Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-01
PREPARED BOYCOTT
Views Of Wheeling Firm on the Cues
tion-ProtectiOn Against Whole.
salers - The Pittsburgh
Meeting.

Press dispatch announced a meeting In
that city of lumber retsilers from West
Virginia, Eastern Ohio and western
Pennsylvania to form q protective associa'
ton. No details were given, and yesterday
REGISTER reporter visited several lumber
dealers here to ascertain the nature and
objebt of the meeting. The dispatch said
West Virginia firms we're present, but
none could be found in Wheeling who had
been there. A prominent planning mill
man said:
WHEELING NOT REPREsESTED.
81 don't think a single Wheeling man
vas present or firm represented at that
meeting as the necessity which called II
does not exist go strongly bere.'
"What is the necessity"
"Protection against the wholesale lum'
Der men. For instance We buy our lum.
Der of a wholesale firm at say four cents,
and sell it to farmers, carpenters and 9TH
or consumers at five cents as the lowest
price, II that carpenter or farmer could
90 to the same wholesale hrm and buy
lumber by the car load at AZ cents, it
would cut us out, you see. That is what Is
complained of. Wholesalers sell to consul
mers, not at the same price they sell TO
retailers, but still at a lower figure than
retailer can afford to sell. This meeting,
presume, is called to consider this feature
and adopt nrIfotective measures"
"HoT will protection be secured?"
Nv forming an association and refusing
to buy from al y Wholesale dealer who sells
TO consumers.
SIMPLY TO BOYCOTT THEM"
"Do you notice that in Wheeling"
ITO q certain extent We do, but not
The matter is frequently discussed over
there and the last meeting was at Canton.
IL an association is formed, the Wheeling
firms may and may not 60 into II"
Later in the day the Pittsburgh papers
came and the Dispatch contains an account
Of the meeting. A large number OF firms
we're represented, but there are among
thtm no names familiar to Wheeling ears.
HOW IT WORKS.
The Chsirman stated the object of the
meeting and invited expressions from the
sertlemen present. Secretary said that
IN Ohio there were about 900 retail lum-
Der dealers aud $50 in Western Pennsylva.
MIA, and the desire was to so strengthen the
association that it would be able to secure
to these men protection from the more
powerful wholesale firms. AS an illustra-
ZION, be stated that in Canton there were
six retail dealers in a population of 2O,OOj.
The wholesale men of Cleveland not only
supplied them, but solicited orders
from consumers direct, furnishing
material at lower rate than
they could possible afford to, and
this, he said, was a sample OF the expert.
ence all over the country. 1t was to put
an end to this kind of work that the asso-
citation had been formed. The organization
in Ohio was very strong, and as result OF
the unity many wholesale dealers in the
cities had refused to fill any orders save to
citation would BE completely do away with
competition from these more powerful
sources, but was satisfied great good could
be accomplished.
Mr. Anderson said that sturtevant and
other large dealers had canvassed that por-
ticn of the State where he resided and
solicited trade from consumers at lower
II tes than retailers could possibly compete
against. He thought that retailers should
take all honorable means in their power to
protect themselves, and he was heartily in
favor of the principles of the union and de-
clsred that all retail dealers in his vicinity
would give it hearty support
COMPETITION IN PITTSBURGH.
Mr.. Gearing took the position that all re-
tail dealers should refuse to trade with
wholesale lumber merchants who tried to
monopolize the entire trade OF q commun-
ity. He said that in Pittsburgh there were
several firms that after supplying the re-
rail trade were in the habit Of sending
agents to contractors and builders aud
undertaking the former. He cited sew
eral instances of this character, and was in
favor of any measures that would put an
end to this business and give the retailers
living chance.
Mr.. Grannis said that the same tactics
were OF common occurrence at Braddock,
ana that in consequence the retail trade
had been greatly embarrassed. He was
positive that the trade in that vicinity
would hail the union as of the gre attest i'm
portance to their interest.
Other gentlemen expressed themselves
in a similar manner, and the idea seemed
to meet with the warmest approval. The
books were then opened and all present
who had not previously Joined the or
gsnizrtion did 80. The question OF
how these cases OF infringement on
on the part Of wholesalers were to be made
krown then came up for consideration.
After considerable discussion it was deci-
ned that each member should report cases
coming under his observation to the Secre-
tary, who would in turn notify the balance
If the members.
Other matters of minor importance were
then considered when the meeting ad-
iourned until the next regular meeting Of
The association, which will be held at Day