The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-27
WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
AGAINST THE GROCERY TRUST
Suit Filed at Marion. Kan, on Behalf of
the State

the State.
Marion, Kan. Aug. 26-There was
| commenced in the district court Of Ma
| rion county yesterday, a suit fled by
the county attorney, J. T. Dickinson, in
which the state Of Kansas is plaintiff
and the Symyns Grocery company, Park
hurst, Davis & Co., F. X. Beam, B. P.
Melick and the Missouri and Kansas
Jobbers association are defendants.
1t is alleged in the petition that these
are formed into a trust and combine
which has complete control Of all the
prices upon all the groceries sold in the
state Of Kansas, and that they have a
settled and fixed and an agreed price at
which groceries shall be sold in every
town in the state OF Kansas.
1t is especially alleged that the article
of granulated sugar is sold wholly upon
such stipulated priceand agreement.
1t is the prayer of the petition that the
defendants be enjoined from continuing
their agreements in effect.
Judge Moore granted a temporary in
junction.
Topeka. Kan, Aug. 26.-W. II. Davis
Of Parkhurst, Davis G. Co. when seen at
his home last night by reporter for the
Capital said:
This is the first I had heard of the
Injunction I really did no; know that
the proceedings were 10 be brought.
hardly know what stand our company
will take, but should certainly think We
will have TO make a fight"
'As far as the injunction is concern
ed" continued Mr.. Davis, ''it canno.
touch us. Our firm is not member of
any association and has nothing to do
with any association which regulates the
price on granulated sugar or any other
article.
Another thing. there is ma real asso- |
citation Of grocers in the state. Before |
the antitrust bill was passed by the last |
legislature most Kansas wholesale gro |
cerymen were members Of an organiZa-
ton known as the Kansas Wholesale |
Cirocer's association. But the trust bill /
knocked that organiZa ton out. As |
regular organization it was abandoned |
and is defunct.
This biz, however. does not prevent
the grocerymen from meeting. When
ne regular organiza ton was abandoned
he grocerynen informally agreed 10
meet at such times az was convenient.
have rever attended any Of those meet
nrs and our company has nothing TO do
With tnem."
Mr.. Davis said that If there was an or
yanization OF the grocerymen the or
,snization could have nothing to do with
ne regulating OF the price of granulated
sugar.
The price OF sugar" he said. lis reg
Hated by the sugar efineries. The price
# sugar depends wholly with refineries.
Grocery firms that deal in sugar are
merely agents. They are known as sell
ng factors.
when our firm. or representative o,
Ut firm, sells sugar. We areu nable 70
uote any firm price % the purchaser.
When We make a ale we have 10 COM
lunica:e the date and hour OF the sale
D the refinery. The price OF sugar TiN
epend upon the refinery quotation "a
Jew Orleans az the hour and date of
ale. plus the freight rae from New o.
ans 70 the point whore the sale is made.
As an example. the refinery quotation
4 sugar a; New Orleans his morning
as s5.09. Theprice OF sugar today
ould be- based upon that quotation plus ,
le freight rae from that point 10 any Z
pin: wheresugar would be sold" Z
F. K. Beam. who was made a party % {
ls suit. is the travelling representative
ne Parkhurs;- Davis company IN Kan 9
- NJ. Davis said last night that NJ. :
cam was not a member % ne grOcers' :
'ganization and he knew no reason :
ny NJ Beam should have been made /,
Ir:y 20 the sui; unless {; Vas because
was represen,a-iy u the Parkaurs- s
avis c0ruuzuv