The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-15

are members Of the trust, were char
ging such prices for lumber and all
other necessary building material that
trade. which was naturally tributary to
this place was largely going elsewne ERE.
company was incorporated under the
laws Of this state, and stock was sold
with the understanding that we were
to commence business at once.
(. Substantial ! improvements were
made, such as the building of an office,
the erection Of sheds and arrangements
business Orders for lumber were placed
and some Of our orders were filed; but
when later orders were given they were
declined for one reason or another,
sometimes the claim being made that
there was shortage Of cars, or that
they were sold short on the stock de-
sired.
con investigation, however, we found
that the Wholesale lumber dealers had
been advised not to sell building mate
rial to our company, as we were not
legitimate. lumber Dealers; and the
threat which was held over the heads
of the wholesale dealers was that, II
they sold lumber to such yards as ours
they must expect to lose the trade OF
the trust.
HOur grievances have been laid be-
fore a representative at Washington
for the purpose of bringing the case TO
the attention of the interstate COM
merce commission, but SO far we have
had no encouragement from that source;
and it begins to look as If we Wouid !
| have to seek for remedy elsewhere.
Couldn't Get Hemlock.
That some of the wholesale lumber
dealers would gladly. have these con-
! o,ol have free and nm
:, fettered commerce in the commodities
in which they. deal, is doubtless true,
as will be; seen by "a perusal OF the
following communication, which was
received by the Independent Lumber
4 company of Flandreau, and sent by
the J. W. M orrison Lumber company of
! Minneapolis:
:" Gentlenen-As we wrote You, on
4 the goth inst, your order for hemlocH
/ pany, our own yards being entirely solo
out Of that stock. They have returned
/ the order, however, and declined te
! ship, for the reason that yon are re
ported to be not legitimate lumbe1
dealers and, therefore, not entitled tt
lumber at wholesale prices. This being
! the case, we shall have to return YOU
order, as we have no stock of orr OWL
from. which to ship. =
1--WE would certainly fill your ordel
had it been otherwise; but this actor
having been taken by the manufactur
ers, we are simply up against it. w
regret very much to have to do this
but under the circumstances we canno
do otherwise. - .-.,....l. ...' 3: .-
Should measures, such as are chow
in the fore going letters, prove insutfl
cient to defeat the people in their ct
forts to free themselves from the grasl
| 49, no n on ind
! Germ succeeds in finding Wholesa1
yards from which it can buy stock t.
meet its requirements, different tao
tics are employed, and with great skill
; and w adroitness the trust commence
: operations to put the Independent var
completely out of business.
Says Territory Is Divided.
: According to well-established lin
of action, the agents of the trust yard
: meet and form compact by arrangin
/ bet. :, Accordingly, when a purchase
comes to an agent of the trust, il tn
e initial letter Of his name is on ths
y agents list, he knows that he is
e make that sale, and at price that wi
eliminate all profit. This is done thu
f each branch Of the trust may bear i
Y full share Of the expenses of the CO..
a test necessary to put out OF eXlStent
+ the Independent yard. Therefore, whe
o the purchaser reaches the independel
i yard, as buyers usually present bills
y all yards in a town, the agent thel
+ cannot underbid the trust yard thel
t unless he sells at positive loss. TIL,
J. it will be seen that such a contest
l. a very equal one; for there are a
It ways two and often three trust var.
in the same town, which engage in II
contest against the independent var
And, besides, while the trust yards a
e selling at a loss or without profits,
>, order to freeze out their competitor
q this particular place, the trust recou
n itself by charging higher prices at 9th
r places where no competition exists.
5 By this means the trust forces Il
Re people of one community to bear tt
1t expenses of it's contest with the peep
# Of another community, who make {
d effort to free themselves from it's e
d tortions. After con tinuing this pole
h for. a considerable length Of time,