Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-06
ITS ANNUAL SESSION
National Wholesale Lumber
Dealers Association Meets.
PRESIDENT DILl'S REPORT
Past Year Declared to Have Been Very
Prosperous.
DILL'S REPORT
DENIES THAT TRUST EXISTS
Secretary Files His Exhibit and Com
mittees Submit Findings-Conven-
ton Adjourns Until Tomorrow.

The fifteenth annual meeting of the Ma
tional Wholesale Lumber Dealers Associ-
alton was called to order in the small ban,
auet hall of the New Willard today. The
association has a membership of 2S9. half
of whom were present today. and 1t is ex-
pected that by tomorrow the number in at
tendance will be greatly increased.
Lewis Dill. president, read his annual re-
port to the association, showing that the
past year has been one of great prosperity.
He stated that he would not undertake to
refer to and comment upon such general
subjects as government ownership. ship
subsidy and the like. He referred to pend
ing litigation before the interstate COM
merce commission relating to car shortage.
which. he said, is proceeding satisfactorily,
and he believed the outcome of that pro-
ceeding will meet the necessities of the
lumbermen.
Mr.. LII referred to recent charges made
ir Congress to the effect that the assoc,-
alton is a trust and monopoly.
ITO the charge that we form a lumber
trust" he said. I'VE plead not guilty"
He criticised the method of analysis that
had been pursued in proving that the asso-
citation is a trust, and said that for one he
wished that the charge concerning the prof
its of the lumbermen in their business,
made in the Senate. was half true.
This suggestion called forth applause.
The general business of the association.
he said. is steadily increasing. The asso-
citation now has 1863 members. and the trade
between the several divisions is Satsfac-
tory.
Secretary's Report.
Secretary E. F. Perry made a report in
which lie showed the growth of the associa-
ton from membership of 200 ten years
ago to its present number. Then eleven
states We're represented by the members.
Today they represent twenty mine states
and three provinces in Canada.
This is pre-eminently an age of centraii-
zation." said Mr.. Perry. 1.-THE slogan of
our members seems to be maximum OF
results at a minimum of time and effort. A
few years ago combinations were depre-
Gated. Today nearly every lumberman Is
a member of some association and many of
them members of several associations
Personal acquaintance. he said. was
deemed necessary in former times in order
to successfully conduct business between
the wholesale lumberman and their Gus
toners Today acquaintance is no longer
deemed necessary.
You are no longer he said. willing to
sell your lumber to any one willing to pay
for it, but the legitimate retailer is o. X
Legislation, he added is no longer ig-
nored and allowed to go unnoticed. but
lumbermen cooperate in order to secure
the fairest legislation possible.
lie referred 10 melnOuS tndt nave Oeen
used in order to promote harmony in the
trade of the association and to settle dis
putes without the tedious and expensive
methods of litigation. AS a rule he was
satisfied that men would rather do business
the level than otherwise, and conSe-
quently by the adoption of fair methods
he believed the settlement of disputes is
easier than ever before.
Miscellaneous Business.
Reports of various kinds were made. all
dealing with the methods used by the as
sociatio for caring for the business inter
ests of its members. The following re-
ports were presented:
BY +. L. Parker, chairman. report o.
board of managers. bureau of informa ton
by NJ. NJ Wall. chairman committee or
hardwood inspection.
BY Geo NJ. Stevens. jr., chairman com
mittee on fire insurance.
BY W. W. Knight. chairman committee
on terms of sale.
By NJ. s. Tremaine chairman committee
on special membership, .--5
BY Horton Co-win, jr., chairman commit
tee on membership, and w. G. Frost. chair
man committee on arbitration.
The president then announced that as re-
ports had been made promptly ad
journmcnt could be moved until tomorrow
when ii was expected Mr.. Clifford Pinchot
chief of the forestry division would be with
them. Meetings will be held tomorrow a
1879 in the morning and at = O'Clock in tine
afternoon. Tomorrow night a banquet viii
be given by the association
At o'clock today the association was
entertained at luncheon by the Eastern
States Retail Dealers Association. which
was also meeting in the New Willard