The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-25
DEALERS LEFT OUT.
Association Makes a Move to
Freeze Out Outsiders.
THE SITUATION SIZED UP.
kosgs eteeks Of white Pine Menace the
Msrkst-sssshern Pacific Psys
for Tsrmtnaia-

One branch ofthe new shingis combine
has come 10 grief. the dealers ASSOCIATION
having been practically dissolved by ets-
cuiar issued from she headquarters In this
city few days ago. while the nsanufncs-
Ireys' association has settled down TO sn
effort 70 freeze cut the outside dealers
The trouble was due 70 the success OF the
Western dealers In buying shingles In
spite OF The associations efforts TO shut
them ont. The outsiders had the best OF
this association dealers. as the latter wers
hound by their contract with the assoeia-
ton. /: was decided 20 whip the out
stdsrs into line. and with this end In view
the Eastern price fixed BY the association
was abrogated and Manufacturers were
notified by circular that they were st lib
srty TO sell at the mill price direct 70 Esss-
srn wholesalers. Ii was even proposed by
some manufacturers that they should sell
80 Eastern retailers at the same prices as
% wholesalers. bat this was voted down at
the executive COMMITTEES meeting. As
this decision leaves no commission TO
dealers and the manufacturers are bound
b. their agreement To maintain prices. the
association expects 10 soon kil oil the
dealers on the Coast or bring them 70
terms.
The outsiders express no fear OF the re-
suits Of this last move and say IL only
presages the break up of the association.
They claim 10 be besieged with offers Of
shingles from association mills and say
that the making OF one price to both East
ern and Western dealers will simply cause
manufacturers to sell to the Western men at
prices which will leave . margin for COM
mlssion. They do not look for the large
manufacturers 10 buy up the product Of
the small ones. for they say the former are
not financially able TO carry the latter. 80
that the small manufacturers must sell to
che dealers. That is declared TO be the
only alternative. a. they have not the re-
sources nor the knowledge Of the markets
sufficient TO make safes direct to the East.
Thus the net result will be, according TO
the outsiders. who are called scaipers and
other mean names by their association
brethren, that prices will take tumble.
What view the association men take Of
the situation is not easy to learn. for they
preserve an eloquent silence on their pro-
ceedings and the prospects of the business.
Another potent factor in the situation Is
the existence Of large stocks OF white pine
shingles In tina East. These were accumu-
lated last year by lumbermen who have
regarded shingles ~ a by-product and
who held them In the hopes Of better
prices Than were being paid for the red
cedar shingles, which were then over
rrnning the Eastern markets at figures
aosurdiy below their real value. The
hard times cut off the demand for both
kinds Of shingles. and have now reduced
the white pine to . position where they
are anxious to sell. Thus statesmen In the
East find great difficulty In obtaining
orders for red cedar At present prices,
while these great stocks Of white pine
threaten to break the market Some of
them have written these facts to President
II. r. Duniway. Of the Red Cedar Single
Association, but he scornfully waves them
aside and threatens to prevent their fill
Ing any orders II they. break the price.
All the facts ob,ainabie seem to show
that II the Eastern market opens briskiy
within brief period and the large manu-
faeturers can take care Of the product of
the small mills. the association will hold
out. maintain prices and be able to make
terms with the dealers. unless the white
pine men should spoil their calculations.