The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-30
LUMBER DEALERS
INVESTIGATED BY
GOVERNMENT
Agent of Justice Department Here To
Probe Story That Members of Mich
igan Retail Dealers Association
Violate Antitrust Laws.
Intimated That Organization Is
Guilty Of Coercion in Dealings
With the Wholesalers.

For several days special agent
of the United States department OF
Justice has been in city making in
quiries as to the methods OF the Mich
igan Retail Lumber Dealers asscci-
alton with reference TO transactions
between its members and the whole
salers and manufacturers. The agent
has called on a number OF the larger
wholesalers and has frankly stated
his mission. He also called on Arthur
l.. Holmes, editor of The Scout. the
official ogan of the Michigan Retail
Lumber Dealers association, which
published in its November issue, an
editorial attacking the Sherman anti
trust law, The agents visit has
caused quite furore in local lumber
circles.
In his speech In the Light Guard
armory, at the final Republican mass
meeting just before election, Con
gresham Townsend mad ethe state
ment that officers OF the department
of justice are conducting an exhaus-
tive investigation to learn whether
4 retail lumber trust exists. The edi-
torial is based on Congressman
Towrsends statement, and whether
the present visit of the special agent
has any connection with the editorial
Is not known. 1t is fact, however,
that Uncle Sans representative has
manifested special interest in The
Scout. That his visit Is In connec-
ton with the investigation spoken of
by Congressman Townsend Is certain.
The man il still In town.
"Tha Scnut has liant we'll within Ito
rights In anything 1t has had to say,
as the association has done in all its
practices said Mr.. Holmes. I'VE
have nothing to fear whatever from
any investigation. 1t Is several years
since the department of justice
started looking for that lumber trust,
and 1t has never done the lumber in
terests the justice of making public
what 1t has learned from reports al
ready filed by its own agents.
II had quite chat with the agent
who Is now in town. He seemed to
be very decent sort of chap and
an entertaining talker. He asked me
lot OF questions about The Scout
and j gave him copy of the one con-
taihing the editorial on the Sherman
law. Yes, he took IL along with him
and thanked me for the courtesy
had shown him"
The government, IL il said, con
tends that any attempt by the retail.
ers, through the association organ,
even by inference to coerce the
wholesalers and manufacturers who
do not do business the way the asso-
ciaticn would like is violation Of
the federal law. Holmes declares
that he publishes only facts that he
can substantiate and that the consti-
tuition gives him he RICH r.
his opinion editorially without fear
OF punishment
I'VE still have the right of free
speech In spite of the Sherman law"
he said
The Scout editorial which il be-
lieved to have FASTENED the govern
ment's local investigation, follows in
part:
How long for the love of Mike, does
ii take government to find where
1t is at? This government has been
fooling round with the Sherman anti
trust law and preaching campaign
sermons on IL long enough TO have
impressed the gullible portion Of the
electorate with the divine beneficence
OF this enactment--if II has any. And
yet the country goes democratic.
Surely the government now begins
to know that the Sherman antitrust
law Is not the candy. With the story
OF Noah's wonderful jag after his
aimless excursion in the ark, or
Nero's hideous music during the
burning of old Rome, or the Puritan
penalty for indulgence in plum pud-
ding, It will make good reading a
century hence, and do no harm. The
Sherman antitrust law is dead one,
and everybody knows IL from Wash
ington to FL Paso, but II has not yet
passed out of the harmless stage
What's to be done? Certainly this
injustice cannot, will not last Red.
blooded men will not always take the
gaff and pretend they like It. And yet
the people OF the United States will
not readily admit that the trusts can
not be regulated, that combinations
of all kinds should epermitted with
out limitation. But so far trust pre-
vention has failed.
or course, any attempt to repeal
the Sherman antitrust law. or even
to amend II, will be met with an hys-
terical gust from the windpipes OF
the tender-seated gentlemen in poll.
tics whose missio min life Is to follow
the crowd. not lead them. But the
tender-hearted gentlemen never can
be educated. Repeal or amendmnet
must come. The retail lumbr dealers
of the United States demand IT, Ev.
cry retail dealer in every line in the
United States needs It, And the first
step toward the contamination of this
great desideratum is the organization
on some effective fighting basis OF n
National Association of Retail Lum