Southern

California Retail Lumber Association Makes 38th Annual Convention One Hard to Beat Convention in Picto""t-

As newly elected President Wayne F. Mullin took the gavel from retiring President Ben W. Bartels April 14 at the conclusion of business sessions at the 38th annual convention and trade show of the Southetn -California Retail Lumber Association, he said, "I believe this convention has enjoyed b^e^tter programs, heard better speakers, and seen a greater attendance than at any other meeting in our 38 years!" Certainly no one in attendance could quarrel with that.

The 1955 convention, staged April 12-14 at the Aml April iZ-t: Ambassador hotel in Los Angeles under the direction of ExecutiveVice-presidentorrieW.Hamilton,waSacon-fu structive meeting from the Kick-off Luncheon Tuesday noon till the last toot of Freddy Martin's orchestra at the dinner dance Thursday night.

Playing a large part in the success of this year's convention also were the SCRLA officers : President Bartels, Vice-presidents Mullin and Hal A. Brown, and Treasurer C. Gilmore Ward. The directors were H. Park Arnold, Ralph N. Baker, L. A. Beckstrom, Jr., Asa E. Fickling, Thomas J. Fox, C. Dungan Gibson, Rexford L. Hall, Robert R. James, Chester C. Knight, Lathrop K. Leishman, George Lounsberry, Russell H. McCoy, Harry C. McGahey, Wiley O. Manning, Edrvard W. Mayer, Everett C: Parker and Robert C. Witter.

New Officers Elected

The nerv slate of of;ficers for the 1955-56 year had been elected the morning of April 12 at a board meeting in the Ambassador's Lido room and were announced to the audience at the kick-off luncheon.

They are Wayne F. Mullin, president; Hal A. Brown and C. Gilmore Ward, vice-presidents, and Harry C. Mc: Gahey, treasurer. Orrie Hamilton was, of course, re-elected executive vice-president in continuing recognition of his successful administration of that office and as the association's secretary-manager.

Registration officially opened the 38th convention at 10 a.m., April 12, and the final attendance figure was weli more than 2,000. The exhibit booths and product displays were thrown open at 10:30 in the Embassy and Colonial rooms of the hotel, and distributors and manufacturers of the outstanding displays were rewarded with excellent participation at their booths during all three convention days and nights.

The exhibitors, who are listed elsewhere in this story, outdid themselves this year with the compactness and completeness of their handsome product displays, and many sincere compliments were paid the courteous and rvellversed executives and staffs who manned the booths. They lined the walls surrounding the luncheon and dinner tables in the Embassy room, spilled over into the entrance to that room and filled the large Colonial room as well' The huge dining hall was filled to capacity for the kickoff luncheon. The service and program went smoothly witl-r a menu of baked ham. President Bartels called this first open meeting rvith friendly and sincere words of welcome and turned the program over to Vice-president Brown. After a particularly apt and carefully prepared invocation by Dr. J. Lester Harnish, Ternple Baptist church, Los Angeles, Mr. Brown introduced the only speaker of the luncheon, Roy Wenzlick, president, Roy Wenzlick & Co., St. Louis.

Mr. Wenzlick, who spoke on "Outlook for Real Estate and Construction," was optimistic on these two points, he began, as well as retail sales and construction costs.

"The present boom has lasted two years longer than any real-estate boom in histofy," he declared. "Now the acute part of the housing shortage is over, vacancies are ' very slowly increasing. Rents are,rising and vacancies increasing because of building material prices.

:"But residential rents are only 48/o of what we'd expect them to be," he said. "The low-priced units will go up and higher-priced units are going to drop." He believed the average of all would go higher, and said the recent housing rise was due to easy credit for real estate.

Wenzlick was against the Housing Act of 1954, which he called "a subsidy of the federal government to housing agents, building material dealer, lender and agent." Later speakers at the convention made a point to disagree with Wenzlick over this and other statements.

"The next.big constrdction boom is due in 1962-63, rising to its peak in the late 60s," the speaker predicted, pointing out that the marriage rate is falling despite the recent increases in population. Going to his large charts, Wenzlick showed the periods of readjustment between real estate booms.

"In the census of 197Q" he declared, "Los Angeles will be the second largest city in the U. S., having passed Chicago along the way in the next 15 years."

Wenzlick conducted a very lively question-and-answer period from the well-informed audience following his formal talk. This period brought out his remarks that the price of lumber will stay firm and "get a little higher," but he believes there may be some softening toward the end of this year because money will be harder to get.

Roy Wenzlick made an excellent appearance and his talk, if sometimes controversial, was applauded genuinely by his stimulated audience.

Hal Brown next introduced Jim and Mildred Mulcay, "Wizards of the Harmonica," for a splendid musical interlude, after which the luncheonrs attendance prizes were awarded. The first session was -dismissed after 3:00 p.m. to visit the equipment and products exhibit.

Open House-Trade Show

An open house for the trade show was staged at 7:3O Tuesday evening. Dealers, their ladies, purchasing agents, and yard personnel and invited guests were invited to examine the very u'orthy exhibit booths. There was a good attendance at this special free event for lumberyard employes, at which Director Bob James presided.

Refreshments were served at the open house in the Embassy room and a swell program of entertainment was arranged to mark it as an unusual part of the convention. Stellar acts enjoyed by the crowd were Myron Floren, accordionist from Lawrence Welk's Champagne Orchestra, and Patricia Lynn, sophisticated singer who has been featured on TV shows. Attendance prizes were again awarded.

OLD.TIMERS HONORED AT BREAKFAST

The second day of the 38th convention opened Wednesday, April 13, with an'Oldtimers Breakfast in the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador hotel. A good crowd filled the huge Grove to almost half its ,capacity to honor some of the true pioneers of the Southern California retail lumber business. Everett C. Parker, a director and past president of the SCRLA, presided efficiently and with rare dispatch in handling this phase of the convention program, which included three speeches, the most of any business session.

This breakfast meeting was generally hailed as one of the most outstanding sessions of .'the entire convention, filled as it was with both genuine sentiment for the oldtimers and excellent common sense from all the speakers. President Bartels called it to order from the stand in the center of a long head table at which oldtimers were seated following an excellent breakfast menu.

Mr. Bartels first introduced Mr. Richards, credit manager of Lounsberry & Harris Lumber Co., who read resolutions previously passed by the SCRLA directors opposing current legislation deemed harmful to the industry; they were adopted.

Mr. Parker, a S0-year man himself, "backed into" his act by urging dealer attendance at the SCRLA's regular monthly meetings, participation in the cost-of-doing-busi- orD - lil ERs Hoi{ORED ol rpcciol brccltfosr on sccond doy of rhe convention included rhis group of longtime Soulhcrn Colifornio retoil deolcrs rhown herc. At lesrt 40 yeors of servicc in thc indurtry ir necer3cry lo quolify oe on SCRTA "O I dtirncr." frlony of the "grcnd old men" of thc buriners we?o unoble lo be prescnt for vorious rcosonr bur rheir nomas war€ rcod cnd o bdef hirtory of thsir work wos given by Everet| Po]ken ness surveys and current dealer problems. This led him into the difference in today's and yesterday's retail lumberyard operations.

Another big reason why Hyster Dealers are selling used lift trucks about as fast as rebuilding and reconditioning schedules permir is the Hyster "Personalized Iinance Plan", offering every known and accepted rnethod of financing and leasing. Individualized terms to suir your pocketbook. nothing down; rental with oprion to buy; lease with option to re-lease, etc. The Hyster "Personalized" Plan ofren makes ir possible to buy a good used lift truck directly out of the savings effected. Many businesses t<>day are taking advantage of Hyster \(arranted Used Lift Trucks to try out lift truck methods in borderline cases, or to provide individual lif t trucks f or special operuti,ons or services.

Each Hyster "Varranted" Used Lift Truck is thoroughly inspected and reconditioned or rebuilt by factory-trained mechanics. \Thether you operate a fleet of lift trucks-or are considering the purchase of one truck, call your Hyster Dialer. He may have just the right uied trucl for you, or can quickly get one from another Hyster Dealer.

Parker recalled the yard of 50 years ago, when there was no asphalt paving, no mills for remanufacturing locally, and tu'o-wheel horse carts that were loaded by hand. Yards carried only lumber and barrels of cement generally -there were no such things as wallboard, shakes, composition roofing, etc. Ferv yards had outside salesmen and common lumber was $16M; labor was $2 a day instead of an hour.

It was a real treat to watch the faces of the oldtimers present light up as Everett Parker recalled things dear to their hearts and tickled their memories.

Roll Call of Soutlern California Oldtimers

The presiding officer then launched into the ro11 call of oldtimers who were honored at this testimonial breakfast. Not all of them named were able to be present, for various reasons, but even the absent ones were fondly mentioned. Mr. Parker counted up their years of service (at least 40 years is necessary to be an SCRLA "oldtimer") and delighted his audience with many dimly recalled incidents in their careers. These were the oldtime retail lumbermen:

Herman Loehr, 69 years' service, stated 1886 in Canon City, Colo.; now Riverside manager Suverkrup Lumber Co.

Frank Curran, 63 years, opened Pomona yard I892i flor'rr president Curran Lumber Co., Santa Ana.

Harvey L. Miner, 62 years, started bucking lumber at Santa Ana's Newport Wharf and Luniber Co. in 1893 for 20c an hour; since 1915 with Whiting-Mead Co., and now president Builders' Markets, San Diego.

Charles E. Bonestel, 51 years, started 1897 with Peoples Lumber Co., Ventura; retired in 1948.

William T. Davies, 52 years, started in Pasadena witir

Ganahl, later with Patten-Davies; president of SCRLA in l92l and retired eight years ago.

Nate Parsons, 58 years, started 1897 in Illinois; last with San Pedro Lbr. Co.

Frank N. Gibbs, 57 years, started 1898 with old California Planing Mill; now president Gibbs Lumber Co., Anaheim.

Hal W. Baly, 56 years, started 1899 with old KerckhoffCuzner Mill & Lbr. Co.; now president and still active in San Fernando Lumber Co., which he started in 1918.

Asa E. Fickling, 55 years, opened A. E. Fickling Lumber Co., Long Beach; he was president of the SCRLA in r94F4r

Chester A. Pontius, 55 years, started 1900 in Kansas and came to California in 1911 for Hammond's in Canoga Park, then known as Owenimouth; "Ponty" is now longtinte manager of Hammond's Riverside yard.

Ross W. Blanchard, 54 years, started 1901 in Oklahoma City, went with his father's Blanchard Lumber Co., Burbank, in 1911.

Grover C. Cable, 54 years, started as a Missouri lumber buckaroo in 1901, came to California in 1908 and worked for E. K. Wood Lumber Co., which had just moved to 47th and Alameda; with Hammond from 1918-37, norv president Alert Lumber Co.

Chester C. Knight, 54 years, started 1901 at Gualalrl Mill Co., Mendocino county; now secretary-manager Siur Fernando Lumber Co.

George Lounsberry, 53 years, started l%2 at Ro2r:ll Bros., Los Angeles; in 1903 organized Lounsberry & Tcagarden, Alhambra; in 1905 he and Walter Harris took over the Frank Lounsberly yard; now vice-president and secretary Lounsberry & Harris.

R. Frank Wells, 52 years, started l9AZ at Modesto Lumber Co., bought Inglewood Lumber Co. in 1930 and oper- trom 22 modern plants, long-Bell Reliably Supplies lhese 0uality

fits any home every budget !

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Especially Designed llardware gives Long-Bell Garage Doors a distinctive appearance and assures smobth, efficient operation. Track support assembly is factory-constructed for easy installation exclusive "Major and Minor" spring adjustments provide perfect balance in only a few minutes.

For New or Old Garages! Long-Bell Garage Doors are also available in designs four panels wide distributed through Millwork Jobbers.

llood Products -West Coast Fir, Hemlock and Cedar

-Ponderosa Pine, California Douglas and White Fir *Timber Fabricalion

-Millwork and Factory Products

J)ak Flooring

-Southem Pine and Hardwoods

-Preseruative Treated Products

-Plywood and Flakewood

-Sash and Doors and Frames

-l$tchen Cabinets ated till his retirement a year ago.

Jot tt W. Fisher, 59 years, started 1896 in Iowa, came to Long Beach in 1920 and started Century Lumber Co.; started John W. Fisher Lumber Co., Santa Monica, in 1923, sold out to Tom Fox in 1946 but remains active in ,company; was president of SCRLA 1939-40' d R. Stoner, Sr., 46 years, started 1909 and in l9l2 opened own yard, Sawtelle T umber Co.,'where he is general manager.

Syd Smith, 52 years, started 1903 at Graham-India Street Planing Mill, San Diego; opened own yard there in 1937.

Herschell G. Larrick, 51 years, started 1904 sacking sawilust and kindling, became office boy in San Francisco yard inIW and joined Benson Lumber Co., San Diego, in 1910; organized and is today president of Lumber & Builders 'Supply Co., Solana Beach.

Francis Boyd, 61 years, started as small boy in father's Butte, Montana, 51ard; came to California in 190E and in 1915 joined brother Scott in Boyd Lumber Co., Monrovia; now co-owner Boyd nlill & Lumber Co., Santa Barbara.

Connie Ganahl,50 years, Started 1905 in yard his father, Christian Ganahl, began in 1884; now president C. Ganahl Lumber Co., probably oldest Los Angeles yard now operating under the same name and family.

Ernest Ganahl, 50 years, co-owner Ernest Ganahl Lumber Co., started with his father in 1905 and opened own yard in Anaheim in 1922.

Paul Hallingby, 50 years, started with Hammond in San Francisco in 1905; came to Los Angeles in 1913, norv vice-president and general manager Hammond's southern division of 20 line yards; SCRLA president 1927-n.

Walter Harris, 50 years, started 1905 in Lounsberry & Harris, of which he is now president.

Roy L. Sandefur, 50 years, started 1905 with J. G. Gill Lumber Co., San Bernardino; now vice-president and general manager Dill Lumber Co., which he incorporated with F. H. Dill and his two sons in t926.

Everett C. Parker, 50 years, started 1905 with Consolidated Lumber Co. at 8th and Main, LoS Angeles; now president Patten-Blinn Lumber Co., which he joined in 1915 (Patten-Davies). He was SCRLA president in 1937 and again in 1951-53.

Frank.Olson, 49 years, started 1906 at Alhambra Lumber Co., purchased yard from Jack C. Cummings in 1909; discontinued yard in 1954 and now in sawmill operations.

Ernie Moss, 48 years, started l9O7 in Iowa under John W. Fisher, whom he joined at Long Beach, later following him to Santa Monica; now operates wholesale lumber business.

Albert E Rogers, 47 years, started in Missouri irirtm8, came to California in 1922 and opened Hyde Park Lumber Co., of which he is president-manager.

Gerald V. Curran, 47 years, started 1908 at Curran Bros., on same site in center downtown Pomona since 1902; now a partner.

Phit J. Curran, 47 years, started 1908 at other yards and returned to Pomona in 1915 to join father and brother with Curran Bros.; active partner since 1919.

Marco De Nicolai, 44 years, started 191 1 at E. K. Wood Lumber Co. in San Pedro and has been there ever since.

Charles Sones, 44 years, started 1911 for Valley Lumber Co., El Centro; started Sones Lumber Co., of which he is president; in El Centro in 1915.

Howard Ware, 44 years, started 1911 in Corona Lumber Co., took over yard in 1944 with his frother when Uncle Andrew Ware died in 1944.

Walter Spicer, 43 years, started l9l2 a.nd now with Ward & Harrington Lumber Co., Newport 3each.

Hayward Dill,41 years, started 1914 with old Star Mill in Long Beach, owned by Hayward family; became lnallager Hayward Lumber Co. Rialto yard in L9l7; in 1919 opened Dill Lumber Co., Victorville, which now has seven yards.

Charles Dill, 40 years, brother of Hayward,, also spent most of life in lumber, his career paralleling his brother's; now president Dill Lumber Co.

David Roy Kincaid, .40 years, started ae president of Calexico Lumber Co., which he organized in 1915 (says his duties amounted to that of yard man) ; he! was rvith the company continuously until it was sold two u'eeks ago.

Don Suthenn, 49 years, started with Nlontgomery & Mullin in 1906 and has been with Patten-Blinn for many years.

John Strickland, 46 years, many years lr'ith Patten-Blinn and Ward & Harrington.

A. J. MacMiltran,44 years, started 1911 with E. K' Wood and then went to Consolidated Lumber Co.. of 'w'hich hc is now board chairman.

Russell Mullin,41 years, began in 1914'with Montgomery & Mullin and is now vice-president Tatzana Lumber Co.

Percy Merithew, 52 years, began in 1903 irith old South

Sp+ttg pTqssqe behind metal grudes ursures an all-weather seal against winter cold or.summer heat.

This same patented construction Permits easY removal for cleaning both sides from, inside the home.

Sash can be painted guickly, without the lnconveruence or canger of ladders and scafrolds.

OWrating R.O.W wind,ows permit fult clnice of weatfur seq.l or natural air circulation-depending on thc unatler!

Operating R.O.W wood windows pemit air circulation during the seasons when neither heat nor cooling is nece*saryWood is a highly efficient insulator. It belongs in fine air-conditioned homes. The beauty of carefully milled wood blends naturally with residential furnighings. Cleaning or painting removable R.O.W windows is easier. Yet, they cost no more than other good windows.

More of the Convenfion Business

\\-estern Lumber Co., joine<l ('onsoli<l:rtcrl in 1905 arrd has been lnanv vears u'ith ll. K. Wood

Marion Welch,44 ycars, practicallv all u'ith I'atten-Illirrn. IIr. Parker concludecl this portion of thc ( )lcltimers Ilrcakfast u.ith a plea for further infornr:rtion on Sorrthern ('alifornia oldtirne retailers and asked thlrt the rolls lrc kcot ruli to date.

New President Mullin Speaks

Thc nerr,lv elected president oi the SCRl..\. \\':rvnc [i'. ll ullin, \\'irs ncxt introcluced as the first spcaker of thc convcntion's lrrcakfast sessit.,n. llarking the occnsion, and rrncler thc titlc of "Changing Times." Nlullin began, "C)ur businesses u'i11 gron' old more quickly than t'e.

"\Vhat kr.ron'letlgc u-tirtlcl anv o{ tts har.e if n'e ilidn't learn from othcr lunrbcmren?" asked the president of X{ullin I-umber Co.. l-os -\ngeles. "'fhere are no secrets in this business; l-hat berrefits onc rvill lre knou'n to aii in for-rr or fir'e u'ssks-1,'a learn fronr your profits and losses, 1-ottr tictories and mistakes.

"The company that fails to change and progress is grou'-

Sessions qnd Exhibits in Pictures

ing old; n'e all rnust change rtith tinre or fail."

Tl.re association's rren. heacl spoke of changilrg policies that concern man:rfaellrcnt toclar'. lle cite<l a crving need for a change in cash cliscount tcrr.ns, nce<l for change in cash clelivery charges. He saicl there is onlv zl 2.76% 1rrofit ir-r retail lumber todar'. irrstea<l oi the 1-6/, enjoyed lry other industrl-.

Mr. Mullin said other industries have long since quit the discount or shortened terms. "Cash discounts are an expensive way to collect money that is rightfully yours; discounts do not affect the good payers, and will not change the poor ones," he declared.

'fherc is no u'ror.rg timing itr our lrttsiness n.hen 1100 nen' honrcs :Lre lrrrilt a mc.rnth, he pointed out, ancl said the cash rliscour.rt should be modernized \'vith the rest oi '\nrcrican inrlustrv. He aclvocatecl a drop |rom 2o/o to lib in discorrnting.

On delir,erv charges, Nlrrllin cleclared \\'e are charging too little ior clelivery, :rn<l a<lv<icated a $3.50 charge. "Delir.ery service shoulcl not be Cost, but Cost plus Profit."

Rex Clark Speaks on Grades

Everett Parker introduced Rex Clark, executive vicepresident and manager, Consolidated Lumber Co., Wilmington, Calif., as the next speaker, on the topic "Our Lumber Grades." His talk u''as rvell-informed and received with great interest.

"Any grade change must come from you individuaily as retail lumbermen," Mr. Clark told his audience. "It will not come from the mills-it cannot !" He said the Fir mills had been for a change that mills rvith kilns felt was not practical, and mentioned the WCLA Grades meeting which was scheduled for April 14.

"We have felt we could merchandise our product better rvith grade names, but we've never taken too much intercst in the names themselves if we can just get the program put over," Clark said, and pointed out, for instance, that B and C&B would become C&B in the proposed changes. "If you want this change, you will have to tell them so," he concluded after making several other strong points in his talk.

"Let's Get Back on Road of Profit"

Under this title, Phil Creden, director public relations and merchandising manager, Edward Hines Lumber Co., Chicago, and an important vi'heel in the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, gave one of the most forthright talks of the entire convention as the concluding speaker of the Oldtimers Breakfast meeting. Creden is a dynamic speaker and "names names" when it serves his purpose.

"If our Chicago lumberyards were on a 2.76/o proftt margin as Mr. Mullin pointed out that you are here in Southern California, we'd call a meeting tonight and meet until December to do something about it," he declared in opening his talk.

Mr. Creden upheld the Housing Act of 1954, which the previous day's speaker had run do'ivn. He wa1mly praised Norman Mason, a lumber dealer and head of FHA. "The Federal Housirlg Administration is now being run rvith New England honesty," he declared.

He praised Cy Sweet and his administration of FHA's Title I program.

Creden detailed the rise of Hines from contr:ctor to consumer business and to 27 yards. As his talk bccame more informal, he gave his eager audience many inside tips on "the bonus system which keeps Hines profit-minded" -a bonus for employes based entirely on the yard's profits.

"Advertising will make your name mean something. You can make your own grade of lumber, like we have Hines House Framing Grade, with advertising," he said in referring to Rex Clark's preceding talk.

Creden spoke of Hines' New Construction departmeut, how it operates, sells a complete job, etc. He detailed Sequence Loading, by which lumber is strapped for delivery to the job site after loading at Hines' own convenience.

"Plan your displays in relation to your sales-let the public show you the way a la supermarket operation," he declared. He went on to tell how the Hines company built up an "Economy Corner'r 10 years ago until it is now 43fo a yard's gross sales and they have to buy by the car-

,1o"0 to keep it supplied.

'

"Self-service and self-selection are something that's corn- into the merchandising business," Creden said, and told of Hines' Evergreen yard's such sections. He said it was a lumber section, from short lengths up to commer-

, cial lengths. "This is a little goldmine. It has been open

, Ior two months, open all day Saturday-and that means

, ltime-and-a-half." The section was to havg a grand opening April 16 after its two-months shakedown. "It's a lot different from the old days when they opened with a band and closed with a sheriff, because we got the'bugs' out first and proved its profit potential," he laughed. , "One tallyman can keep a self-service section stocked,"

.: he ,continued ; "one girl at the checkout counter. And soon fiThe same self-service principles used in giocery selling ' have found instantaneous success in merchandising. lumber," Creden declared. "Customers want to browse ancl see price tickets. Short lengths of lumber, formerly consigned to the incinerator, are finding ready sales when displayed tin shorvrooms, price-marked and labeled as to type of wood.

'we'll know hou' to place the lumber in this section by the way it {noves.

"Do-it-yourselfers become habitues of a lumberyard,

'making small purchases, but nevertheless buying in suffi-

, , cient quantities to make the self-service methcid practical

''. and profitable."

Mr. Creden said the A&P stores found that 6OVo of.

, purchases were unplanned; that the woman shopper made up her menus in the aisles. ("They were 85/o unplanned when she sent her husband to buy," he threw in.)

"So who buys lumber?" Creden asked, as the lumbermen laughed their understanding.

"I see no future in the general-store type lumberyard. These oldtimers here today were lumbermen because it was profitable.. Modern methods require modern thinking. Get away from consumer price per thousand-that's the way you BUY IT !" he concluded, drawing a parallel to the way one buys a SUIT, not wool by the yard.

Following the drawing for attendance prizes, the Oldtimers withdrew to the Ambassador's Palm Court terrace for a session with the photographers, after which visits to the exhibits filled the time until the second day's luncheon meeti11g.

Second Luncheon Business Session

The convention delegates gathered in the Embassy room at 12:15 Wednesday, April 13, for the second luncheon business session. Ralph N. Baker, an SCRLA director and past president, presided for this meeting. He called on Dr. Paul Heubner, minister of the First Methodist church, Inglewood, for the invocation, after which another fine meal was served.

"The Business Outlook"

Following luncheon, Mr. Baker introduced the day's principal and only luncheon speaker, George M. Rideout, vicepresident, Babson's Reports, Wellesley Hills, Mass. Mr. Rideout was acclaimed as one of the most outstanding speakers of the 38th convention, bringing pleasant person-

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"The over-reaching of labor leaders may be the factor that sets off another depression," Rideout warned his audience on the peril in present union demands. Telling of the threatened fight over a guaranteed annual rvage in.the automobile industry, he said they expect a shutdorvn due to a strike or a slorn'down due to overproduction by June, affecting steel and other industry.

"Some businessmen believe there will never be another depression because the government will not permit it. That is all nonsense !" Rideout declared. "It is no more possible to expect perpetual prosperity than to expect sunshine or happiness without interruption. There WILL be another depression allright-but notin 1955."

Rideout expressed optimism for the long pull, due to the birth rate since 1940, and research in nerv products, new methods and new industry. Predicting that the U. S. would replace England in world leadership, the economist said we must be prepared to engage in smalf ivars to maintain the peace and prevent a World War III. He compared the world-wide airstrips we must maintain for our planes to the ,coaling stations Britain used to maintain her world shipping lanes. Rideout said Babson's does not foresee WWIII this year nor even a conflict the size of Korea.

Turning his crystal ball to construction, the speaker predicted another good year in residential construction with at least 1,000,000 new units going up "because everybody wants a new home. The thing to rvatch," he said, "is the tightening of mortgage money. Many bankers are getting worried over the policy of little or nothing down and eternity to pay."

Entertainmen! by Boys Choir

Following the colorful talk, Ralph Baker introduced the renowned and always u'elcome Mitchell Boys Choir of age 11-16 voices, orgapized by Bob Mitchell. The magnificent young choir proved once again to its listening audience that it has no peer in its own field. They were awarded tremendous applause.

The attendance prizes were given to wind up this session and visits to the Trade Show and convivial renewing of old friendships among the crowds in the convention rooms filled the rest of the second afternon.

38th ANNUAL BANQUET

The 38th convention's annual banquet was staged by Orrie Hamilton in the Embassy room Wednesday evening at 7 p. m. Officiating for this always eagerly awaited event was Harry C. lVlcGahey, another SCRLA director. Excellent dinner music 'lvas provided by Jan Rubini, the violin virtuoso. The principal item on the banquet menu was stuffed boneless squab chicken narcisse.

There was a really outstanding program of topflight entertainment for the banquet. The stars were Lois Ray, a tap dancer; Frakson, "Spain's greatest magician"; The Five Skylarks, featured on stage and TV, who came over from the Statler where they were ,currently appearing; Wally Brown, the famed comic formerly featured in films with Art Carney, and Dr. Giovanni, "World's greatest pick-