The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-02
Claim That They Have Form : ed No Conspiracy In
 Restraint of Trade
CLAIM SUIT IS BASED ON
 UNFOUNDED INFORMATION
ments to Petition and Later Special Masters VIII Be Appointed
 to Hear Testimony

The Southern Wholesale Groeers' asso- citation, through Gen. Luke E. Wrgiht and Carruthers Ewing, counsel for the asso- citation. filed an answer to the govern ment's dissolution petition in the United States court yesterday.
 The answer was due next Monday, &C., cording to the order issued by Judge William I. Grubb, when the petition of the government was filed some time ago. The answer embodies full and complete denial of all the allegations of the gov ernment so far as the association being an illegal combination is concerned. The grocers admit that they have banded to- gether, they admit having a list of deal- CTS which is generally circulated and which is generally termed the Green Book" However 1t is stated that mem Der and non-members alike were listed In the book with no discrimination.
 In one part of the petition 1t is stated that if the association is an illegal one, then all chambers of commerce, boards of trade, commercial clubs and kindred or ganizations are illegal and in violation of the Sherman law.
 Only One Admission Made
 The only admissions of the answering petition, which carries a request for in- stant dismissal, is that the association really exists and has members in the several southern states and the District of Columbia. The grocers deny any effort to coerce anyone in the purchasing of goods, and disclaim any knowledge that any law, either federal or state, has been violated by the association, its members or it's agents. The petition recites that the entire petition of the government Is based on unfounded information, which has ernment.
 The style of the case and a synopsis of the answer follows:
 The United States of America vs. the Southern Wholesale Grocers' association and all the members of said association the McLesterV VanHoose company, James A. VanHoose, Robert McLester, the Ala bama Grocery company. S. w. Lee, J. H.. McLaurin. L. M. Hooper, F. E. Hosho- gen. C.. w. Bartleson, Robert Moore, T. c. Davis, B. B. Earnshon. c. c. Guest. T. H. Scovell, w. T. Reeves, R. A. Morrow. J. H. c. Wilburn, J. D. Foncette, W. H. Scott and Joseph W. Lee
 These defendants, saving and reserving all right to except to said bill of complaint for its manifect errors and inefficiencies, to such thereof as they are advised 1t is material for them to answer, answering say:
 stvTbau admit that dafapdapt Southern Wholesale Grocers' association was and is composed of numerous firms and corporations engaged in the whole sale grocery business in several southern states and the District of Columbia.
 "The defendants deny that its officers and members were at the times mentioned in the bill of complaint or at any time, or that they are now individually or as an association combining, conspiring and con- federating together to coerce and prevent manufacturers and producers engaged in selling and shipping for transportation such commodities in the several states, from selling these commodities or neces- sites of life direct either to the retailer or consumer, or to any wholesale grocer in the states named elsewhere, unless said last-named wholesale grocer is either a member of said association or listed in the so-called green book, as published and distributed by defendant association, its officers and agents as set forth In the bill of complaint
 Deny Any Conspiracy
 Defendants furthermore deny that the defendants, its officers and members, or any of them have at the times mentioned in the bill of complaint combined, con- spired and confederated together to coerce the manufacturers and producers engaged in selling commodities and ship ping the same among the several states to fix a limited selling price at which staple articles of food are to be held, and to have such prices printed on cards and duly distributed among the members so listed.
 Defendants further deny that the as- saciation, its officers or members have at any time or are now combining. con- spring or confederating together to coerce or prevent such manufacturers or
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