Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-29
SUIT AGAINST FOOD TRUST.
Instituted by Attorney General Dick.
son Of Colorado.

Instituted BY Attorney General Dick.
son Of Colorado.
characterization to appear in the
district court December I'd. to show
cause why a permanent Injunction
should not be issued against them to
restrain further operations OF their al
legged combine. were served Tuesday
on Denver officers and members Of tho
Retail Grocers' Association. the Colo
RADIO Retail Merchants Association
and the officials Of the jobbing and
wholesale houses. charged by Attorney
General Dickson with being parties 10
an agreement In restraint Of trade.
While Sheriff Nisbets deputies
were serving the papers on the men
who. 1t is charged. are responsible for
tho exorbitant prices OF foodstuffs In
Colorado. additional evidence was ad.
duced Of the methods employed to
forcc those who would not do their
bidding out OF business.
The latest exposure Of tho trust op'
erations to come to light is the case
OF Tho Wonder Mercantile Company
Of Montrose. s. b. Wonder. president
and treasurer OF the concern. In n let
ter to the News. tells the same tale OF
alleged boycotting tactics that has
been related by other merchants be-
fore him. and encloses a letter from
the Merchants Biscuit Company. which
shows tho close relations between The
groccrs and the jobbers.
The letter OF tho Merchants Biscuit
Company bears the signature OF c. a.
Bowman. president and manager. and
tbs request. please return" The let
ters follow:
'The Wonder Mercantile Co.. Moa.
trosc. Colo.
"Gcniiemen-we have been hoping
for some time past that yourselves and
the association would get together and
settle your differences. but II seems
that In out Of the question.
"Our MIR. BridImnn was In Moniroso
a few days since and reports that our
selling to your arm has cut him out
entirely: do not want you TO rum out
Of crackers. NO tnkc this method OF CIV
Ing you due notice that we will not bo
able TO make you any further ship.
monts until tho deal Ii on. l regret
having to take this stand. but you un-
dcrutnnd better than ! can explain.
Yours very truly.
THE MERCHANTS BISCUIT CO..
c. A. Bowman. Manager.
Please return"
Wonders letter follows:
ITO the Rocky Mountain News:
in your n.ht on tho grocery trust
Of this state. We beg to advise you that
wc have been one OF tho worst victims
Of tho trust known nx tho Groccrs' As.
sociation. We were first asked to Join
II. After refusing We wcrc thcn noti.
ned We would bc compelled TO 10 80.
SIM refusing. the wholesale houses
were notified. and In order TO carry tn
our business wc were compelled TO buy
our goods ns best We could through a
third party. being refused goods by the
leading houses OF tho state for no
other reason than by being commanded
to do 10 by tho local trust.
"wc were also notified by tho sccrc-
tary. then Mr.. Gardner OF Denver. tha;
II We did not maintain the prices of
suxar m laid down by tho association
Il wns In q position to SEQ that VIC
could not buy n dollars worth OF soo'ls
In tho state. etc.
Inc FOCAL ussoVtauon Ncut 80 ."
as TO prevent us from being able 10 buy
a pound Of butter from our local cream.
cry or n dollars worth Of goods from
our local commission houses. and urcd
every effort TO prevent us from being
able 10 bny -four from our local mill:
but fortunately at tho mill they struck
Arm with sufficient backbone TO run
their own business. and VIC are still
able 10 buy Montrosc -four. We enclose
n letter from Merchants d. Co. one oi
the many VIC received.
This boycott was started on us last
March and they have kept Il up ever
since so far Ms they were able. We
arc ready Mt any time to make affidavit
or give evidence In the case. Very re
spcc,fully. 8. u. WONDER.
"Montrosc. Colo"