The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-09

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every person. partnership or corporation
to establish and maintain as many retail
yards as he, they, or it may see fit.
! we recognize the right of the manufac-
| turer and wholesale dealer in lumber prod
| utcs to sell lumber in whatever market
| to whatever purchaser, and at Whatever
| price they may see fit.
| We also recognize the disastrous conse-
! ouences which result to the legitimate re-
| tail lumber dealer from direct competition
| with wholesalers and manufacturers, and
| appreciate the Importance to the retail
/ dealer of accurate information as to the
nature and extent of such competition
where any exists.
Advantage of Cooperation.
And recognizing and approaching the ad-
| vantage of cooperation in securing ana
| disseminating any and all proper informa-
| ton for our mutual convenience, beneht
| or protection, we have organized TINS
association, and have adopted the follow
ing article for the government OF our
| affairs:
| II is with a constitution based upon
] this declaration that we have grown In
| the past two years from three to sixty
! members; representing, as we now do,
| practically the retail lumber interest In
| North Alabama, East Tennessee ana Cen
trail Georgia and affiliating with like as
| SOc1atlOnS IN nearly every SNdtt III liz
| union; having our secretary member OF
the bureau, which you know, is composed
| of the secretaries of all these associa-
| tons Typifying the old saying THAT in
| unity there is strength strength or
purpose based upon good fellowship good
! will, fair play, a desire to live and let
| live and above all we proclaim that we
| stand for honest dealings In the trade
! and legitimate competition.
/ Go nrpsPnf constitution,
! some one or two of our sister associations
! who have felt that our association work
was not aggressive enough. and did not
| command the consideration due have seen
| fl to amend their constitutions ana IN
| their declarations go so far as TO say
! hat-footed, that no member Will buy from
manufacturer or wholesaler who sells to
| the consumer. etc.
Amendment All Right
Now, there is no question but what this
amendment is all right and proper, and as
| president of the association | would be
! heartily in favor of adopting same, which,
| If lived up to by our members, would
make our success doubly secure. The
trouble, though, with us Is that after
our committee gave some careful con-
sideration and secured eminent legal ad-
vice, we found that in Alabama such an
agreement on our part would be In con-
| hict with orr ant-boycott law, being in
| the nature of a conspiracy, etc There-
| fore, we can only cooperate in securing
and discriminating any and all proper IN
formal ton for mutual convenience, oene-
| fit or protection. In other words. we are
| to continue our work on these lines;
| they have crowned our efforts with sue
| cess in the past, and | believe we can
| hope for returns in the future. for we can
| sometimes reason with a mule, ana
after all a good solvent retailer is a
4 more satisfactory customer to the manu-
| faoturer than the direct consumer of his
| product
Our wants are many and our expecta-
| tions reasonable. We buy in car lots,
| make prompt settlement for same, and
| have all the worry, expense and risk Incl
dent to a retail business in fact our
| end of the log is such heavy load to
save my life I cannot understand what
| any manufacturer, with any fundamental
Ideas of business. wants to disregard the
ethics of trade by poarching upon the
| realm of a retailer.
In the organization of this association
| and the bylaws adopted there is nothing
that | can find which governs or in the
slightest way suggests Y its officers what
| their expectancy SHOULD be, but FEELING
a delicacy in ever entertaining an ambi-
ton for third term in office, | want to
| say to my friends and co-workers that
| am extremely gratifed for their sup
| port and good wishes. but as matter OF
| precedent l beg of the members OF the
association the privileges of turning over
| to the vice president my office, and ask
! for a unanimous vote when his name is
put in nomination, believing that In the
| present instance he is justly due the
honor. and that the interest of the asso-
| citation would be conserved by sueh a
| rule.
| would also take the liberty of suggest
| ing that a rule be adopted that the retir-
| ing president be elected director, and TO
| serve on the executive committee. addi-
| tional to the three members provided for
| in the bylaws. For. after a president has
faithfully fulfilled the duties OF such OF
| free. he will be thoroughly conyersant
with association work. and would there
fore be valuable addition to such COM
mittee.
Suggestions for Future.
AS it is the custom and assumed priv