Annual Meeting National Retail Lumber Dealers Association Held in San Francisco

World in Which We Live," asserted that Government spending if not curbed will mean bankruptcy for both Government and business. He said that the federal budget for 1950 mav reach $45,000,000,000, and that if every owner of a life insurance policy cashed that policy, the sum, $44,000,C00,000 rvould maintain the federal Government for jtrst one year.

"Tl-re job of industry," Senator Cain stated, "is to sell its story to the American people. Those whoare selling Statism are doing it from door to door, pushing doorbells; and perhaps industry for the first time will have to sell the story of private enterprise in the same wa)'-from door to cloor-pushing doorbells."

Ilmmett J. Leahy, executive director, National Records N{anagement Council, and member of the Hoover Commission, spoke on "The Hoover Commission Report."

Arthur Srvorn Goldman, director of marketing and research, Architectural Forum, discussed "The Open-End NIortgage."

What can be done to lower construction costs was thoroughly discussed during the three-day annual meeting of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, held at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, November 9 to 11.

Effect of national and international trends, scientific and economic developments was spotlighted by national figures and authorities who addressed the convention.

Nationally known speakers included Senators Kenneth S. Wherry and Harry P. Cain; Arthur S. Goldman, director, marketing and research, Architectural Forum ; Emmett J. Leahy, member of the Hoover Commission, and Public Relations Counsellors, Ted Baldwin of New York, and Russell F. Bjorn of Stockton, Calif.

George K. Adams of Walnut Grove, Calif., president of the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California, made a short address of welcome to the big gathering of lumber and building material dealers from all over the country.

President C. B. Su'eet of Longview, Wash., in his report said that the building industry has proved conclusively the superiority of free enterprise over government operation. "This system," he said, "still produces and distributes the best and the most, and, if living standards mean anything, at lowest individual cost in labor, in man hours, and in human effort."

Executive Vice President H. R. (Cotton) Northup declared that "the watchword of the 1949 annual meeting is that r.vithout adequate and aggressive distribution mass production fails to deliver lower costs to the buying public."

Senator HarryP. Cain of Washington, member of the Senate banking and currency committee, in discussing "The

Stanley lIorn, editor of the Southern Lurnberman, presided as master of ceremonies in presenting the plaques and awards to lumber dealers whose public relations work in their own communities has merited national recognition. The handsome bronze plaques were mounted on walnut.

"Government Relations-A Statement of Industry Contacts," lr.as the subject of a talk by H. R. (Cotton) Northup, executive vice president.

Ted Baldu'in, public relations counsel, Nerv York City, u,hose "Good American llomes Program" is being sponsored by the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association and the LI. S. Savings and Loan League, told of the devclopment of his program, r,r'hich is devoted to showing the average citizen of moderate means how to build a home of his ou'n and pay for it.

Tl-re Thursday, November 10, session r,vas opened by a report of the Educational Committee, by W. C. Bell, chairman. of Seattle, rvho outlined the developments of the retail lumber dealer's 30-day Short Course norv being held in l8 major universities of the country.

George Brosch follorved rvith a demonstration of the visual aid plans being developed for this year's use in conjunction u'ith university andlocal lumber dealer yard training.

Senertor Kenneth S. Wllerry of Nebraska, minority leader of the 81st Congress, delivered an address on "Congress and American fndustry." He said that the Pacific Coast's opportunities for development of trade u'ith the Far East are "slipping away to Red Communism" because of the administration's policy of vacillation and appeasement.

I{e u'as critical of both the foreign and domestic policy of the Government. He assailed federal spending and trends totvard regimentation at home, contradictions in European aid, and failure to move against Communism in China.

Clarence Thompson, Champaign, Illiniois, reported on the progress of the Dealer Research Committee of 100, an independent lumber dealer committee which has undertaken the raising of funds for research in the field of constructiori.

James Mack of Hollywood, Florida, chairman of the Materials Handling Committee, reported on progress made in analyzins the effectiveness and availability of materials handling equipment in retail lumber yards.

"What Is Public Relations" was thetopic chosen by Russell F. Bjorn, public relations counsel of Stockton, Calif. He outlined the job that confronts retailers in any field to make the public understand the business and functions of distribution and the part it plays in lowering costs.

Paul W. Watson, director of public relations of the National Association, reported on the scope of the present aational public relations program, and the effect of its activities.

Phil Creden, advertising manager, E,dward Hines Lumber Company, Chicago, and chairman of the National public relations committee, described the objectives and rec.ommendations of the public relations program. He pointed 'out means whereby the retail lumber dealer can carry out an essential public relations program in his own home town.

The Friday, November 11, session was an executive meeting of the board of directors. Reports were received from the treasurer, W. A. Barksdale, and the Budget Committee, J. Hammond Geis, chairman.

It rvas decided to hcld the annual meeting in Houston, Texas, in 1950.

Actual registration was 577, but it was estimated that the attendance numbered at least 675, as many did not register.

Nfuch admiration \,vas expressed for the registration desk and fittings, which were designed and executed by the 'California Redwood Association as a demonstration of the utility of common grades in short lengths and narrow rvidths of redwood lumber. Ernest Born, AIA, was the architect. Fabricator was the South City Lumber & Supply Co., South San Francisco.

Praise was heard from many of the visiting lumbermen and their r.vives for the complete arrangements made by the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern Cali{ornia as hosts for sightseeing trips of great interest, and other entertainrnent.

A Hoo-Hoo Concatenation staged jointly by San Francisco Hoo-Hoo Club No. 9 and Oakland Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 r,vas held in the Empire Room of the Fairmont Hotel, on Tuesday evening, November 8.

A11 the officers of the Association were unanimously reelected. These are : President, C. B. Sweet, Long-Bell I-umber Company, Longview, Wash.; Vice president, Clyde A. Fulton, Colburn-Fulton Lumber Company, Charlotte, N ich.; Treasurer, W. Albie Barksdale. Charlottes-

New General Manager

William H. Kilkenny, wellknown r,r'est coast materials handling engineer, is the new general manager of the Hyster Company Southern California retail store, 5301 Pacific Building, Huntington Park, according to an announcement from Ray Ronald, western division sales manager.

Kilkenny, as a lieutenant commander, specialized for four years in naval material handling programs. He has since been engaged as a materials handling field consultant and in sales administrative work for the Hyster Company and has planned many of the large industrial installations on the lvest coast.

A graduate of Willamette IJniversity with post-graduate work at both M.I.T. and the Harvard Graduate School of Business, Kilkenny will head up all Hyster lift truck sales and service activities in Southern California counties.

HARVESTED Wg57 (',AST FO"E5T? F.E.,EED NATURATLY FROM SEED -TP.;EFS reFT B,t t-o@e?9. AT NI5QUALLY WA9H I NGfON, TI MBEiEMEN GROW MILLIONS OF BABY lqEgg EACI4 YEAR. TO PLANT 5POT5 WHER,E FIRE HAg oE9'tR;o,leD 9EEDIZEE5 OP.WHERE NATU RAL REFOtr,ESTATIO N FAILED FOLLOWING PP:9VIoUS HARVE9T1NG.

ville Lumber Company, Charlottesville, tive Vice President, H. R. Northup, 1200 Washington 6,D.C.; Secretary, E. H. Street, N.W., Washington 6, D.C.

Virginia; Execu18th Street, N.W., Libbey, 1200 18th