The Detroit times., 1910-12-01
DDEA[ERS
|EI11GkTE0 BY
|l||I|EnhMEhT
e ysstioe Department Here To
ctesy That Members Of Mich
4stail Dealers' Association
Violate Antitrust Laws.
|natea That Organization Is
pi1ty q Coercion in Dealings
y with the Wholesalers.

Her as to the methods Of the Mich
! Retail. Lumber Dealers ascot
kxith reference 70 transactions
3oon its members ana the whole
and Manufacturers The agent
5 We'd on q number Of the larger
1olers and has frankly stated
~ofon. He also called on Arthur
rHeo, editor OF The Scout, the
.oFgan Of the Michigan Retail
~ Dealers association, which
led In It's November issue, an
~ attacking the Sherman anti
law. The agents visit has
quite q furore In local lumber
40 speech In the Light Guard
a the final Republican mass
~ 5uot before election, Con.
Nm Townsend made the state
Hut 0f1cers OF the department
~ are conducting an exhaus-
Voott3ation to learn whether
lumber trust exists. The edi-
w based on Congressman
40 statement, and whether
ut visit of the special agent !
6unnection with the editorial
1Wn. II is a fact, however,
10 Sans representative has
E2Af>a special interest In The
That his visit is In connec- |
the investigation spoken OF |
Euooman Townsend Is certain
~ - still In town.
Uooot has kept well within it's
|lA anything 1t has had to say, |
association has done in all its
said Mr.. Holmes I'VE |
G<hing to fear whatever from
n40DtlgAtiOn. II ID several years |
the department Of justice
"a looking for that lumber trust,
10 has never done the lumber In
D the justice of making public |
= AZ has learned from reports al
h A1ed by It's own agents.
( HnA quite q chat with the agent |
y now In town. He seemed 10
) very decent sort Of chap and
|1l1)ortaining talker. He asked me
= of questions about The Scout
ave him . copy Of the one con-
|n9 ~ editorial on the Sherman
Yoa. 10 took Il along with him
. t1nnked me for the courtesy
shawn him"
~ government. It II said, con-
n that any attempt by the retail
\ (1rouSh the association organ,
~ Inference to coerce the
|1uolofs and manufacturer who
1t buoiness the way the ASSOC
y would like II q violation OF
8 Io1oral law. Holmes declares
~ publishes only facts that he
1kotautfate and that the constl-
~ dives him the right to his
a editorially without fear Of
otill have the right OF free
"A IA spite Of the Sherman law"
" 8cout editorial, which Is be-
N to have FASTENED the govern
to local investigation, follows In
Nv long for the love of Mike, does
he government to find where
ntf This government has been
~ round with the Sherman anti.
law and preaching campaign
MN on IL long enough to have
|C1eod the gullible portion of the
|ogoto with the divine benefcence
NJ onactment--if II has any. And
he country goes democratic
Nv the government now begins
how that the Sherman antitrust
n not the candy. With the story
Honh's wonderful jag after HE
- excursion In the ark. or
~ hideous music during thu
|1ne OF old Rome. or the Puritan
|Ity for indulgence I'm plum pud-
Il will make good reading
nv hence, and do no harm. The
nan antitrust law Ia dead one,
EVERYBODY knows II from Wash
~ to ri Paso, but It has not yet
~ out Of the harmless stage.
hats to be done7 Certainly this
1fics cannot. will not last. Red
I'D men will not always take the
and pretend they like Il. And yet
people OF the United States will
ro4dtly admit that the trusts can.
b regulated. that combinations
II kinds should be permitted with
limitation. But so far trust pre-
~ has failed.
OoelrDe, any attempt to repeal
oherman antitrust law, or even
lnond ft, will be met with an hys-
"a gust from the windpipes OF
tender.ssated gentlemen in poll
Whose mission In life Is to follow
crowd, mot lead them. But the
o9hearted gentlemen never can
Educated. Repeal or amendmnet
come. The retail lumber dealers
20 United States demand II. Ev-
retail dsaler in every line In the
~ States needs II. And the first
howard the contamination OF this
& desideratum Is the organization
|oDe effective fighting basis of n
on1 Association OF Retail Lum.
Dealers.