IE ll.ptr Ex iffiw:' "^il:u lArrox

Increased production from new modern plants assures prompt delivery on both Celotex Rock Wool Batts and Celotex Hand Pouring Home Insulation.

publibans in keeping some of the radicalism out of it. ** fndeed, many respected commentators in Washington are of the opinion that Mr. Truman would like to see a bill passed far less radical than the bill norv before the Congress. While he lambasted the Taft-Hartley Act all over the land before election, and was in duty bound to propose legislation in line with his expressed opinions, there is room for belief that he doesn't actually want the employer class kicked around and deprived of the rights given them in the Taft-Hartley Act. And it seems very doubtful that the new Congress, obedient though it seems to the Presidential wishes, ri'ill pass the law as it started out. The Wagner Act practically wiped out all the rights of employers before the law. Mr; Roosevelt knew that there are many times as nrrany employes as there are employers, so' in his drive for votes and poreer, he stomped on the employer throughout his administration; thus keeping the depression alive until the war came along to erase it.

Does Mr. Truman, ,hi,.l y:",;ursue that same philosophical road? There is much reason to doubt it. In the first place, he is no longer chasing votes. He is sitting in the driver's seat for four more years, and could well afford to at least give the employer some sort of fair deal. With the dual job on hand of fighting infation yet dodging possible deflation, he need not be a Solomon to understand that the men who meet the payrolls, and make the investments, and put and keep men at work, are very important people in this nation. If the new labor legislation were passed as handed to Congress, enployers would instantly become relatively unimportant folks in this land, with little incentive to "do unto others."

I believe that is why many intelligent commentators iay that Mr. Truman does not want the Taft-Hartley law repealed and thi old Wagner Act brought to life entirely. That certainly would be my opinion. We need business; and industry, and payrolls as we never needed them before, to furnish the enormous Governmental budget and supply the new taxes that are demanded. Can anyone be so shortsighted as not to understand that assaults upon business will do our economy great harm? I, personally, have not the slightest doubt, that restoration of the old Wagner Act would put thousands, yes, tens of thousands of business units on the sidelines "for the duration." Indeed, it would be difficult to understand the mentality of a business man who would deliberately enter business and risk his capital under such conditions.

I think Mr. Truman must understand this. He iaw what happened to the stock market the day after election, and the conditions that still prevail in investments. Our economy today, showing a general slackening in every direction, is in no position to undertake such hazards as would come from deliberately depressing the business elements of the nation. Can you doubt that?

The proposed labor law now before Congress would do away with the present ban against the closed shop, under which workers must join a union to get a job; it would do away with the requirement that before a union shop can be agreed to, rtrorkers must vote for it in a legal election; would do away with the requirement for labor union leaders to take an oath they are not Communists; would do away with the present laws against mass picketing, refusal to bargain, featherbedding, and excessive union fees; would do avray with the Governmerit's right to prevent strikes by court injunction; would eliminate the right of employers to use free speech with their employes; would remove the right of employers to sue unions for damages; would ban the right of employes to ask for an election to do away with existing bargaining agents, would no longer require unions to file financial statements; it would continue to be unfair for' employers to agree to bargaln *ith a union; it would continue unfair for employers to fire emplcryes for union activities. ***

The new law would continue in force a few modified curbs on unions. Jurisdictional strikes would be banned, but the Government could file a court suit to stop a jurisdictional strike only after an arbitration board had found the union guilty. Two types of secondary boycotts would be eliminated under the nevr law. With regard to a national emergency, if the President finds that such an emergency exists he can issue a proclamation to that effect and call on the parties hot to stop work. Then a fact-finding board has thirty days to recommend a settlement; but after they have done so the settlement would not be binding' Liitle protection for the public is found in this provision. ***

Besides the above stated changes, the new law would forbid the passage of state laws banning closed shops. fnnumerable amendments to the proposed new labor law have already been filed. A battle grim and great is lining up. The fate of all business, all industry, and of private enterprise for the next four years is undoubtedly hanging in the balan'ce. Tom Paine's remark that "these are times that try men's souls" could well be repeated now. For who would care to make an investment or meet a payroll if the present proposed law should be passed?

The other day I heard " rJut" broadcast report that the black people of a West African village had become Christians, organized a church, and taken up a collection for missionary work after the manner of Christian churches; and, after much deliberation they decided to open their missionary branch IN CHICAGO, as being more in need of civilizing influences than any place they could think of' Maybe they had something there ! Looks like this whole country is badty in need of more enlightened thinking !

Beeping Tnack

We enjoy'your magazine very much and find the notations on various changes in the industry most helpful in keeping track of old friends and business associates.

Fir-Tex Loth is F.oth o building moleriol ond insulotion in one '.: :, boord. lt is noiled d.irecily to studs ond ioists, snugly fitted so os lo give on ,nbrol$.',titr"o of insuloiion. Especiolly mode io receive ond hold plosier. Size: l8-in.i,{8-in. Avoiloble now in severol thicknesses in ploin or ospholt-cooted on b.ggk to form o vopor borrier. Requires no speciol skill or tools. All Fir-Tex'tllrir,totino Boord producfs ore termite proof.

o INSULATIO!.S'PLUS GREATER BRACING STRENGTH

Fir-Tex Sheqthing'replocgs ordinory wood sheothing ond bu.ilding poper. Seol3'h$.,les ogoinsl heot, cold, wind, dusl, noise.

Fir-Tex Insuloriner$,ord Compony, Portlond, Oregon.

Newport, Oregon, Now One of Major Pacific Coast Ports

Newport, Oregon, is now one of the major Pacific Coast ports after recent ,completion of extensive dredging and channel clearance operations by the Corps of Army Engineers. Already this Yaquina Bay harbor is becoming impGrtant to the movement of Pacific Northwest lumber in inter-coastal, trans-Pacific ar-rd coastlvise trade.

Late last month (Jan. 25) the army transport Pontus H. lloss took on a lumber consignment for Korea, the first ship ever to call at Newport for a direct off-shore cargo. Earlier in January the Elmer A. Sperry of the Quaker Line loacled at Yaquina Bay for Atlantic Coast ports.

Both ships lifted lumber from the C. D. Tohnson Lum- ber Corp. mill at Toledo, adjoining Yaquina Bay, one of the largest mills in the Northwest, according to lumber firm's Portland of,fice in the American Bank building.

In February the Calmar Line's freighter Portmar is scheduled to load 3,000,000 board feet of lumber for Atlantic Coast ports, according to E,rnest E. Johnson, vice presiclent in cl'rarge of company sales. Johnson said a ship r,r'ill call irr N{arch to lift lumber for Australia, two ships for the Atlantic Coast and one {or Korea.

"Opening of the Nervport harbbr to large ships gives Oregon one more port from which to ship its famous lumber direct to r.vorld ports," Johr-rson said. "Our firm is prepared to make full use of the improved facilities."

The Johnson firm's extensive timber holdings, principally old grorvth Douglas fir, are centered in Lincoln cottnty on the Oregon coast.

Conlerence

The annual trvo-day conference of the Copeland Lumber Company was held last month at the l\{ultnomah Hotel in Portland, Ore., with managers of the 42 branch yards in attendance. The meeting l,as in charge of J. W. Copeland, president, and I)on Graham, credit manager. Speakers included W. C. Bell, secretary-manager of the \Alestern Retail Lumbermen's Association, Seattle, aud members of the Copeland staff.

A special feature lvas the induction of trr,o managers into the Copeland 20-Year Club, H. O. Axtell, Seattle, and M. E. Treadgolcl, Santa Ana.

Sells Sawmill

Charles Smith has announced the sale of his sarvrnill at Green Acres, about trvo miles rvest of Philomath, Ore., to Witham & Beverls of Philomath, u,ho rvill take possession February 15. Smith plans to build a new mill adjacent to the Fld Albertsen planer on the Nervport highway east of the \Iar1"s River bridge.

New Scrn Fernando Ycrd

ilTTERNls

"PLASTER WORKABILITY" is as important in the manufacturing of plaster lath as in BLUE DIAMOND PLASTER. This invaluable characteristic is a gift of Nature. Our gypsum deposis at Blue Diamond, Nevada, possess "PLASTER I(ORKABILITY" to a high degree.

The Blue Diamond Plaster Lath production line is equipped with high speed automatic machinery of latest design and is synchronized from beginning to end.

The 6nest materials and machinery are no better than the men who use them. Under standards set for them by men with over a qu,rtter century of continuous experience manufacnrriog Blue Diamond products, skilled workers, aided by laboratory control methods, guard this long production line against imperfection.

A neu' lumber yard has been openecl in S:rn Iiernando, at 1810 First Street, namecl the Nlulherrorr I-umber Cornpany. President-manag'er L. V. NIulherron r,vas formerly active in the lumber bttsiness in Los Angeles.

Business Chcrrt

Dyke Bros., Little Rock, Ark., has brought out the 1949 edition of a long-range business chart, "Business Booms and Depressions," sholving the past and present trend of taxes, business activity, national income, and commodities. With each subject shown in a different color, this chart provides interesting study of conditions from the year 7794 up to 1949.