New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-21
TO FIGHT CAMERA TRUST.
BY LEAGUE AND THE L4W.
National Increment Begun-Appeat
to Government LikeIy.
rERox THE TRIBUNE BuREAr.I


country in order TO protect themselves from
what they characterize as the unjust and Illegal
discrimination and sitting of competition bv the
so-Called Photographic trust So widespread
has become the dissatisfaction over the methods
of the alleged trust, not only among the photoz-
raphers but the retail dealers in Photographic
apparatus and supplies as we'll, that a league
has been formed which has for it's purpose the
establishment of an open market. and its mem
bers pledge themselves to abstain from purchas-
ing their material from the combination
The American Photogra phic League. with
headquarters in Washington. purposes. by the
liberal dissemination OF literature and the secret
cooperation Of The retail dealers 10 nationalize
the movement against the alleged trust and
crystalline public sentiment against its methods.
The Rev Henry Mason Baum. president OF the
league. a man we'll known To the scientific world.
is also president of the Institute of Historical
Research. His work in recent years has been
Of a character 10 place him I'm close touch with
the Photographic market and 1t is because OF
the knowledge Of prevailing methods thus OBJ
tained that he has identified himself actively
with this movement
Dr. Baum announces that the organization was
formed solely to better existing conditions
through the powerful weapon of publicity He
points out that the league is independent OF and
distinct from any firm OF manufacturers agents
or dealers and that 1t viii not recommend the
goods Of any manufacturer or dealer. 1t is the
contention of its members that. through the
operations OF the trust. the cost OF supplies Is
largely increased to the consumer and that an
inferior quality Is placed on the market when
wholesome competition Is destroyed
SUCCESS OF MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND
Some years ago the professional and amateur
photographers of England found themselves In
a similar position and organized for mutual
self protection They formed the Free Camera
Club of England. alike IN purpose and action to
the American Photographic League. The same
plan OF procedure adopted and the
crusade resulted eventually in compelling the
Photographic trust in that country to aban-
don it's efforts TO control the market by not
permitting retail dealers to sell goods that
were In competition with those OF its man.
ufacture The officers and members OF the
American organization hope to accomplish the
same result and to that end will spare no time
or expense.
The so-caTed Photographic trust IN this
country is already under legal fire. and unless
Il can prove that the corporations II controls
were not competitors before they were allied.
and that competition not destroyed. At
togney General Cunneen OF New-York State
Will permit proceedings to be Instituted against
it under the DonnelIy antitrust law. This
decision was reached on December 10 upon
the application Of two New-York attorneys.
II asserted in the application that q
monopoly in the manufacture and sale oe
photographers supplies had been formed. IN
his decision the Attorney General found that
the defendants a holding corporation. carry
upward of 90 per cent OF the photographic
business OF the United States and that goods
for which they own the copyrights and patents
Will not be sold to dealers at the usual trade
their business to the goods OF the allied com~
panies.
Whether not the operations OF tba alleged
trust come within the prohibition OF the ssders
al antitrust laws remains TO be detesu1.nsd,
but It Is safe to assume. In view oS the News
York State decision. that the matter will ca
brought to the attention Of the Department. %
Justice for the purpose OF having the issalrr
of the company's methods thoroughly fnyssds
gated.
LEAGUES APPEAL TO THE PBoPrA
The American Photographic League VII tos
morrow issue the following appeal TO the conn-
try:
Photographic trust has. during the pass
few years. been organized with a capftal os sav-
eral million dollars. for the purpose OF CON-
trolling the retail trade in photographs supplies
IN the United states, as well as In foreign coun-
tries. Its method Of business forbids the re-
tail dealer to sell any Photographic goods that
are In competition with those manufactured by
the trust, thereby depr1Vtng the dealer Of
right 10 sell whatever his customers may wish
to buy, Irrespective of who the manufacturer
may be. and also depriving the consumer of
the right 10 purchase such goods as he may
ind desirable or necessary for his work and
at the same time increasing the cost OF sup
plies to the consumer. In their own interest
and to combat the trust, the professional and
amateur phOtOgra piers Of the United States and
all others interested in Photographic work are
invited to cooperate, by every lawful means
possible. 70 prevent the carrying out Of the
unlawful and un- american scheme OF the photo
graphic trust. To that end they are asked TO
pledge themselves not 10 purchase any photo
graphic goods manufactured by the trust ex-
cept In case of absolute necessity so long az
II persists In its unlawful and unjust methods
The American Photographic League has no
IuIes OF membership fees; its actual expenses
are met by voluntary contributions An item
lied statement will be rendered each month 10
those contributing OF all the money contributed
and expended. the only expense being for STA
tiOneTy, printing postage and clerical work II
is merely convenient name for the designation
of those Interested in photography who object
10 dictauon ON the subject OF apparatus
terids they shall buy. II is absolutely free
independent Of and distinct from any firm OF
manufacturers agents or dealers. and does not
recommend the goods OF any manufacturer or
dealer VIVA tSOever II has been organized for
self-proteCtion 10y professional and amateur
photographers and others who use photographs
goods i'm their business or have photographs
departments connected herewith II is similar
IN organization and purpose 70 the Free Camera
Club OF England. which was formed under sim
liar CtrCUmStan and which finally forced tina
Photographs trust IN that country To desist
from its efforts 20 control the market by not
allowing the retail dealer 20 sell goods tbat
were in competition with those OF us manu-
facture
Photography is used to-day in almost eyer,
branch of business. by the press the traveIIe-
the tourist. the scientist and the explorer. A
vast amount of capital is invested In the manu-
facture Of photogra phic materials and apparatus
In the great ma ajority Of the smaller towns OF
the United states there is but single dealer IN
Photographic goods II violates his rights for "A
combination trust TO dictate what goods he