The age-herald., 1900-08-29
LIVING QUESTIONS
 OF VITAL CONCERN
Asked by President VanHoose, of
 Wholesale GroCerS.
THE TIMEFOR UNITED ACTION
Looking to Harmonious and Beneficial Conditions in Production, Manufac-
 ture, Transportion. Distribution
 and Consumption ot Products

President J. A. VanHoose of the Southern Wholesale Grocers Association has ad- dressed the following open letter to the thoughtful men of the country regarding general trade conditions, with a view to harmonizing interests, especially inviting expressions of opinions on the question of trusts and the legislative powers vested in the general government and the several States regulating them:
 Time is Come for Great Work
 Birmingham. Aug. 27, 1900.
 Dear Sir-In the opinion of many thoughtful men, the time has come in this country for more united action looking to conditions in the production, manufacture, transportation, distribution and consump- tion of products.
 Upon this association, of which l have the honor to be president, seems to logical ly fall large part of the duty in trying to arrive at some impartial and mutually helpful solution of many of the difficulties Which now separately seem to confront these various departments
 Powerful Interest
 Our territory embraces the Southern States and Indian Territory. The firms of wholesale SrOcerS alone number nearly seven hundred. Their employees, men di- rectly under their control, number at least seven thousand. Their combined influence would be too great to safely or modestly attempt its measure.
 Every wholesale merchant is interested in production, manufacture, transporta- tion, banking, insurance laws and in gen eral in the whole question of distribution to the consumer. It has, therefore, seem ed advisable to us to accept this responsi bility and to offer our services in secur- ing thoughtful opinions of others, as well as to exert our own energies in seeking how to permanently better the interests of all.
 NOn-Partisan Effort
 Thoughtful men of every calling are in- vited to cooperate with us in this general effort. It will be our purpose and endeav- or to keep it out of the entanglement of party lines. and as far possible away from the distraction of party war-cries. Nevertheless much scope must be allowed in expressing views as to the cause which at present seem to disturb these different spheres of action, and to raise in the minds of SC many people such strenuous objec- tions to much of the present manner of manufacturing, transporting and distribu- ting. In order to prevent our movement from becoming vague and impractical I venture to respectfully suggest for your consideration, and earnestly request your replies and counsel, along some such lines of inquiry as the following:
 Some Living Questions
 1. Do you concur in the opinion that production, manufacture, transportation and distribution are departmental and should especially in America, be regarded as separate spheres of action; the workers in each sphere co-operting with those in the others; neither sphere or department attempting to eliminate or to dominate the other?
 2 If this is sound economic principle, do you see any marked evidences of it's disregard or danger of it's further oblitera- tion? If so disregarded, why?
 g. Do you believe that the old adage, Competition is the life of trade,' is sound? If so, what would be your definition of trader" Can trade" be limited or "com- petition preserved by legal enactments?
 A. Is there any sound difference between trust and 'corporation?', How can either best be prevented from becoming a 'monopoly?'
 B. Do you think that it is advisable and practicable for the different States to sev- erally attempt to prevent by State Legis- latlon, trust" a Corporation Cor CO., operation of capitaD from becoming a "monopoly"-a monopoly in fact, if not in name? If so, how far would you per- init the apparently sound principle of "co- operation of either labor or capital to legally operate?
 6. Do you know of any State where so- called "trust' has been successfully "reg- ulated' by legal enactment as to price of product or manner of distribution? if so, please name the State and product. If not, what, in your opinoin, caused the failure? [ If you think 1t is impracticable, as judged by actual practice, for the various States to successfully accomplish this in a manner which carefully recognizes the rights of all departments and classes. then Qi pG fn xUha ind of a law should be framed, or what plan of procedure adopted by the general govern ment, in protecting fairly and impartially the rights, as well as advancing the best interests, of all of it's citizens.
 As to Glass Legislation
 S. Do you think that any law, State or Federal, should be passed which would grant farmer, mechanic, merchant, bank CT, lawyer, or doctor, the right to organ ize and cooperate for mutual help and protection, and then deny the same right to others, perhaps the same men, to or ganize and cooperate as representatives of corporate interests, for the protection and best interests of their various corpor- ations?
 g. Do you think it American, constitu- tional advisable to attempt to prevent such organization cooperation on the part of any or all? How far should such attempt infringe upon or take away from our citizens the right to contract with each other?
 10. Do you believe that it is economically and nationally sound to recognize and per- init class legislation among our citizens? If so, how far?
 Il. How are such conditions and ques- tions as the above met and handled in oth- CT countries, especially in England and her colonies, and in France and Switzerland?
 12. If you think the need exists, you are earnestly requested to at least outline your views as to some practical, workable plan of bringing about more harmonious and satisfactory cooperation between these separate departments or spheres of action