North ernCalifornia Dealers Hold Annual Convention At Yosemite National Park

Russ Stevens Elected President

The Lumber l\Ierchants Association of Northern California held their l3th Annual Convention at the Ahrvanhee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, April 13 and 14. There rvere about 280 members and their rvives n'ho registered. The rveather was ideal for the time ol the year, and a wonderful time rvas enjoyed by all, along u'itl-r some most informative and inspiring speeches.

Provision r,vas made for the ladies for sight-seeing, bridge, for it rvas seven vears ago that he addressed them at Pleasanton. canasta and teas. They also attended the business sessions and dinner dances in the evening and enjoyed rvith the men a very fine entertainment program rvhich clirnaxed on the evening of the banquet u'ith a variety shotv composed of talent brought from San Francisco.

The theme of Lieutenant Governor Goods'in Knight's address rvas, s'hat is not good for California and rvhat is good. \\rhat is not good. he declared, is more government in business-the opening rvedge for socialism. The rvelfare state is the seductive banner under which this ideology creeps in, he said.

At the board of directors meeting Russ ,Stevens, A. F. Stevens Lumber Co. of Healdsburg, rvas elected president of the Association. Charles Shepard, of Friend & Terry Lumber Co., Sacramento, was elected vice president. Everett King, King Lumber Co., Bakersfield, rvas re-elected treasurer. and Jack F. Pomeroy, executive vice-president, re-elected.

Mondav morning u'as the period of registration aqd the time to greet old friends. After lunch President I. E. Horton, South City Lumber Co., South San Francisco, opened the meeting with a speech in rvhich he thanked the assembled members for their cooperatoin during his administration, assuring his hearers that with continued enthusiastic support the Lumber Merchants Association 's'ould continue to grorv and prosper.

Mr. Horton then turned tl.re meeting oler to Wendell Robie, Auburn Lumber Co., Auburn, rvho introduced the guest of honor. Mr. Robie told the assembled retailers that Hon. Goodrvin Knight, Lieutenant Governor of the State of California, was not unknolvn to their group as a speaker,

At one time, he said, he rvas called upon by a college president to sav a good rvord for business men. The students had been so conditioned by the radical teachings of the day that thev looked dorvn on competition, capitalism and private initiative, but he did his best to defend what he knerv was good, and u'hich furnished the very livelihood through taxes of their detractors.

The greatest good for California is more and more things for more people, and this can be accomplished only through the system of private enterprise and less government in business. He spoke neither as a Republican nor as a Democrat but for rvhat he thought to be the best interest of the people.

The next speaker rvas Gerrv Hoppe, sales promotion manager, Insulite Division. I\finnesota & Ontario Paper Company, I\finneapolis, I\Iinn. The title of his talk rvas, "Lucky You-Four }Iore Leaves for More Profit." An enlarged iour-leaf clover s1'mbolized the luck rvhich u'as going to the retailer rrho s'as alert to his suggestions. In explaining the origin of his mission, he said that some time back it rvas thought it rvould be rvise to find out rvhat most retailers rvanted to knorv. A study rvas made of 40 ans\\'ers to a survey, and it rvas found that they rvanted to know rvhat dealers rvere doing in other parts of the country. The reasons for success of outstanding retailers Nere com-