Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-29
YET PEOPLE PERSIST IN sUs-
PEcTINe THE EXISTENCE
OF one.
WHERE THERE is so MUCH
SMOKE SOME ONE MUST
BE SMOKING"
MAIL ORDER COMPETITION OF
GREAT INTEREST TO
DEALERS.

so we are Oy w. u. 1Oii1Ss ScSt SlellJ VI
the Northwestern Lumbermen's asso-
citation. A report to that effect was
submitted at the opening session Of
the eighteenth annual meeting of the
association in Minneapolis.
Much has been voiced and more
has been written during the last
twelve months about the lumber
trust. alleged to be the greatest trust
of ALL" said he. A prairie fire Of
abuse and Misrepresentation, kindled
by United States senator and famed
by all those enemies to progress who
would pull down legitimate business
10 foster their own schemes, has rap
idly spread all over the country until
every organization of lumbermen is
under the ban. This association has
come in for far more that its share
of criticism, because in the public
mind there seems to be associated
with the name Northwestern the idea
that the territory covered is every
thing between the Mississippi river
and the Pacific coast. And geograph-
ical scope is not the only feature en-
larged upon, for we are openly ac-
cused Of controlling everything from
the standing forest to the last distri-
button of its products to the tiller OF
the soil. 1t is waste Of time and
We IDS to tell these people that We
couldn't if we would and wouldn't if
we could for they will not believe.
Investigations and prosecutions are
demanded, the clamor is insistent
and upon the theory that Where
there is so much smoke, somebody
must be smoking, the campaign is
on"
since our last meeting the legisla-
ture of Minnesota, through commit
tee appointed for the purpose, made
an investigation, the result of which
was a disappointment. The report OF
the committee stated in effect that
while they had not been able to find
any evidence of trust, they still be-
lieved one TO be in existence. Like
the woman convinced against her
will, they were of the same opinion
still. Let us hope that the inyestiga-
ton now in progress by the federal
government will be of such character
that the conclusions reached will be
final and sustained by proof.
canceIiIng Orders.
Ralph H. Burnside, president of the
association, in his annual address,
gave considerable prominence to the
subject of cancellations, which is par
ticularly a live issue among lumber
men at this time. After describing
the conditions of year ago in the
lumber market, Mr.. Burnside said:
"On account of rapidly advancing
markets. there had been evinced a
marked disposition on the part of not
few manufacturers and wholesalers
in some parts Of the country to eyade
wherever possible the filing of orders
taken on a rapidly advancing market,
and to dispose of the material, which
should have gone to fill those older or
ders, in filling new ones at advanced
prices. In less than six months time
conditions had commenced to change,
and now, at the end Of the year, they
are absolutely reversed, and we have
under consideration at this meeting
vigorous complaints on the part of the
wholesalers and manufacturers be-
cause of the cancellation Of orders by
retailers on one pretext or another,
but which the wholesalers claim are
almost entirely due to falling mar
ket
Changes in Year.
IL do not believe that one of our
members was wise enough and, If
wise enough, was brave enough--to
predict. one year ago, that such re-
markable changes in conditions would
have come about so soon. The change
means new problems for the retailer
in readjusting his affairs to the altered
conditions For seven or eight long
years the wholesalers and manufacture
ers of lumber have been on top. The
retailer has been between the upper
and the neither millstone-the upper
one being the wholesaler, the under
enc the consumer.
81 am sure none of us would be I'M
charitable enough to criticize our
wholesale friends for taking advantage
of the conditions as they have existed,
and now that it appears that we are
1t the bat, and after such long
period of marvellous prosperity on
their part, l cannot believe the whole
saler will criticize us for running in a
few scores just as long as we can
hold our breath, provided, of course.
that we do it lawfully and honoraSly."
On the subject of catalog house
competition Mr.. Burnside said
Mail order Competition.
"At our meeting last year, consider
Bile attention was paid through papers
offered by various individuals to mail
order house competition. There was
much evidence Wat the retail lumber
men were fully alive 20 the dangers
from this rather new form Of ruinous'
competition. and the subject was given
much attention. not only at our meet
ing. but as much or more at the vari-
Gus lumber association meetings over
the country. as well as at the meet
iRgs Of other retail merchants The
which had been made at
= Il