Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-12
Dealers Testimony Condemns
the National Association.
FORCED HIM OUT OF TRADE
Couldn't Sell Goods at Low Prices,
Mr.. Clabaugh Declares.
GAVE HIM UNDERWEIGHT. TOO
Says Manufacturers Also Would Be
Glad to See Trust Put Out
of Action.

TIE great manufacturers of the United
States as well as the countless small deal
ers are at the mercy Of the wholesale
grocers' associations. according to testi-
mony presented TO the Moore special food
committee this morning by Hinton G. Cla-
baugh of Birmingham. Ala.
1t was Mr.. CIabaugh who told the
Moore committee at last nights session
in the House Office building that the
Southern Wholesale Groccrs' Association
had driven him out of business because
he sold goods below the prices it pre-
scribed to the retailers to whom it sold.
Mr.. Ciabaugh indorsed the bill intro
3Hced by Representative j. Hampton
Moore OF Philadelphia chairman Of the
special food committee, to compel the
labelling with the exact weight Of canned
and package goods. By way OF a little
exposition of the manners and methods
Of some manufacturers Mr. CIabaugh
showed the committee package OF dried
apples which had false bottom. The
package. presumably contained one pound
of the dried fruit, but in reality contained
eight ounces
Il believe the manufacturers of this
country would he glad to see the
Wholesale Grocers' Association put out
Of business" Mr. CIahaugh declared.
This association holds up the manufac-
turer and controls the trade generally.
1t forbids a manufacturer to sell to
any one not listed in the association S
green book and the firm disobeying the
injunction receives a carefully drawn
hint l do not see how the manufac-
turers can stomach some OF these COM
munications from the wholesale gro
GERS combine
Representatives Moore and Pearre. who
were the sole members Of the special food
committee on hand at this morning S
hearing. smiled audibly when the wit
ness described these combines OF whole
sale grocers as being supposedly for
ton
Witnesses At previous hearings have
spoken Of these combines as largely
social in their purpose, but this is the
first time the "sympathetic cooperation
bu !!I.; has been rung , ~,
Pearre. I'VE haven't heard it described
that way before
Getting back to the short-weight dried
apple question, Mr.. Clabaugh said that
product had been turned back by Bir-
mingham firm which ran a comnlissary.
"They must have been pretty bad" said
Mr.. Claba ugh. when a commissary will
refuse to sell them to it's negro trade"
The committee continued it's hearing
this afternoon.
Forced Him Out of Business.
At yesterdays session Of the commit
tee Mr. Clabaugh testified that because he
was legitimately selling food products to
the public at the lowest possible prices.
the Southern Wholesale Grocers' Associa-
ton had forced him out of business Mr..
Clabaugh, in 1908. conducted a wholesale
grocery business in Alabama. In order
to reduce prices. he said. he dispensed
with selling agents. The wholesale COM
bination, as soon as they learned how he
was conducting his business, he said. OBJ
jected to his selling goods cheaper than
other wholesalers.
"They went further than this" said
Mr. Clabaugh. ''step by step they forced
me out of business. The Wholesale Gro
GERS Association has proven clearly that
it obstinately refuses to bring down the
cost of the necessities Of life or permit
any one else to do so. I eliminated the
a gents In my business, SO that the money
saved would enable the public to purchase
the goods cheaper.
Mr.. Clabaugh told the committee he
brought suit against President Van Hoose
of the Southern Grocers' Association. for
damages and the case had been COM
promised by Mr.. Van Hoose paying him
$1,000.