The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-28
SHRlNERS TO TREAD HOT
 SANDS HERE NEXT TUESDAY

oAlNDO HENE
 Burning sand will be spread upon Bir- minghams streets next Tuesday after noon, and common mortals will have to step lively or have their toes scorched. For upon this memorable day Imperial Potentate Frank c. Roundy of the An cient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine in the United States and Cam ada, will arrive in the Magic City.
 The fiery grains will be spread at 5:30 o'clock, at which time the ceremonial procession in honor of his gracious high ness will begin. And great indeed will be this procession. Perched high upon huge four-wheeled chariot, drawn by six ring-tailed wild-eyed rip-snorting, pranc- ing oxen, imported especially from the other side of the River Styx for this most suspicious occasion, the great imperial potentate will travel in state through the byways and highways of Birmingham. The burning sand will be spread immedi- ately before the procession passes, it ..........'''.'s......... of our organization was the protection and maintenance of fair and open com petition; that we were intensely op- posed to the control or dictation of any trust or combinations of manufactur- CTS seeking to control the products han dled by wholesalers or retailers; that we made no attempt to control prices in any manner contrary to the federal acts; that we were on record time and again in reference to these matters; that I had called officially upon the President of the United States and as sured him of our hearty sympathy in his effort to reasonably and properly control the railroads; that I had at tended the rate conference at Chicago and had done my best there to back up and support the efforts of the Pres ident in this effort; that our individual members had used their personal in fiuence with the various representa- tives in Congress; that we had given literally of out time and money to aid the retailers of the country to or ganize and protect, both in spirit as well as in action, the principle of fair and open competition, as we'll as the protection of the weak against the strong.
 Some Privileges To Weak.
 I furth dwelt upon the fact that in allqof our dealings with manu- lecturers we had urged this same prin- ciple of the weak being accorded the same privileges and rights that were accorded the largest or most influential firm; that had openly, long before the government began prosecution against the Standard Oil company, expressed my views vigorously in reference to the abominable practices which had char acterized the management of that com pany.
 I further assured Judge Roulhac that every member of this association was ready to stand by the President and the department of justice in going to the full legal limit of back ing up every effort made by the President, either personally or through any of the fed eral departments in protecting the principles and practices above enum- erated. The whole spirit and basis or the organization of the southern Wholesale Grocers, are to fight Tor the bitter end, and maintain at all costs. the principle of fair and open com petition and the protection Of the weak against the strong.
 In the name of common sense, as wei as justice. can not see how any red eral official, after due inquiry, would he willing to even see such an organ ization as this go out of business, much less try by process of law to compel Il to disorganize and cease its Work anu kill its influence. If in our nght TOT these principles, we may at any tlnie go too far and overstep any or the present interpretations or 1ederai ot state laws, we will gladly retrace our stems and come back within the proper 1inas and in those lines will reque' st, in fact demand, that we be permitted toA continue our work, which is, as we see if for the absolute, interest or tho American people. .
 Tn order that this matter may De thor- ouehly understood and our position even more fully made known to the depart ment of justice, l am sending oy tiiia mail to. Judge Roulhac copy 9i e',is letter, with the request that he make such proper use of the letter as VIII oc- cur to him in justice to all duly con 
 Thanking you for having called my at tention to this matter and with Kind per sonal regards, remain. yours very truly,
 LA vANHOOSE,
 President.
 MT. yanHoose further stated that Judge Roulhac subsequently, advised him that the department at Washington had gone into the matter and had stated to him (Judge Roulhac) that in their opinion the Southern Wholesale Grocers' association was doing nothing to any federal act
 MT. VanHoose also stated that he called at the office of the United States district attorney yesterday morning and had stated to the assistant district attorney, Judge J. H. Montgomery, that every fa- cility would be cheerfully and promptly furnished the government at any and all times by himself and all of his office force in any investigation the govern ment might again decide to make.
 He said that the last meeting at -Balti- more was open to the public and that the a associated invited a representative of the department of justice of the United States to attend the session.
 cIabaugh Submits Further Charges.
 Commenting on this letter, MT. Cla- baugh replies through a letter to the editor of The Age-Herald as follows: vro t,,a Lr5tfor of 6sha Ape II erald.