The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-08-17
FIGHT AGAINST LUMBER TRUST.

northwest may have as many troubles
On its hands as the Standard Oil
Company if they do not reform their
grating plans of doing business with
the public. They are threatened
with law suits from all parts of the
country.and il is no telling how long
they will last once the public laS
set the machinery of the courts i'll
motion, but it is to be hoped that
there will not be the least let up in
the fight against this great destroyer
of homes 50 long as there is the
least sign of its destructive existence.
At the conference of attorneys
general to be held at time and
place to be fixed by preliminary
meeting to be held in ST. Louis Mon
day. il is stated, Attorney General
William T. Thompson of Nebraska
will urge that concerted action be
begun against what he terms the
national lumber trust. Mr.. Thonlp-
son recently started suit in the
state supreme court Of that state
against the Nebraska L.rmber DesSi-
ers' association, allegin:, the associ-
alton controlled the price of lumbe:
and the evidence brougl. out to MS
mindsshowed the existence of a trust,
reaching into every state in the un-
ion. This suit has been argued TO
the court and a decision is looked
for this fall.
The lumber trust" said Mr..
Thompson, strikes at every human
being in this country who has shell
ter from the element. Every farmer
who drives fence post pays tribute
to the lumber trust. 1t reaches ev-
erywhere. 1t has its eye on every
tree that grows and no man can cut
a tree without permission of this
giant combination. 1t is heartless
and coulless. 1t makes no contracts.
1t demands the price and gets it. No
one state can grapple with it alone.
1t will take the concerted action of
many states. But 1t can be made
pay the penalties of it's unlawful acts.
1t should be throttled now
Mr. Thompson probably has had
more experience in enforcing legis-
latiOn' enacted for the control of
trusts and combinations than amy
other official in the Mississippi val
ley, states a Lincoln, Neb.. report.
He has just concluded successful
suit against the Graindealers' associ-
alton, in which he proved the exist
price paid to farmers for
grain. AS deputy attorney general
he assisted ex-Attorney General, now
United States Senator Norris Brown.
in successful suit against the rail-
roads for the collection of several
hundred thousand dolalrs in taxes
due the state. He recently filed suit
against the express companies in the
STATE courts to prevent them from
violating law passed by the recent
legislature reducing express rates 25
per cent; he is prosecuting the same
kind of suits against the railroads
to prevent the violation of 5 per
cent. reduction act passed by the
same legislature.
In these suits Mr.. Thompson adj
opted new and original tactics in so
far as the west is concerned. He
applied for an injunction against the
corporations. thus anticipating the
action of the corporations. These
suits have been transferred by the
corporations to the federal courts,
and the fight to have them .'emanaed
has been made and now the decisions
regarding jurisdiction is about due.
Mr.. Thompson first made his mark
as d member of the Legislature in
which he was one of the authors OF
Nebraskas present revenue law. He
was two years ago appointed deputy
attorney general and one year ago
was nominated without opposition by
republicans for attorney general and
elected. He is in hearty sympathy
with the objects of the coming con
ference.
DOB