The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-14

Agricultural Chemical Company. and the Virginia Carolina Chemical Com pany were spoken of as trusts. He knew of no reason he testified for they were so large" He knew of no others called trusts. It was the inde- pendent companies he met in, July.
 The yirginia- Carolina Chemical Com pany, Mr. Ashcraft testified. usually sent the Tennessee Valley Fertilizer Company a price list; and instructions to it's agents. and with them a letter asking return of the, courtesy" if the Tennessee Valley Company pub lished similar lists
 Was 1t the underlying purpose of the Industrial Association to protect you independent companys from the so called trust?" asked Colonel Gar Der
 The Association Rad been organized for some time when he joined, Mir. Ashcraft said, and he was not sure of the answer to the question. He did not know whether the Independent As sociation had written by-laws, rtc. He had signed no papers to join. T. c. Meadows, chairman of the Independent Fertilizer Manufacturers Association, mad invited him to come and take in- terest in the potash, deal.
 Potash Plan Its Darposes
 The only proposition ever communi- cated to him, witness testified, was the plan to purchase potash and other materials. He helped pay expenses of a committee that had been sent to Eu- rope and afterwards -of MT. Meadows, who went to Europe in the interest of the association.
 He spoke of a meeting of the Inde- pendent Association. He could not cay | | xt...- UNl.n meeting was behind closed doors and every one interested in potash deal was admitted to the room.
 T enrolled for my company" said MT. Ashcraft T think my company became member then"
 There was no agreement as to prices, he stated He heard the three large companies referred to in pleasantries' as trusts" There was no discussion Of prices charged by the large com ranies
 MT. Ashcraft was interrogated upon the Colonial Development Company. whose purpose he explained Then he spoke of the indictment of his own and other companies in the United States court at Nashville. He said the con- tract with the Colbniel Development Company did not stipulate any prices other than the current market prices and no grades we're specified He made up his own prices; received no intimation from the Colonel Develop ment Company.
 the Lithia Spring meeting were pro- pounded by Assisstaht Attorney Gen eral Martin and witness replied that he could not remember whether he. was advised by letter or telephone. He could not make sure whether 1t was Judge Wilson that had advised him. InterrogateA further MT. Ash craft said Mir. Tsber might have tel sshenea him, Judge Wilson was chairman of the convention at Lithia Springs.
 Operations of Association.
 MT. Wiley, iof Troy, Mir. Taber of Montgomery and MT. Henderson Of Talladega were present. Mir. Whit field and Colonel Huger he thought were there. He spoke of the organi- 'zation of the association, which he thought was not incorporated. He thought the dues were $50. He did not know who was the member of the Executive committee from this state. He said he did not know if the bylaws provided for an Executive Committee of one man from each state represent ed in Atlanta, who must meet in Att lanta, one each fortnight. There was not in his hearing discussion of the prices of kainit and phosphate at the meeting. Most of the session was em- ployed in a~discussiou a of constitution and bylaws, the publication of trade literature to effect an increase of ton- mage He thought there had been talk of raising grsdes.
 Tn March or April he had a tele- phone message from MT. Taber who said 1t would be good idea for them to get together in Montgomery to dis ouss bill on fertilizer before the Leg 'islature.
 He denied that he had heard any thing of the transactions of the as- sociatfon or committee since its meet ing in October. He thought no com munication in regard to the committee had come to his company He had no copy of constitution or bylaws. wnicn he would attempt to secure for the in- vestigating committed
 His Deal With Long.
 He was acquainted with T. L. Long, of Jasper, with whom he had had bus mess relations since 1902. He had sold him fertilizer. Long ncuEht Companv during past season at Florence. Mir. Long agreed to buy about 250 tons.
 MT. Ashcraft thought he made the price s21.25 on 1922 goods. He tried to maintain about the same prices throughout the year. He made some concessions on contracts which showed regular piree. n o. ufaced upon the record or published. Questioned why he objected to tne nubiicity he said he merely wished !" keep business matters private.
 He denied that he had told Long ne was in n combination tc fix or controi prices or that there was Si,o0 I"rte's ,n No statement of the kind was made in Ashcraft's presence lie nao no price list before him at this @ tine and the only list of prices in tne oiiiee were typewritten figures on le''er pa per for his own men, so.,.raa ps tza had said nothing he declared ahont any prices or combination.
 Then referring directly to MT. Long t.st;mony before the committee At tornev General Garber asked
 "Is it true or falseF
 ..I never made such a statement,' re- ulied the witness.
 Arain and yet again the query was onfeTes to have the same answer untll:
 .I have said all that 1t Is necessary for A gentleman to say replied MT Ashcraft.
 T Did Not Tell Him."
 "rhen you did not tell MT. Long what he swore you told hlm .,--..--
 fl did not tell him that there was an agreement or forfeit was the re- sponse. 5..,.os h,v, .o ,,on, sacrat the alleged statements; he denied again that he had made the
 ASain he was asked if Longs testi-