or if they can get your next vote.

There were three issues that we discussed with our Congressmen. All dealers in attendance received a thoroueh briefing on these issues from our national association pri-or to visiting the Hill.

Of critical importance to us is the lack of available timber from the National Forests. Most of you are aware of the efforts we have made in the past to enCourage Congress to pass forestry legislation that would insure a perpetual timber supply. Although this legislation was passed Congress neglected to allocate funds for forest management and harvesting. The Forest Service itself has placed 78 million acres of land in the Wilderness study (RARE II). These forests are shut off completely from harvesting and additional_acreage is being added to the study. We encouraged our Congressmen to act immediately to complete the study this year, to determine which lands wil[ actually be placed in the wilderness program and to return th-e remaining forests for harvesting.

Few if any Congressmen realize that during the next two years the allowable cut in those areas of forest still open for harvesting will be completed with no further timber available. Gentlemen, we will be out of timber. Add to this a reduction in available Canadian timber and the agreement our government made with Japan to pro- vide timber for 1.5 million homes in Japan (helps ofTset the balance of payments) and we will be faced with the highest lumber prices we have ever imagined.