The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-28

The proposed closing Of the single mills
Of Washington, to commence tomorrow.
was postponed at yesterdays meeting of
1acturers' Association. This decision was
arrived II through the lack of time In Oh.
tanning signatures 10 the agreement and
to the Misunderstanding Of the Whatcom
county association, In making the date eff
fectivo July ]. The date was therefore
simply postponed until the different ceu3~
naittess can make full reports. which will
be within the next ten days or two weeaA
At yeSterday'o session the permanent or
ganlxatton Of the association WAS decided
On, secretary was named to take up tho
active representation Of the work. and It
was the expressed sentiment to 60 on with
the agitation, perhaps resulting In the
closing OF the mills by June Is or July !. or
as soon as most Of tho mills could Be got.
ten together.
Victor H. Beckman. editor Of che Pacific
Lumbar Trade Journel. was unanimously
elected permanent secretary OF the sssocia-
ton. and AZ soon a. he can settle the work
Of his paper Will devote his entire time for
the good Of the shingle and lumber men o1
the state. Tho selection was left to = COM
mit.ee, composed OF E. ]. McNeelsy. C.. e.
Patten and David Mcvey. and that body
1t once came to an agreement that Mr.
Beckman was the best man In the state for
the position. The delegates present ex-
pressed themselves individually and COL
lectively az favoring his appointment, and
1t was practically decided on. Tho commit
tee will. however, 60 through the formal.
ity Of considering Il for . couple Of weeks
during which time the secretary will have
entered upon his duties and be In the fieid
Mr.. Beokman Is generally recognized ~
one Of the best-posted men in the North
west on shingle and numbering industries
He has been In Seattle ever since 1891, and
during five years OF that time has been
editor Of the Pacific Lumber Trade Jour-
nal. Under his leadership and able hand.
ling OF the constant and complex problems
affecting this states great enterprises, the
paper has assumed a position Of FIRST i'm
pcrtance, and Its monthly numbers are
eagerly sought by all who wish to keep
themselves posted regarding the news
and conditions OF that field. Pricr to com.
ing to Seattle he was on the editorial stan
OF the Mississippi Valley Lumberman.
published in Minneapolis, for five or six
years, and was primarily responsible for
the leading position that Journal has taken
among the lumber publications Of the
world
A Letter From wAateen County.
The position Of whatcoin county people
regarding the closing movement b shown
In the following letter. f6c1it1d frem 4
prominent sh1ngie manufacturer Of that
district. The letter was written from
Whatcom, under date Of May 3. and was
read at the meeting:
1T was impossible for US to get the
single manufacturers of this county to.
rether before last Tuesday night. a. the
time was so short majority Of them could
not arrange their affairs 20 as to close
down on the 9th instant. and q vote on
that proposition resulted In Ito defeat.
But out Of the thirty.two mills represented.
thirty OF them signed the agreement In
remain closed for at least two weeks and
rs much longer as might be deemed neces-
sary by the state central committee We
also voted to maintain present prices, and
u necessary would even close for few
days to maintain them.
The Blaine mills were represented by
Mr.. Walker, who came prepared to act for
all Of them to close July /, but said they
day. He also said they would uphold
the prices. We are taking measures to
reach the mills that were not represented,
and will be able to report In q short time
that at least IS per cent. Of all the manu-
facturers In Whatcom county have signed
the agreement to close July /. This In
giving us plenty Of time 20 work the mat.
ter up. Every mill going into this agree
men Is IN earnest. and there will be no
haif-heartea business about IT,
VIII Help Prices.
II am very sorry we could not mako a
so OF II for next week. a. II may be a dis.
appointment to those who have already
signed TO close down at that time. but
hope you will have sufficient tine to notify
those mills Of the action taken by our
county, and believe by the reports We
have received from Skag git county that they
are going 10 take the same action. II
should be urged upon the manufacturers Of
every county TO take this same action, as
the former arrangement could not be car
ried out: and I believe the fac, that we
have taken this action all around will help
to stimulate prices.
I'VE also agreed not 10 sell 10 any deal
ers who were found cutting the prScces
made by the state association, and this
will have great tendency to help out the
legitimate dealers who are holding by the
association prices. We also decided to get
out q uniform price list for the county
having printed thereon the names OF ali
the association members. II seems to me
that all the large mills OF Ballard and 9th
er portions Of the state could be brought
into the agreement for closing down July
!, and make 1t almost unanimous"
Headquarters for the association will be
maintained In Seattle. with Mr. Beckmsn
In charge. The Seattle National bank was
named as the official depository. Upon
unanimous vote Il was decided that all
dues OF county and state associations shall
be paid TO the latter and upon receips Of
properly attested vouchers covering neces-
sary expenses such as hall rent station.
cry. etc. the main body will pay them