The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-12
! GO-AS-YOU-PLEASE.
Single Association Practically
Gives Up the Ghost.
CUTTING PRICES ALL AROUND.
laay 81 ne osllsy Onss Confess sad
DSSsad xhemsslvss-PsIee List
Suspended for . Aonsh.


70 pieces 20 far - the purpose for which it
was organised 10 concerned, and now II il
devil take the hindmost in the race for
market for the principal product Of Puget
sound. The association had . stormy ses-
sion yesterday In Ranke's hall About
sixty-nvs members were present. repre-
senting about us mills and dealers.
The morning session was devoted prfn-
cipsIly 70 the airing Of grievances on the
part Of those who have had no trade thus
far this season. and charges Of cutting
prices were freely INDUCED in. That much
Of this was going on was an open secret to
most Of those present. but the extent to
which Il had been carried was not realized
until they had all compared notes. Secre-
tary Duniway had discovered much of it
before the meeting, and had written to
many Of those guilty Of bad faith about
the matter. The only replies from these
parties, who numbered en- even dozen,
were tenders Of their designations, which
were accepted at the meeting yesterday.
6ecretary Duniway then made
speech. in which he said that the present
state Of affairs was intolerable, and that
something must be done to protect the
honest members of the association against
the scaipers. or else the association
would go to pieces. He made the start
ling statement that fully one-fourth or one
third the members were cutting prices and
selling shingles to outside scalpers notori-
Gus for selling under the association
prices. He presented documentary evi.
dence to substantive his charges in tho
shape of price lists, copies of letters. etc..
and detailed statements of shipments
made. None of those CHARGED with vio-
ton of the agreement denied the charge,
although many were present On the
other hand. they justified their action on
the ground that others had done it before
them. and they did not propose to have
their trade taken away from them in any
such manner.
Much wild talk was INDUCED in and it
was a long time before the meeting got
down TO discussing q remedy for the state
of affairs. All sorts Of suggestions were
made with view to afiording temporary
relief without resorting to heroic treat
ment for the complaint. The little mills
dreaded an open warfare. but as they are
bound up with the dealers in the associa-
ton, and the latter must find market for
their product, they finally had to face
the difficulty squarely.
First il was proposed to form commit.
tee Of six who should have the power to
fix prices from time to time so as to effect
ualiy checkmate the outsiders and scalp
crs. This was the first time that anything
looking toward the formation of a trust
had been suggested, but its weakness was
apparent to all. Then it was proposed to
form pool OF shingles. to be contributed
by the members according to capacity of
output, which was to be thrown
on the market suddenly with q
view TO utterly demoralizing the
Eastern patrons Of the outside
scaipcrs and cutters. This was received
with more favor and liberal contributions
70 tho pool were made. Finally this
scheme was dropped. and propositions
were made to cut the prices 40 and 25
cents, but they were received with no favor
at all, and the question coming up whether
there should be any definite cut or not, it
was voted down by large majority.
An effort was made to regulate produc-
ton by an agreement to shut down for a
certain length of time. but this it was
shown would be nuts" for the outsiders,
who would have the market all to them
selves and would run their mills night and
day. and the suggestion did not receive a
second.
II was now growing late: the members
wer tired. The more they learned of the
true inwardness of the situation the more
desperate they became. They had can
vassed every possible method of solving
the question. except one, which was before
them all the time like ghost. Most of
the members had gone to the meeting de-
tcTmined not TO recognize the specter, and
even TO bounce It unceremoniousiy should
II appear. But il sat on the rostrum and
grinned AMI bided its time. After every
other resource had failed the specter spoke
and proposed TO suspend the agreement on
prices for thirty days. 10 give the battle to
the swiftest and strongest and let the devil
and the sheriff take the slow aud feeble
Reluctantly. but goaded by desperation. a
good majority voted in favor of the PROMO
sition, and the thing was settled.
Then the question was sprung "What
are We here fort" Blu; the feeble hone
was held out that perhaps in thirty days
the situation would be different and that
prices could then be put back 10 their old
place. or even higher. and having grappled
with stern necessity they now caught
frantically at dream. and voted TO meet
again at Tacoma on the second Tuesday in
May. Reporters were excluded from the
meeting and the members were pledged
10 secrecy.
As 10 the effect of the associations ac.
ton the opinions of the members are va
yious. Most Of the small manufacturers
feel very blue. and can see no light ahead
They have 10 rely upon brokers TO find 4,
market for their product, and they mus.
nov take just what these middlemen offer
them or 80 out OF business. A majority n.
them are in debt, and csnno. run week
~ a loss. Then they cannot manu.ae;urs
as ebeaply as the larger aud better
equipped concerns. who naturally will mt
the price down low enough TO enable them
90 run at their fall capacity. aud. If they
cannot supply all the demand. the little
mills viii get what orders the large mil,
cannot nh.
Secretary nanivsy says ,ha, no one
can sell shingles for SIS per thousand
and make any money, and before the price
gets down 10 that figure permanently
many of the little mills Will have 10 close
down. Al first, however, the stocks on
hand must be disposed of, and competition
viii be keen TO sell and the price mag go
20 81
Referring 10 the statement made in an
interview Monday evening that i was un-
aerstcoi that Foster & Hastings. Of Ta-
coma, and the puniway Company. of
Portland. were ready 10 throw Up their
haads and let the association go TO pieces.
q. ". Hastings and Mr.. DunixAy say
ahers wxs rn warrant for sueh a x.a.o