The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-16
DENVER JUDGE GRILLS COMBINES
AND ENJOINS MANY MEMBERS OF
GROCERS TRUST In THAT CITY

not only unlawful, but it is morally
wrong, and the court, if il has the power,
will put stop 10 it.
The court speaks of these matters be-
cause it believes that the attorneys for
the defendants, in their arguments, have
gone into the question Of business NOR
alty. and discussed the manner ana
method of the treatment of the cOnsum-
ers. the purchasers of goods, at the hands
of this combination. and into the ques-
tion of ethics among the business men.
as well as the question of duty concern
ing the manufacturer and the constltu-
tional rights of individuals to sell their
goods at whatever price they please. Inc
latter is true, provided 1t is an lndlVluual
effort under an individual determination.
But the courts take notice of the poten-
cy of numbers and the determination OF
numbers I'm unison, in general chorus.
to determine the prices OF the necessities
of life. 1t is not left to the determination
of the Individual himself. The individual
may fix a price on his own goods ana
he may sell his goods at that price or
keep them upon his shelf. and the law
will not say no: but the minute that in
divfdual takes another into his counsel
and agrees with him and then with a
goodly number associated in the same
business. or other kind of business, until
il magnifies and reaches a majority OF
the people of the community, and that
aggregation of individuals fixes the price
of commodities and requires the 1ndlVld-
uals Of the communities to purchase ut
that price or go without the article-the
moment that that occurs and that ap-
pears to exist that the law says IL IS
unlawful II is a violation Of the law ana
should be punished.
Injunction Is Granted.
There is sufficient in this case, APP
pearing from the evidence, to justify this
court in granting this temporary injunc-
ton. generally. as prayed for in this COM
plant if / understand the prayer. There
are possibly some individuals made de-
PENDANTS in the case that may not appear
to have done such things that would en-
title the plaintiff to the writ against
them; but the court is satisfied that the
members of these associations ought to De
enjoined from transacting the business in
the manner admitted as appears from the
testimony in this case
Effect on Price.
Whether or not it was the injunction
that sent the prices of food products IN
Denver downward may best be judged by
the fact that the prices of a large num-
Der of staples did go down Immediately
after Judge Allen rendered his decision
last Thursday. Merchants are advertiS-
ing their wares at greatly reduced prices,
it appears, from the revival of competi-
ton. Prices quoted in Denver are so very
much lower than they are in Salt Lake
that a few items may be taken by way
of comparison. There is a striking con-
trast in the prices of meats that prevail
in Denver since the decision and those
thaL OBTAIN IN salt Lake FOR example,
prime rib roast is quoted at 10; in Salt
Lake it is quoted at 1212 to 10 cents The
highest grade hams are offered in Den
yer at from 10 to 10 cents: in Salt Lake
they are 49, to 20 cents. In the matter
of veal the Denver prices are also much
lower. There veal steaks are sold at
three pounds for a quarter and veal
roast at and 10 cents. Veal chops sell
at two pounds for % cents. Salt Lakes
latest quotations on veal are Is to 20
cents. Here pork costs Is to ia cents;
in Denver pork roast sells at cents
pork steaks three pounds for % cents.
In Salt Lake the price of butter is So
cents the pound; in Denver it is only %
to 271A cents Ranch eggs in Denver are
30 to 81 cents. with prices quoted at 20
and q cents for state eggs. Lettuce In
Denver is held at to cents; in Salt
Lake the price is and 10 cents, mostly 10
cents. Spinach In Salt Lake is 81 cents;
in Denver il is cents.
Higher All Around.
The list might be heightened materially.
but the comparisons made show that Salt
Lake prices are away and beyond the
prices prevailing in Denver. Denver has
always been and still is used by many
as the city coming nearest in circum-
stances and conditions to Salt Lake, but
in the matter of lower prices for food
Il l.