Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-17
GENERAL PAPER
COMPANY DISSOLVED
A New Selling Agency Will Pro=
badly be Organized in the
Near Future by the Paper Man
ufaCturerS.

s~AASsSSA ~A Ss
The General Paper Co. was dissolved
by the order of the United States cir
cult court, before Judge Sanbourn. at
st. Paul, Minn., Thursday. On Dec.
"A, 1904, an action was brought against
the General Paper Co. and twenty
three other defendants, by the United
States government OH the grounds
that said defendants were Illegally
combined in restraint of trade. The
defendants in the case refused to
answer the questions asked them by
the representatives of the government
and recently the appellant court
handed down it's decision that the de-
PENDANTS must answer. This decision
had the result of dissolving the COM
pany as stated above. The three wit
neSses who refused to testify were
fined 800 each by Judge Sanbourn,
and on motion of Mr.. Kellogg. the
government attorney, a decree was
found for the government.
According to the statement issued
some time time ago by James A. Kim
berly. Sr., of Neenah, president lie
organization, a new selling agency
will be established by the companies
composing the General Paper Co.,
which will be along lines not in con-
tiict with the Sherman antitrust law.
The defendants to the suit insti-
tuted by the government, and which
by the action of the United States cir
cult court as recorded above is for all
time settled, are as follows:
Itasca Paper Co. a
Hennepin Paper Co.
Atlas Paper Co.
Kimberley and Clark Co.
Wausau Paper Mills Co.
Centralia Pulp and Water Power
Co.
Combined Locks Paper Co.
Dells Paper and Pulp Co,
Menasha Paper Co.
Nekoosa Paper Co.
Falls Manufacturing Co.
Flambeau Paper Co.
John Edwards Manufacturing Co.
Wisconsin River Paper and Pulp Co.
Tomahawk Pulp and Paper Co.
Northwestern Paper Co.
Petoskey Fibre Paper Co.
p1 Do No
Marinette and Menominee Paper Co.
and
The GENERAL PAPER Co.
Since the above article was written
the following interview with L. M.
Alexander, was published in the Mil
waukee Sentinel. In comprehensive
discussion of the status of the General
Paper Co., Mr.. Alexander said in part:
so far as know, or have any rea-
son to believe, the General Paper COM
pany will not be reorganized nor new
company formed in it's place."
"There has been no serious talk of
any organization under the ownership
plan. The matter has been suggested
in an informal way such as We ought
to do So or That seems to be the only
thing to do,' but it has never been for
mally acted upon.
''EVer since the suit was started by
the government there have been sug-
geStiOns OF this nature made and some
OF the members have expressed them
selves in favor of it, but the General
Paper company as such has no such
plan now nor has it done so in the
past.
"Eor myself L can say propose to
continue looking after my paper mill
interests exactly as | did before the
General Paper company was formed.
[ am interested in three or four mills
and am president of two of them and
they will continue to do business as
before, under individual ownership
and making contracts each for itself.
1.-The dissolution Of the General
Paper company took place without
the issues ever being brought fairly in
court without having the matter come
to trial.
Il think the public and the pub
fishers made mistake in complaining
OF the company. 1t always sold
paper ON the market and prices will
be no cheaper. Many of the mills are
now having to sell paper at loss and
this can not go on long. The COM
pany was not intended as any unlaw-
full combination. 1t was organized
under best legal talent, but there is a
popular motto. Where two or three are
gathered together in business there is
d trust, and it was denounced at once
as a trust