The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-02-16
Lumber Ass%oclatloa ResoIntlons

the 18th annual meeting of the
Southwestern Lumbermens' Associa
ton held in Kansas City January
20. 30 and 3lst. Mr.. Moorehead has
teen a member of this association
almost from its organization, and has
been honored by being elected
director, vice-president, president
and again director, having just
retired from the latter position.
The resolutions speak in no un-
certain sound for the association and
indirectly for its individual members.
They invite an Investigation sugh as
has been recently ordered by congress-
through the Bureau of Commerce and
Labor, The present agitation against
trusts has brought a great loss of
business to the retail lumber trade
and the retailers in these resolutions
welcome the investigation. Theyare
more than anxious for an opportunity
to be set right before the consuming
public, The resolutions are as
follows.
WHEREAS, The widespread agita-
ton throughout the country against
trusts and combinations has brought
upon the retail lumber associations
much unjust criticism and condemna-
ton by the p~rejudiced and ~uninformed
and,
WHEREAS, The great demand for
lumber products of every description
on the one hand, and the rapid deple-
ton of the forests on the other, caus-
ing an Unprecedented advance in the
price of lumber, having come at the
time Of this general agitation, the
general public have seen fit to charge
the retail lumber associations with
being responsible for this advance and
to condemn them for maintaining a
trust.
Therefore be it Resolved,
a. That the Southwestern Lumber
mems Association in convention as
sembled does hereby protest against
such an unjust accusation.
~ That we deny, most emphatic
ally, that this association has ever
made OF attempted to make or
establish any prices whatever, and
assert that we are opposed to
unreasonable or extortionate prices.
(3l That we deny that We are in
any combination whatsoever, much
less an unlawful combination with
the manufacturer of or wholesale
dealer in lumber for the purpose of
controlling the output, handling or /
distribution of lumber in any manner
or form.
al We hereby declare that we
have, as an organization, always kept
within the law and no court has ever
held that we have ever violated any
law.
(5) We assertthat the retail lumber
business has been vastly benefited by
and through the efforts of our
association.
(B) We refer with pride to the
fact that the efforts of the associa-
ton have been directed toward
fostering the small and weak dealers
throughout the territory of the
association, whereas, the whole object
of the modern trust is, to first crush
out the small operator by means of
railroad rebates and underselling at
some points and making good the
loss by overcharging at points where
competition has been stlAed. We
refer those who would Condemn us
Justly to the fact that there are
hundreds of retail lumber yards all
over the territory, all OF which are
necessities to the communities in
which they are located, which have
grown up and aourished under
association principles. We foster
and encourage lawful competition.
We most strenously oppose unlawful,
unjust and monopolistic competition.
If the day should come when the
retail lumber association ideas shall
cease to be operative, the distribution
of lumber will pass into the hands OF
those who have no local interests in
eur several communities. Then the
price win be fixed and the supply
Increased or curtailed at will by the
owners Of the forests and the
tnished product. We are opposed to
that condition of things.
"a We rejoice that we have done
nuch in the line Of trust busting"