The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-16
In Combination to Main
tain High Cost of
Living.
ANTITRUST LAW
a AGAIN INVOKED
Action Against Southern Whole
sale Grocers' Association Has
Been Filed at Birmingham
Many Southern States, In
Guiding Virginia, AT
fected.

Washington. D. c., June t5.-Anoth-
er action under the Sherman anti
trust law was started by the Depart
ment of Justice to-day when Oliver u.
Street, United States attorney for the
Northern District of Alabama. was in
structed to file at Birmingham pc
tltion against the Southern Wholesale
Grocers' Association. its officers and
members. alleging that the association
constituted a combination and conspir-
acy in restraint of trade and asking
that II be dissolved.
The suit, 1t was said at the depart
ment to-day, Is one of the results OF
the Investigation which the govern
ment for some time past has been
making with reference TO combina-
tions that seek to eliminate competi-
ton, maintain g high scale of proft
and increase the cost OF living. In
the opinion of the officials, the lnves-
tigation clearly indicated that an un-
lawful conspiracy exists.
Mr.. Street was In conference Tor
several days with the department, and
left last night FOR Birmingham. The
issue viii be pushed TO speedy trial.
the officials believing that they have
ample evidence to substantiate the
charges made.
Governments Charge.
The following statement resafdlng
the matter was made at the Depart
ment of Justice:
".rhe petition alleges that the COM
bination was organized for the pur-
pose and has resulted in coerctng and
preventing manufacturers from SELL
In.. the actual necessaTies of life d.
rect to the retail dealer or consumer
or 10 any wholesale grocer in the
Southern states unless said grocer is
listed in a so-called Green Book pub
Iished and distributed by the assocl-
alton that manufacturers are per-
suaded. urged and coerced pS Ihe
sociation to fix limited selling prices
at which staple articles OF 1909 are
10 he sold and to refuse TO sell sneh
commodities 10 any wholesale grocer
who does not maintain the prices SO
hxed and listed: that in certain lines
manufacturers and producers nave
been induced to bill their goods at an
enhanced price and TO turn over
nercentage to the president OF the
association, who rebated the sane ~
the iobbers maintaining such limited
selling price: that no firm could be-
come a member of the association OF
ha listed in the Green Book unless
ma iority of the other firms IN the To-
calItv gave their approval; and tia.
unless such firm duly listed. 1t was
unable to secure direct buying PriSl-
lepes from those manufacturers VINO
are observing certain rules OIL ptae
tice' adopted by the ASSOCIATION
"rherc are many allegations sci torth
| i, ,ha hill as to the general scheme
and nlan by which this combination
| sought TO prevent the free flow OF
| coninetition among the members there
| Of and to restrict trade and commerce.
"rhe department for some time mas
| received complaints as TO the burdens
| suffered by the people of the Sou.he.i'
states because of the operations OF lh!S
1 association. After careful investiga-
| tion the department believes that Tue
/ association operates TO increase t"e t"e
| cost of the necessities of HE, such Is
coffee, sugar, cereals, soap ana many
| ether lines.
| Covers Vast Territory.
1 The association, as set out in the
! Iroyernment's petition. or bill. consists
| of various firms and corporations en-
4 gagged in the wholesale grocery ousl-
! ness within the States and Territories
/ of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Geor-
pia. Indian Territory. Louisiana, Mar
5Iland, Mississippi, North Carolina, OK
5llahoma, South Carolina. Tennessee
| Texas. Virginia and the District OF
/ Columbia.
"Specifically. the action was brought
against the general ASSOCIATION ana al
! its members, the McLester-Nan Hoost
Company, OF Alabama; James a. Var
/ Hoose. OF Alabama; Robert McLester. OF
/ Alabama; the Alabama Grocery Com
/ pany. of Alabama; S. w. Lee, Of Ala
bama: Joseph H. McL.aurin, of Florida
l.. NJ. Hooper, of Alabama; F. E. Flasha
gen, of North Carolina: c. ". Bartle
son, of Florida Robert Moore, of Ala
hama; Thomas c. Davis, of Arkansas
B. B. Earnshaw, of the District of Co
lumbia; c. c. Guest, of Georgia +, II
Scovell. of louisiana; w. i. Reeves, O
4 Mississippi; R. A. Morrow of Norti
Carolina; ]. H. < Wulbern, OF soutl
Carolina; j. D. Gaucette, of Tennessee
w. A. Scott, of Virginia. and James
w. Lee, of Alabama. a number O
these persons are officers or member!
a of the advisory board of the Southern
II Wholesale Grocers' Association.
'.In addition to the decree of disso
luton the court is asked perpetually t'
restrain the defendants from doing any
act In pursuance of or for the purpoS,
Of carrying out such combination ant
conspiracy complained of,
Petition Is Filled.
birmingham, Ala. June l5.--A peti
tion for an injunction against tn
Southern Wholesale Grocers' Associa
Il tion was fled here this afternoon b,
Assistant District Attorney j. Fl. Mont
!, gomery. pursuant to instructions fror
a the Department Of Justice In WASH
! Iington. asE
The petition charges that the South
ern Wholesale Grocers' Association I
an illegitimate combination in re
straint of trade, and the governmen
/ prays that the combination he dis
: solved and permanently enjoined froi
carrying out its practices in tn
limited States.
!. The application bS the United State
for IA permanent Injunction follows a
s Investigation made in this city by
rft,,.a1 rsr