The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
He WAS BLUFFED
w. j. Gerard Tells of Harvester
Trust Methods.
Forced Him to Quit Handling
Independent Goods.
NOT IN HIS CONTRACT
Nevertheless HeWas Disciplined
for Breaking Over.
Griggs & MOneypenny Case Aired
by Former Hickman.

W. J. Gerard, an implement dealer
and hardware man at Blue Rapids,
Marshall county, was the principal
witness Friday afternoon at the har-
vester trust hearing before Special
| Master Henry E. Ganse at the office
of Attorney General F. s.. Jackson.
Mr.. Gerard told an interesting story
of how the International Harvester
company "bluffed' him into throwing
out harvester machinery made by
concerns outside of the alleged trust
1T was in the year 1906" said Mr..
Gerard. 81 had a contract with the
International to handle their ma
chimes, and this contract contained no
exclusive agency paragraph. I
bought a sample of the Acme ma
chine, which was not made by the
International. While 1 had that ma
chine on display, John Swisher, block
man for the International, and Cen
eral Manager Jetmore of the Internal
tional came to my store and asked me
what I was doing with that machine.
told them that 1 just bought it as a
sample so that 1 could offer second
choice to my customers. 1 told them
1 did not intend to push it in ahead
of the International machines. Swish
er asked me if 1 did not find that the
International machines filled all the
needs of the community, and / said
they seemed to give general satisfac-
ton He said that under my contract
1 should not handle Acme machines.
I told him that the exclusive clause
was not in my contract. He said that
was true, but that it was the general
understanding that International
agents should handle no other line.
The next day he came back, and said
that I would have to get rid of the
Acme machine, and handle no more
take the International agency away
from me. told them I wouldn't be
dictated to, and refused to agree to
throw out the Acme.
Shortly after they came around
and demanded to be allowed to check
over my machines, and said they had
a contract all signed up with my rival
in the implement business at Blue
Rapids to take the agency; told
parts, and could not come Into my
store TO take their property, because I
had not violated the contract, and
was entitled to continue as their
agent. After that interview. I went
and had a talk with our banker. I
had about decided to go out of the
implement business anyway, and so L
decided that I would submit to the
terms of the International for the re-
mainder of the year, and then quit
the implement trade. I went and saw
the blockman, Swisher, and told him
was ready to back up and start over
again. He agreed to this, and 1 was
I had on hand, and retain the Inter-
national agency"
On cross examination by Earl
Evans attorney for the International,
made Mr. Gerard give a list of all the
implement dealers in the county, and
the names of machines handled nv
each. This was objected to by the
state.
I'VE may have a theory of our own
as to why this talk was made to MI,
Gerard" said Mr.. Evans I'VE will
spring it at the proper time
Mr.. Evans also ridiculed the Witness
for weighing principal against a posi-
BILE $500 profit on Internationa ma
chimes, and deciding in favor of the ma
chimes.
1t is understood that the International
will admit that its representatives fore
ed Mr.. Gerard to abandon the sale of
antitrust goods, but will deny that the
company authorized any such transac-
tons.
Other witnesses who testified were J.
M. Robbins of Atchison, John Keller of
Leavenworth. H. A. Montgomery of