The San Francisco call., 1903-12-05
THE WOODWARD LAW.

| ducers not to assume that the Harbor Commission
i ers were averse the enforcement OF the Wood
ward law. That law passed III response to The
Calls demand made long ago and persisenty renewed,
that free market facilities be afforded in this city both
producer and consumer The Harbor Commission estab
lished such Haarket State wharf and carried out
the law detail by the issue of permits commission
men to do business that wharf, coming into immediate
contact with the producer.
The Commits toner's have now acted. upon any
formation publicly furnished by any producer but upon
the complaint of retail dealer that commission firms
holding the State permit refused to sell to him at the
market price any price the produce required by him
his business 1t appears his affidavit that he does not
belong the retail dealers association and that his
plcaton for membership therein rejected and that
the wholesalers gave him to understand that he could
have any goods because he not member Of the
association which rejected him.
In this information is developed the fact that there
exist wholesale dealers combination and retail deal
ers' combination and that is bound by agreement
only to sell to and to buy of the other This means that
retail dealer exist without the OF these
two combinations and that retailer who
the free market buy first hands of the producer
denied the right buy anything OF the wholesalers and
is excluded from the retail dealers combine.
There is no doubt that this inter-combnaton would
be held unlawful by the in restraint of trade
AS long entirely nullihes the purpose of the
Tree market expressed by the Woodward law. The
commission firms involved made technical defense and
their permits Cancelled by the Harbor Comms-
soners and the Chief Wharhnger instructed
permit them to do business any of the wharves,
docks or property of State This vindicates
our confidence that the Harbor Commissioners would
enforce the law if given proof of its violation 1t was
fair claim that they the facts exist
for their action under the law is judicial in
The firms aggrieved by it lay action in the
which will the law and determine the right of
the Harbor Commission TO proceed under it.
We desire the producers carefully the fore
going and consider that the proof left
incident of the trial significant An attorney ap
peared, claimed recognition and made this statement
Il protest against the attempt this place into
courtroom. speak for the consumers, the people who
being robbed every day by this produce combine Il
is right to force any make charge against
this combine. AS he does this he is boycoed
and loses his position 1t is for the small dealers
prefer the charges 1t is for you Commissioners to
act"
This preposterous proposition Such
combine appears the proof submitted works harm
to classes, the producers and the consumers Incl
denally retail dealer suffers by system that is in
strant of trade. But in the end all restraint of trade
hurts only classes those who produce and those who
consume. Our contention made and persisted in
in the interest of the producer removal of restraint
upon him brings supply and demand into natural rela-
tons and relieves the of artificial exaction.
No wrong this world arising in and trade
rghted by the exerton and cooperation
of those who suffer from it. To say that is not right
for the Harbor Commissioners to ask any to make
charges say that those who suffer the wrong must
suffer silence and lift neither voice hand help
the officers in setting them right We regret that such
view is taken To project it into Jurisprudence would
that the remedies of the law vain things as to
invoke them it is necessary prove that wrong has
been done. The author of the injury will furnish
proof of it, for the law throws the burden of the proof
on the sufferer, who prove his injury
Every effort far made in this State to the
natural rights of the producer has either failed been
made difficult of accomplishment by the failure of the
sufferers themselves TO give proof information upon
which remedy be predicated The Woodward4aw
step largely into the unknown, taken in the belief
that wrongs existed for which a remedy be pro-
vided We suggest that earnest effort be made
get the producer and face face in the
free market If the decision of the Harbor Commission
stand may be expected that the combine Of the whole
sale and retail associations will be destroyed and the ef
feet upon the producer and will be awaited
with great interest by both classes.
mn