The San Francisco call., 1899-05-18
Hardware Jobbers Will Fight to
Keep Eastern Dealers From
Western Trade.
Delegation of Local Merchants Will Con-
fer With the Agents for the North
ern Railroads They Will Leave
Tonight for st. Paul.

THE fight that has been a-brewing for
three weeks past between the big
hardware wholesalers of California,
Il Oregon and Washington and the big
ger jobbers of St. Louis, st. Paul and
Chicago for Western trade and the retail
trade of intermediate points is on in dead
earnest, and San Francisco is well to the
front on the firing line.
From the defensive the home merchants
have switched TO the aggressive in the
past week. and tonight delegation of
the heavyweight dealers of this city will
leave for St. Paul to carry the battle into
the heart of the enemy's camp. The wits
of the biggest dealers of the West, backed
by the Ogden and southern railroad lines,
are arrayed against the money, the
brains and the influence of the immense
firms of the East, n combination with
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific
railroads; the fight is to be of no mean
proportions.
Since it was first announced in The Call
three weeks ago that the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern had secretly made
new tariff on Western freight in less than
carload lots for the benefit of the dealers
of the Middle East the merchants of this
city have been holding almost daily meet
ings to devise ways and means to combat
the powerful influence SO quietly working
against them.
That the two northern roads had broken
faith and had been false to the compact
entered into by them last May with the
other transcontinental lines was at first
mere rumor and the agents of the local
firms had the greatest difficulty in verify
ing ii. The wholesalers of Portland, Ia
coma, Seattle and Spokane were COM
municated with, and they entered into
hearty cooperation with their California
brethren, with the result that copies OF
the new tariff sheets We're secured and
the duplicity of the northern lines proved.
Numerous plans were talked over and
dropped: No satisfaction was to be
gained by letters or kilograms sent to
The trathc managers of the TWO lines. and
Eastern hardware and groceries began 10
pour into the northern markets on equal
terms with the home merchants. The
Seattle and Tacoma dealers We're well
nigh desperate and they kept the wires to
San Francisco hot with adVlceS.
A week ago the plan at present being
consummated was broached and il found
immediate favor. The traffic committee
of the Metal and Hardware Association
took 1t up and elaborated upon it, and as
a result four of the most prominent mem
bers of the association will leave tonight
arranged with the traffic managers of the
two backsliding roads.
San Francisco will be represented by
w. r. Wheeler, manager for Holbrook,
Merrill & Stetson and Chairman of the
Metal and Hardware Association; Charles
+. Tay of the George II. ay Company.
II. D. LoVeland of the California Whole
sale Grocery Dealers Association and
Mr.. Carrigan of the firm of Dunham-
Carrigan Co.
The Californians will not go to fight
alone by any means. Portland is sending
a delegation of ten of her biggest bust
ness men, Seattle is sending six, Spokane
two and Tacoma has a list of a half
dozen or more. They will rendezvous at
St. Paul and Will descend in force upon
the heads of representatives Of the two
roads. They will ask the reason for their
unlooked-for action and present their own
case and arguments in an effort to have
the old rate restored.
Concerning the situation a. it effects
the dealers of the West, Mr.. Wheeler said
last night: We are not going to st. Paul
10 make a fight against the two roads,
but simply to state our case 1t is a Just
one and upon presentation | think it will
win. If we do not ! cannot say what
the result will he.
This whole thing is neither more nor