The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-25
MORE AND MORE OF IT.
THE PLUMBERS HAVE THEIR
TRUST WHAT NEXT?
[St. Paul Globe.1

lSL. Paul OlODe.J
You can't buy any stock of us for
cash, or otherwise, because you are
not members Of the Master Plumbers
aSsociationn'
The above was the extraordinary
greeting which wOuld-be purchasing
plumbers, who had not yet joined the
above mentioned organization, say
they received from the supply com
panfes yesterday when they asked for
goods. The idea Of an open store for
the sale Of plumbers materials de-
Ginning to sell for cash was SO far out
or the usual order Of business that
the Globe proceeded to run the mat.
ter down and obtained a good deal of
interesting and somewhat startling
information in consequence.
About half of the master plumber rs
Of st. Paul and Minneapolis recent y
organized themselves into what they
term protective association for the
preservation and advancement of
their business interests, but what is
also,lf the statements OF a large num-
Der OF persons Interested are true, an
organization for the overthrow of
non bers in that business, the ad-
vance of prices for plumbing. and the
creation Of a monopoly of which the
mem berS OF the association and GER
tain supply houses are TO be the bene-
ficiarics
In order to get the facts as they
really exist and to give both sides of
the case. parties in the different in
will appear in the interviews which
follow:
One Of the first seen was P. V.
Dwyer, on Third street. He was ask
ed if it was true that the supply
houses had made the refusal above
quoted
ut is true" he replied.
Nv hat does it mean?"
ut means combine between the
local supply houses and the Master
Plumbers association for the purpose
OF freezing OUT members of the trade
who do not belong to the organiza-
ton. or are not in the agreement
which has been made
Are you member"
II certainly am not and will never
be in any such deal"
Have you been refused goods on
application?
YES, I have, and by the supply
companies OF this city, who up to now
nave sold to me. | went to the Crane
OrdWay company this morning to buy
a bill Of goods and was told that they
would not sell to me. | asked why
and they said because l was not a
member of the master plum bers' asso-
cation. l then asked what difference
that made to them as long as | paid
for my supplies. / even rendered the
cash and it was refused. 1t was then
explained to me that the COMPANY
had appointed agents to make sales
for them and that / would have to 90
to them. Asked who these agents
were they gave me a typewriter list
OF names which on inspection proved
to be the roll of membership of the
master plumbers association, indi-
eating what appears to be the forma-
tlOn OF a conspiracy for the purpose
OF affecting prices OF material and la
Dor, and the control of the business
in an unwarranted and unlawful man.
ner: in other words trade combine,
which our statute prohibits. The
agency feature is flimSy mask as
sumed to hide the real purpose in
view.
81 also applied to the Western Sup
ply company, the only other house in
town, and was refused there point
blank. | made tender of money at
that place also, which was not &C
certed. These facts can be substant I'll
ated by others who have met with the
same treatment today. 1t is due some
Of the members of the masters
plumbers association to say that they
deny any knowledge of such a plot
and they repudiate the characterize
ton Of agency given them by the Ord
way company. Pendergast Sons are
among those who make this disclaim-
err. Prices of materils have been ar
bitrariy advanced right along lately
until they are over 100 per cent higher
than they were a few months ago. OF
course, the public will be the ultimate
sufferers.