St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-09-07

urSeu repeatedly. WHeH TeHlOnSlTdlce
is made by us, who are not members,
against this action we are laughed and
jeered at, and told we did not have to
buy, and were not needed in the bus
mess and had better get out. That's
the condition of the plumbing trade
in st. Paul today. The unfavored half
have to go to the above named inde-
pendent firms in Minneapolis, or to
firms in the East for supplies. This
necessitates a delay which involves
heavy loss and great annoyance to
smaller dealers who have not the nec-
essary capital to carry large and
varied stock. Many of the large deal
ers have, from principle, refused to
go into it, and others, no doubt, for
like reasons, now that they know
what it is, will get out of it. This is
a free country and l won't be forced
into an association against my will,
if I can help it,"
Mr.. McGregor, of the Minneapolis
firm above named, was in Mr.. Wards s
ing statement, and, hearing it, sub
stantiated it. 'I got my information, -
said he, direct from members of the
association and the supply houses which
have combined with them, and there
is not the slightest doubt but the facts
given by Mr.. Ward are true. 1 have
been told that the object of the move
ment was to drive a number of mas
ter plumbers out of the business and
so decrease competition and control
and increase prices. In Minneapolis
they required members to put up a
forfeit of $100 each that they would
buy from certain supply houses, who
in turn would refuse to sell to nom
members. That was the proposal made
to me as a supply man. / refused it
and have had a fight on my hands ever
since and have now. The amount of
forfeit was reduced to $25 finally be-
cause under the larger sum they
couldn't get members enough to make
a majority"
JOHN DWYER SHUT OUT.
John Dwyer, president of the Dwyer
Heating and Plumbing company, on
Fourth street, was another who had
failed to obtain goods yesterday on ap-
plication to buy them. 1--WE were sold
goods up to last Wednesday" said
he, when the combine went into eff
feet. I offered cash without avail. The
final arrangements were made at a
meeting of the executive committee
with representatives of the Crane
Ordway company. l had that infor-
nation direct from a member of the
association who has been urging me
to join them. 1t has been said by the
canvassers for membership that no
one not a member woul be allowed to
do business in this city-a boycott in
fact and in practice, and a most un-
warranted and shameful one. They
obtained members by misrepresenta-
ton Of the object of organization. I
am thoroughly familiar with the
methods which have been pursued and
can state that - a fact. Besides,
know men who have Joined it through
miSapprehenSion who would never
have gone into it had they been aware
of what was to follow. Oh, we will
fight the thing out, probably in the
courts. We are now in consultation
with our attorneys, and if there is
any virtue in the law of this state
against such combines the parties con-
cerned in it will be made to feel the
full weight of the penalty. A day or
two will bring surprising develop
ments.''
SUPPLY MEMS SIDE.
The Crane-Ordway company was
next visited, but no one who would
speak with authority could be seen
The chief clerk in charge stated that
Mr.. Ordway was absent and no one
else could give any information.
'"The G. ob has been informed
that you have refused to sell goods to
any but members of the Master
Plumbers association. You must
know, even in Mr.. Ordway's absence,
to whom you are authorized to SELL
Is our information correct?''
"I am not authorized to say" was
the reply.
''Will you say that it is not true?'
'No."
''Have you arranged to have the
members of that organization act as
your agents in the sale of goods? A
paper purporting to be a list of such
agents has been shown the G 10 b e,
which it is stated was issued here. Is
that a fact?"
II cannot say. You must see Mr..
Orlway"
where and when can I see him ?''
II cannot say. He is not in now"
The Western Supply company was in
In the person of it's treasurer, Mr.. Bet
tingen. He was questioned on the
matter, but would not commit himself
one way or the other. He did not
know that there was any particular
arrangement between the supply COM
panies and Master Plumbers associa-
ton.
t'Have you refused to sell to non
union members?''
well, we couldn't sell to everybody.
We wish to select our trade We are
members of the Master Plumbers as
sociation ourselves -
How does that come when they are
operative and you are mercantile?'
Eve consider it to our interest to be
so,' remarked Mr.. Bettingen.
Then being a member of that asso-
citation you should know what it's OBJ
Ject is and all about these charges
made against it-whether they are
true or not"
Mr.. Bettingen, observing the incon-
slStency OF the position taken, hast
ened to say that he meant his COM
pany was a member of the state asso-
citation, 'that is, Of the supply asso-
ciation"
Are they not practically one, or at
least joint organization? was
asked. Just then a non-member came
In to buy goods, but Mr.. Bettingen re-
fused to sell to him. "I don't want
your trade he told the applicant. To
the reporter he said that he would
not sell to him on any terms.
''Why not?'
''I consider him an unfair man." he
replied.
''In what respect?'
''Well, I told him wouldn't sell to
him for cash or any other way. ]
don't want his trade"
Because he is not a member of the
association" was asked, but Mr.. Bet.
tingen would not state.
The reporter followed up the un.
successful applicant for goods, found
out that he was not a member sure
enough, but that until yesterday he
had been able to purchase, invoices OF
late date being shown. 1t seemed ar