The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-26
| CONFER HERE ON
 STEPS ID BE TAKEN IN GROCERS' CASE Assistant Attorney General Harrison Goes Over Case
 With O. D. Street
HOPE TO PUSH MATTER
 TO SPEEDY CONCLUSION
Harrison Says Government Believes It Has Good Case and Thinks Final Decision VIII Have Far
 Reaching Consequences

GrocerS' association was concluueu idS' night about 10 o'clock after extending several hours.
 It was announced that the. depart ment of justice will communicate with Gen Luke E. Wright and Caruth CTS Ewing, attorneys for the defense, In regard to the appointment of an ex- aminer and when agreed upon the case will be pushed through as fast as pos sible.
 The conference was held at the Ho- tel Hillman.
 That the prosecution of the disso- lution suit against the Southern Whole sale Grocers' association will be taken up very soon and vigorously prose- cuted was also given out last night by MT. Harrison. MT. Harrison came here for the purpose of outlining the case l instituted by the government to dis solve the association upon the ground that 1t is a trust operated in restraint of trade and in direct violation of the sherman antitrust laws.
 Act in Advisory Capacity
 He will act, he says. in an advisory capacity with Mr. Street, but the lat ter officer of the department of jus tice will be in direct charge of the prosecution of the srocers. The two officers talked quite long time upon every feature of the case.
 When seen yesterday MT. Harrison said he would prefer not to talk of the case until the courts had passed upon the points involved in the suit. | 1,> fh> in- volve more than was believed by a mere observer of the steps taken He said the master would be agreed upon probably in a short time and his ap- pointment recommended to the circuit court of appeals before whom the case will be tried.
 May Continue Into Spring
 "The dissolution suit against the Southern wholesale Grocers' associa- ton will be in course of trial until next spring, I should think" said MT. Harrison. We will take testimony in Chicago, New York, New Orleans and various other places. The final re- suits will affect a great many inter ests that are now unaffected by the investigation. The department of jus tice intends to go after this illegal combination in a thorough and com plete manner and there will not be any half -hearted steps taken so far as we are concerned.
 T came to Birmingham from Gin cinnati to confer with MT. Street in reference to the suit we have instituted We talked over the case and while | be people at the same time we have nc announcement to make in regard to our plans. The case will be tried by mas ter who will be appointed just as soon as convenient. This will be done by the court of appeals. We hope to ex- pedite the case as much as possible but a great amount of work will be re- quired in handling this matter. think 1t will be a great deal larger than most persons believe. The case will consume quite little of my time as we'll as that of MT. Street. should judge that thesmaster will be taking testimony at least until next spring When this taking of testimony is com pleted the evidence will be delivered to the court and will there be passed upon.
 Effort to Expedite Case
 'The certificate to expedite the case which was filed here was to secure quick work. When the testimony is completed and passed upon by the court of appeals then 1t may be taken to the supreme court without any delays.
 The process pursued by the government makes 1t a serious affair and either the government or the defendants will have to pay. We do not think 1t will be the government If the association sees fit to take the case in a light vein 1t is noth- ing to us. The government wants nc money from any interests. but 1t wants they may be found.
 ''The facts in this dissolution case Twill more than bear out the allegations of the petition filed by the government and they must be passed upon by the court before we can form an adequate opinion of any wrong. The government feels sure of It's position and will push the prosecution as much as possible. The hearings will probably be first convened in Birmingham, although that is mat ter yet to be determined. We will have quite a number of witnesses to examine We may use MT. Clabaugh as witness but he is not the only one that knows of the wrongs of the association. There are many 'Clabaughs' in the country who will be called upon to testify In the case before 1t Is completed"
 Returns to Washington Today
 MT. Harrison has been in Cincinnati for some time looking into the alleged abuses of the railroads in various coal sections in relation to company owned mines. He has been away from Wash lington some time. He will leave this morning for Washington and will be ir that city several days. MT. Harrison will return to Birmingham several times dur ing the progress of the government case against the grocers.
 It will be recalled that the government recently instituted here a suit In equity to dissolve the Southern Wholesale Gro cers' association, upon the ground that if onerated in restraint of trade. The lease is a result of the Clabaugh suit. in which Clabaugh was alleged to have been forced out of business in this city by discrimination shown against him in business here He sued James A. Van Hoose president of the association, and