Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-18
Retail Organizations and Mem
bers to Be Prosecuted, Says
Attorney
is TO BRING TWO CHARGES
Action, 1t Is Said, Will Be Brought
Against Associations for combina-
ton in Restraint of Fair compet'-
ton = Against Members for Using
Mails for Fraudulent Purposes.

st. Paul. July 1S.--Paull e. Ewert,
assistant United States attorney Tor
the District of Minnesota, is about to
proceed against the organization
or retail lumber yards which dot the
entire northwest, on the charge OF be-
ing an illegal combination in restraint
of fair competition. In connection with
this prosecution he also contemplates
action against thousands of individu-
ais for using the mails for fraudulent
purposes.
The alleged illegal combine some
time ago started a campaign to use the
mails to drive out lumber concerns
who heretofore have done large bust
ness turnout the northwest thru mail
orders. The concerns thus attacked
are practically all Chicago houses. The
matter has been brought to the atten-
ton of the federal prosecuting attor-
ney thru the Waterman Hunter Lum-
Der Company of Minneapolis, which
was forced into the hands of a re-
ceiver.
Black Book Causes Trouble.
Circulation of what has become
known as the little black book" has
caused the trouble. This book is Just
what it's title designates. q small black
covered pamphlet which contains a
list Of concerns in apparent discredit
and with instructions how to act The
book is unsigned, but is said to have
been placed in the hands of retail lum-
Der yard men turnout the northwest.
The book instructs how to proceeA
with plan evidently aimed to wreck
the concerns attacked by causing them
great expense with no remuneration
in return for answering of thousands
of bogus letters.
Since last March the Waterman
Hunter Company is said to have re-
ceived 10000 such letters. as many as
20 to 100 coming from some little
towns.
THE little black book" gives five
steps to be proceeded with:
/. Send for advertising matter, cat
alloys and lists in response to ads of
offending concerns.
2. Send d list of material for est
majors to work on.
3. Send letters asking questions re-
curing special reply, remembering"
says the book, ''all letters will be an
swered by printed reply if labor of
writing special replies can be avoided"
4. Send for sample of roofing.
S. Sent for paint color card.
Endless Chain Of Worry.
Not only are the recipients expected
to follow this course of instruction,
but the little black book" tells each
recipient to get his relatives, local
merchants and friends to write these
series of inquiries. ALL of course. with
out any intent of making purchases
and simply to harass the offenders. The
concerns the little black book" in
structs the receivers to write to are
the following Chicago companies:
For mill work only-Chicago Mill
Work and Supply Company and the
Schaller Hoerr Company.
For lumber and mill work-George
Green Lumber Company, John Sprye
Lumber Company, Chandler Lumber
Company. Street Chatfold & Co, White
River Lumber Company, Chicago and
Riverside Lumber Company, Chicago
House Wrecking Company, the South
Side Lumber Company, Montgomery
Ward & Co. and Sears, Roebuck &
Co.
cataIog Houses Plan.
The methods followed by the catalog
hO, cir Of ha-