b'AToOur Tribute ReadersAndAdvertisers JamesMcCawley,Editor : EDITORIAL Theroofingindustryisdefinitelygrowingupintelleccually,andwhileitgrowsin mental stature, it appears, curiously enough to be growing younger. The greybeardsthat usedtOform the bulk of audiences at industry conventionshave been replacedbyyouthfulcontractorswho might easilybe mistakenforundergraduate scholars. The result has been a greater participation from the "floor" at industry conventions and meetings. We betray our own greyhairsbylooking backthirtyyearsago, when it was difficulttOget a vocal reaction from an industry audience. Theyoungpeopleintheindustryhavenotacceptedindustrycustomswithouta challenge, and the challenges have resulted in improved specifications,improved methods of application. There was atime when the industryelders frownedupon any changein a specification or an application method hallowedbycustom. We have done our own part in challenging cuscom. A trade magazine was expected by custom merely to publish news of the industry it represented. We believe chatatrade magazineshouldbe ajournalof opinion. It shouldhavean opinionof itsown,andit shouldpublishtheopinionsofreaders,whetherornotit agreedwith those opinions. Aslong ascontroversysteersclearofabuse,differencesof opinion are often the first step to progress.~ We heard recently thewise observation "WhentWO or three men agree, onlyoneotr themisthinking."Whilethisissomewhatextreme,disagreementistheessenceof democracy. Agreement is also the essence of democracy if it is precededby an exchange of different points of view. We havebeenhappyat thereactionofreadersand advertiserstOthechangesthat we have wrought in the magazine. We have been abletOdo some of the things thatwe had only dreamed about before. Franklychiswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthefinancialsupportofour advertisers.Advertisersandreadershavepaidussubstantialcomplimentsbyordering reprints of articles. We doubt that any magazine in theconstructionindustry distributes as many reprints as we do. We are grateful co chose of our readers who have brought the magazine co the attention of their suppliers and their industry friends.'