The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-04

as l. or any of our officials or members know On the contrary, after a long ex- perience in dealing with these manufac- turers, and after becoming personally ac- quainted with nearly all of their active managers. 1 feel safe in saying that no such agreement or combination exists among them. If there is such, it is un- known to me and to others as above stated.
 In addition, I am convinced of the fact that some manufacturers do not at all look with favor upon this association. As I consider my answers to you substan- tially the same as If made under oath, and not made on my own voluntary offer ing, l will further state and say that l believe the Standard Oil company, the American Tobacco company, the larger meat packers, cracker and some other large manufacturers. with their allied branches. do not, and never have, looked with favor upon this organization. No manufacturers are under any obligations, expressed or implied, to maintain our or ganzation and certainly none with any exclusive privileges. Such a combination would beyond question be illegal, and even if offer were made by any com bination of manufacturers to this asso- citation along such lines I would, under advice which has heretofore been given me by such attorneys the late J. B. Head s. D. Weakley, B. H. Cabaniss and Walker Percy, all of this city, and of other eminent attorney in other states. decline going into any such arrangement.
 Each manufacturer who asks for any h. formation from our office, as far as we know, sells to whomsoever he pleases, anl upon such terms and upon such conditions as are satisfactory to each of these indi- vidual and respective manufacturers. The same is done without any agreement with this association, or, as far as l know, without any agreement with any other association, or with any individual buyer of any individual wholesale firm.
 The wholesale grocers who are identified with this association have no agreements among themselves, and would make none with any manufacturer. or with any coni- bina tion of manufacturers. Our work Is based on the principle that each indi- vidual firm among the wholesalers has the legal right to do exactly as each ona of them may individually like to do and are only restrained in such individuality of action as comes from the laws of the land and not from any actions of this as- seciation. The same principle holds true in the case of individual manufacturers.
 3. The above statements under first and second would seem to answer your ques- tons under your third head. There are no rights or advantages secured by member ship in this association of a special and exclusive character.
 In personal conversations with gover- nors and attorneys general of various states I have made full verbal statements as to the aims and character of our or ganzation.. The former attorney general of Texas, MT. Charles w. Bell, during one of my visits to Texas. introduced me to large meeting of wholesalers, re- tailers and the public generally in Austin. After my address he stated to the au- dience that he was most favorably im pressed with the principles and practice of this association; that he would like to see this association enter the state of Texas and organize local branch associa- tions or secure members for the general association; but under the strict letter of the law thought 1t more prudent to avoid even the appearance of going into an organization which might be misunder stood and misconstrued by others who were not so well posted as he. Acting on his opinion thus expressed we made no attempt to organize a local association in that state The Southern Wholesale Gro- eers' association has no members in the state of Texas.
 In a conference once with the Hon. Jeff ferson Davis of Arkansas Cthen governor now in the United States Senate), in his characteristic way he stated to me that he was thoroughly in favor of the whole sale grocers organizing along the lines above indicated to you; that the Arkan- sas law was not intended in any way to oppress or injure Arkansas citizens; that as far he was concerned I could or ganze all wholesale grocers In the state of Arkansas. and even organize those of Little Rock in front of the capitol with d brass band. He further stated that he believed in proper organization That the practical operation of business mems open organization to protect their own interests against the expressions of the so-called