The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-02
M'LAUR|N TALKS
 ABOUT THE SUIT
Unwilling to Believe Politics Is
 Behind It
FEELS SURE OF FUTURE
Association Will Be Found Not at
 Fault When All the Evil dence Is In


 Southern Wholesale Grocers' associa- nlingham yesterday. He arrived over
 the Central of Georgia at noon and left over the Louisville and Nashville for Montgomery, from which point he returns to Jack sonville.
 MT. McLaurin was here for a short and informal conference with several friends and with officials in the gov ernment building. He stated very frankly that he did not expect to per-
 form any acts of public interest in Birmingham nor was his visit here of any special import
 Mr. McLaurin has been handling the answer of the Wholesale Grocers' as- sociation, which was filed in the Unit
 ed States court yesterday. He has been in constant consultation with the attorneys in Memphis and is thorough ly in touch with the situation. He is looked upon by all the members as the one to defend the suit and he stated yesterday that he would. In some respects MT. McLaurin is a most remarkable personality. In talking yesterday of the case he did not evince any special interest in the suit nor did he betray any fear but that the Southern Wholesale Grocers' association would come out victorious He spoke of the case as being a poiit- teal one in most magnanimous spirit and stated that he would be slow to charge his government and his pres ident with being guilty of any insin- cere motives.
 Discusses the Litigation While Mr. McLaurin would not give any statement directly, all the time maintaining that his visit was a per sonal one. he spoke very Interestingly of the litigation.
 He said among other things:
 q am a very small person to be so carefully looked after by you news paper men, and it surprises he to ffd that I have suddenly become so iin- portant. I frequently visit Blriu,Dg- ham. I ar not here to file any an- swer to that suit you speak of nor am here to hold formal confab with
 any members of the association. have many good friends in the city and am very fond of calling upon tEem."
 "Mr. McLaurin. in regard to this suit; some people state it Is political move on the part of the government. What
 dc you think about it?" was asked him.
 Suit As Political Move In a slow and deliberate voice he answered: "I would not for anything charge the President of the United States with having instituted this suit or this trust busting case for any political reasons. He is my President and this government Is my government
 I care not which side of the line l
 may have sprung from. He Is the head of this country and a man above reproach. I dare not accuse him vf such practices.
 However, I have heard more than one person openly charge that the gov
 ernment has started this suit simply to make a large fuss and draw a large CTOWu. He OOulleTn Grocers are every one honorable men so far as I know. We have a mutu- ally cooperative and beneficial or ganization that has been of a great deal of benefit to us. We have not in any manner or by the slightest implication violated the first law of the land nor would we do so for any consideration. The case. when it comes for trial, will show that our associa- ton is one based upon broad business lines and if we are declared an illegal combination in violation of the Sher- man trust laws then your Chamber of Commerce and the other civic bodies that contribute so much for the good of the country will also be declared in violation of the same law" Has Confidence in Outcome In speaking of the actual answer which was filed yesterday he said "The answer does not require the attendance here of General Wright or myself. So neither of us will be here
 We have filed our answer, which is a denial of every charge made by the eOverumant's pefftton That will ha