The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-20

A splendid opportunity is now Offering
Itself for a display OF the old Seattle spirit
OF Seattle first. last and always" the
spirit that made Seattle great and which
has lifted her far above the backbiting and
Jealousy OF contemporary towns Never
was a better chance offered TO support
home Industry than that presented BY the
controversy 10 which the Seattle Cracker
aud Candy Company is an unwilling
party. the victim OF freeZe-out game be-
aind which is arrayed the recently organ
lied combine o. cracker and candy manu-
facturers on the Pacific coast. The plot
OF the San Francisco and Portland manu-
facturers 10 enter the legitimate territory
OF the Seattle Cracker and Candy Com
pany and drive the local institution from
the field. simply because the Seattle firm
refused 20 raise its prices in accordance
with the dictates Of the trust, became
known about the city yesterday. having
heen pat in circulation by outside travel
ing men who came representing houses
which Were interested in the new pool.
These commercial travellers offered 10
certain wholesalers and jobhers in It's
city rates upon their goods that reached
the ears Of the Seattle Cracker and Candy
Company people. and left no alternative
but the belief that the war which has been
threatened had broken out.
The story that leads up 10 the present
condition of business affairs in relation 10
the manufacture OF crackers Tor biscuits)
and confectionery is long one, and
goes back TO the time when Sarony. the
big candy manufactures. of San Francisco,
acquired business interests in Portland
and later In Seattle. Subsequent events
led TO the closing out of certain businesses
and combining the manufacture of ordinary
goods TO those that were left, leaving all
a fErh loss md Gvan ~Ttr -.
be made in San Francisco, at the principal
mandatory Of Mr.. Sarony.
Then the Portland Cracker Company &C
CURED the business OF the Tacoma
Cracker Company and ran a mandatory
In Seattle. under the name OF the Portland
Cracker Company.
When the Seattle Cracker and C..ndy
Company commenced business the title OF
the concern was changed from the ort-
land Cracker Company TO the Northwest
Cracker Company and was made an adj
Junct of the Portland house only the title
or the Webfoot town was printed on the
packages in very small letters. The Sc
attic Cracker and Candy Company took
the schedule of prices as they found 1t and
went into the manufacture of better goods
than any made north of San Francisco.
Being upon the ground. their making of
frst-class goods and the meeting of prices
OF outside houses led TO the building up of
a splendid business in this section of the
state and in Alaska. The latter territory
logically belongs 10 Seattle but before the
Seattle Cracker and Candy Company COM
menced operations this business went TO
Portland and San Francisco. Everything
contributed 10 the success of the home in
Stitution. The members of the firm were
loyal 10 Seattle. They bought all of their
-four in this city. The cartons and boxes
were made here. and employment was
n ht1rV aN.I
On the theory that there are three per-
sons dependent on every one who Is work
ing, there would be between 100 and $50
gaining living through the efforts of the
Seattle Cracker and Candy Company 10
build up legitimate business.
When the price Of -four went up there
was proportionate rise in the cos. of the
company's product. Then the offer was
made by representatives of outside con-
Germs to again raise the price. The offer
was made to Mr.. Whitney. He said that
when -four went up the company raised
It's prices; there was no reason at that
time for any further rise and Mr. Whit
ney said so. He was told that he did not
have to have a reason for raising the
prices whenever he wanted TO. Mr. Whit
ney still refused and then commenced the
ili-feeling that led gradually up TO the at
tack on the home institution yesterday.
The Seattle Cracker and Candy Co.'S
business methods were those OF other
manufacturing houses. To jobbers and
wholesalers they gave discount Of 10 and
per cent; 10 retailers. per cent OF
for cash. the term cash" meaning from
the time the account was entered until
the lst OF the succeeding month. When
the statesmen OF the Seattle Cracker and
Candy Company went out into the street
for business yesterday they were met BY
the statement that better and more ad-
NJ .A. 4 harv- nx-
side houses. The matter was reported at
the compans's Offices. and Il was decided
20 meet any rate that the outsiders might
make. The company depends upon the
loyalty Of Seattle people 20 home institu-
lions, al other things-prlce. quality. etc.
being equal
The move on the part OF the outsiders
was not unexpected. Mr.. Whitney. who
has only recently returned from Portland
heard over there thai the heads OF the
various cracker and confectionery manu.
factories were in San Francisco. Some 1t
tic time before. the Seattle company had
been approached by emissaries OF what Is
now the combine with a proposition %
close the Seattle factory and accept a GER
tain proportion of the revenues OF the
Portland concern. leaving all Of the North
west territory open 10 the trust 10 operate
In. This proposition was also refused and
now The result Of the refusal and the San
Francisco meeting Is a cutting Ind slash
ing OF prices that viii upset the records
OF business in Seattle. where the war IS
being carried OF. The local house does
not propose to be driven from the field
and VIII meet the prices given. n they
should be less than the first cost 0f -four
and sugar. Seattle consumers can display
their patriotism by asking for the Seattle
product beinE assured BY 4 past expert
ence that Il VII equal any similar goods
and being sold as cheaDly.
= IS understood that Mr.. Sarory's inter-
ests IN the combine are represented IN a
pool Of issues with the Portland Cracker
Company in the expense OF putting the
Joint products on the market; ore travel
ING man being able TO represent both
branches ~ the expense that might other
wise attach 70 one Mr.. Sarony's candy
factories are in san Francisco. Los An
Eeles Sacramento and Portland. and Il -
said thar he has also an interest In the
Queen City Candy Company. which, Il II
rumored will close up SIS business 20
night The suggestion lics in the fact that
certain emrioyes Of the Queen City Com
Vanv YESTERDAY asked for employment u
the Seattle Cracker sn3 Candy Company
saving thst the Queen City Company VII
close tonight.
II Is also hlrted that the present aght
chat ts ro' unlike 4 railroad rate war; IS
backed hv tne American Biscuit Company
In speaking ~ the matter 20 Post-fn~
tef1irencer re~~ese~tatlve last evening.
Mr. wnftrpv ana NJ Brown both SAID
that the Seattle concern VIII not close.
Moreover Il IS prepared % stay 81 the
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