The Goodland republic., 1907-03-08

ATTORNEY GENERAL THINKS
THERE Is a TRUST
suit Fned Against 1ss Men and Firms
Charging Them With Unlawful
Combinations.


Wichita, Kan, March I'm the
name OF the state Of Kansas, Fred S.
Jackson, attorney general, fled an ac-
ton IN the district court OF Sedgwick
county today in which he asks that
the Southern Kansas Millers' Com
merciaI club be dissolved, that the
southwestern bureau Of information
be dissolved as far as its business re-
lations with Kansas millers and grain
men are concerned and that each OF
the 1sS firms, corporation an dindivi-
duals named as defendants be en-
joined from having anything further
to do With either Of these Organiza-
tons or with forming any others Of
similar nature
Judge T. c. Wilson, before whom
the action was brought, issued q tenn
porary injunction this morning He
viii set the case for final hearing
later. In his petition the attorney gen
eral alleges that the Southern Kansas
Mfilers' Commercial club IS an un-
lawful organization. It's headquar-
ters are in Wichita 1t is voluntary
and unincorporateds according to the
attorney general, but is composed Of
the defendants named
The Clubs Officers.
u
president; H H Mills, first vice presi-
dent; c. P. Brinkman, second vice
president; H. Imboden, treasurer; F.
D Stevens, secretary
The last named is also secretary OF
the southwestern bureau Of informa-
ton, which has headquarters in Chi
eagO with branch headquarters in this
city.
The object Of the Southern Kansas
Millers' Commercial club is set forth
in its bylaws as follows:
The object Of this club shall be the
mutual benefit Of all its members by
the cultivation Of a spirit to live and
let live, the protection Of each 9TH
er so far as possible from all unjust
demands by patentees, unlawful dis
criminations in freight rates, the Sc
curing Of the lowest possible rates Of
Insurance in good, reliable companies,
to facilitate the speedy adjustment OF
business disputes, to acquire and dis
seminate valuable commercial and
economical Information, and generally
10 secure to its members the benefits
Of cooperation in furterance OF their
legitimate pursuits
Unlawful, Says jackson.
The attorney general alleges that
the organization is unlawful in its orr
gin and designed to further and pro-
mote certain unlawful arrangements
and combinations which the defend
ants have made and now use and
practice" Practically the same al
legations are made concerning the
southwestern bureau of information.
He declares that they prevent free
competition in the manufacture and
sale OF wheat and wheat products by
controlling the prices to be charged
and paid; that the members meet and
advise each other concerning prices;
that weekly reports Of prices are for
warded to the secretary, F. D. Stew
ems, who complies them and from
them makes up a weekly circular let
ter which is mailed to the members
OF the organization In this letter he
makes suggestions concerning prices
and discOuragin cutting that there
is a secret understanding and unlaw-
ful arrangement among the members
to follow the suggestions Of these let
ters.
Independent dealers and manufac-
turers are cOerced and intimidated,
the attorney general alleges, and are
classed by the members Of the or
ganization as cutters ''irregulars''
and ''disreputables' BY various
means from covert fnuendO to open
accusation they are charged with
making short weights and selling in
ferior articles. The arrangement IS
largely secret Prices are controlled
without regard to the natural law Of
supply and demand. Extravagant
prices are demanded for the manu-
factured product while the grower is
paid less than the supply warrants,
according to the petition.