The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-02
ASKS VIEWS OF
AMERICAN PEOPLE
Southern Grocers' Association on
Combinations Of Capitals.
INFORMATION is SOLICITED.
Said That the Organization Wants to
Launch Scheme by Which
the Buying Will Be
Controlled.
INFORMATION is SOLICITED.

Mr.. E. G. Leigh, Jr., of this city. a mem
Der of the executive committee OF the
Southern Wholesale Grocers' Association,
was asked yesterday if he knew the pur-
pose Of Mr.. Van Hoses lette.. He SAID
he did not as he had been absent from the
city for several weeks and had just re-
turned.
81 do know this" added Mr.. Leigh, "arld
that is that Mr.. Van Hoose is a very able
man and tlas his heart in the work OF
the Wholesale GrocerS' Association lie
in my opinion, is endeavorinS to reach q
solution of the problems that now Vex
both the manufacturer and the Jobber ana
the retail merchant as we'll. He Is not
opposed to combinations of capital for
legitimate business operations. nor is he
in favor of grinding monopolies. L believe
he is aiming to ascertain how far the trusts
and the people are apart with a view of
ascertaining what can be done to bring
them closer together
Mr.. ]. A Van Hoosc, of Birmingham,
Ala. president of the Southern Wholesale
Grocers Association. one Of the most i'm
portant commercial bodies in America. has
issued broadcast circular letters asking
Of representative men in all walks of life
information and opinions relative to tie
influence, evil or otherwise, OF combina-
items Of capital. He says in his opinion
the time has come for more united action
in the matter of production, manufacture,
transportation. distribution and consum2-
ton of products. In his open letter Mr..
Van Hoose says:
Upon this Association. Of which I have
the honor to be President, seems to losi-
cal1y fall a large part OF the duty In
trying to arrive at some impartial ard
mutually helpful solution of many of the
difficulties which now separately seem to
confront these various departments
Cur territory embraces the Southern
States and Indian Territory. The firms
of wholesale grocers alone number seven
hundred Their employees. men directly
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 transportation.
banking, insurance. laws. and in general
In the whole question of distribution to the
consumer. It has, therefore, seemed ad-
VIsabe to to accept this responsibility.
and to offer our services in securing
Thoughtful opinions of others, as we'll as
to exert our Own energies, in seeking now
to permanently better the interests of all.
EVERYBODY APPEALED TO.
Thoughtful men of every calling are
invited to cooperate with us in this gen.
eral effort It will be purpose and
endeavor to keep it out of the en,angfe-
ment of party lines, and. as far as possible,
away from the distraction Of party war
cries. Nevertheless much scope must be
allowed in expressing views as to the
causes which at present seem to disturb
these different spheres of faction and to
raise in the minds of SO many people such
strenuous objections to much of the pres
ent manner of manufacturing, transport
ing and Distributing
BUYERS ASSOCIATION
1t was learned from quite a reliable
source, however, that Mr.. Van Hoses
circular letter is probably the result of the
agitation Of a movement to form in this
country buyers association, which
would control the purchase of supplies
and restore the prestige Of the joboer,
which has been somewhat impaired dur
ing the past decade because the grent fac
tories have been selling direct to the re-
tail men. In MS annual address to the
Southern Wholesale Grocers Association,
delivered last year just before he retired
from the presidency Of that organization
Mr.. Leigh strongly urged the need Of
buyers association, and since then the
wholesale grocers of the South have been
giving much thought to the subject.
MR.. VAN HOSES QUESTIONS.
Mr. Van Hoses questions DO not outline
plainly what he wants to know, but show
that ne only aims to give general idea.
in order that the answers may be as broad
nnd cover as wide a scope as possible.
They are given below:
1st Do you concur in the opinion that
production. manufacture, transportation
and distribution and departmental. and
should, especially in America, be regarded
as separate spheres of action; the work
ers in each sphere cooperating with those
in the others: neither sphere or depart
ment attempting to eliminate or to domi-
nate the other?
Cd. If this is a sound economic prin-
ciple, do you see any marked evidences OF
its disregard or danger of its further OBJ
Iteration? If so disregarded. why?
Sd. Do you believe that the old adage
Competition IS the life of trade is sound?
| If so, what would be your definition of
trade? Can trade" be limited or com
petition preserved by legal enactments?
4th Is there any sound difference be-
tween a, trust and q. ''corporation :?
How can either best be prevented from be-
coming a. monopoly?
5th. Do you think that It is advisable
and practicable for the different States to
severally attempt to prevent by State leg
Islation a crust" Corporation Cor CO.
operation OF capitaD from becoming mo