The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-19
NO POOL In LUMBER.
Indiana Dealers Do Not Take Kindly
to Trust Methods.

The Retail Lumber Dealers Association
of Indiana held its fourteenth annual
convention at the Grand Hotel yesterday.
The association contains about $50 mem
Lers, of whom about one-half we're pres
ent at the meeting. The lumber business,
the dealers say. has improved considera-
bly, during the last year. and the prospects
are for even a greater betterment during
the ensuing year More Improvement is
felt in the country districts than in the
larger cities, where the margin OF profit
still remains very small. There are six
hundred lumber yards in the State and the
industry is very important one. No dis
cuSsion was had during the day
Oh the tariff schedule, but quite a
breeze was stirred up in the meeting over
the question of pooling prices. The ma
jority of the dealers expressed themselves
as opposed to any scheme looking to the
making of any agreement, and, although
the average profit of the last few years has
been less than 5 per cent, they did not
believe in restricting competition by such
artificial methods.
The afternoon session of the convention
was taken up with routine business and in
making arrangements for the annual ex-
cursion of the body, which leaves the city
tonight over the c., II. q ID. and the
B. & o. for Washington Philadelphia. Bal
timore and New York The trip will last
ten days, and not only the members OF the
association, but also their friends are in
vited to join. The rate is $40, including
sleeper, and about $50 have thus far Sc
cured tickets. John Montana, the chairman
of the excursion committee, viii be at the
hotel all day to give out tickets.
Several papers were read and discussed
during the meeting. E. T. Parker of Lo-
gansport, spoke on the subject of advertis-
ing, saying that he thought judicious adj
should be careful to live up to the prom
iseS they make in their advertisements"
He also said that strict attention to bust
ness and .well-kept yard We're likewise
effective methods of advertising /. D.
Bosworth, of Anderson; 3. F. Nichols of
Huntington, and Louis Diether, of Fort
dress Of the afternoon was made by A. III.
Mckenzie, of Elwood, who talked about
profits. He said that the percentage of
profit which ought to be made depended
upon the locality He also thought that
competition should be friendly and that the
competitor should be allowed to make
sale at least once in awhile. I'VE should
trust and know each other" said he, and
not show disposition to hog everything
Henry Coburn, of Indianapolis; w. +. Still
VEL YELL q 1a Laafayette. and M G Ran ho OF
ticipated in the discussion following the
reading of the paper.
This morning the president and others will
make addresses and in the afternoon new
officers will be elected. The present board
of directors consists of George c. Pratt, of
Shelbyville, president: e. Z: Parker, of Lo--
gansport, vice president; F. B. Fowler of
Indianapolis, secretary and treasurer; l. d.
Bosworth, of Anderson; NJ S. Huey, of
Indianapolis; c: s: Farnham, of Richmond;
J. l.. Barley, of Marion; John Montana, of
Union City; J, w Pinnell, of Lebanon; S.
p. Stroup, of Waldron, and George L.
Thompson, of Frankfort