The sun., 1910-06-16
AFTER THB GROCEUS' COMBINE.
SUIT BEGUN AGAINST SOUTH
ERN ASSOCIATION.

the Attorney -SssAeFal says q seeks q
Balmhate Competition. Maintain a
uigh scale q PPoal ana Increase the
Cost % IASmG-suit % Ne Pushed.
WASHINGTON. June IS.-The Depart
ment of Justice has made another move
In the Administration campaign AGAINST
combinations that are supposed 10 in
crease the cost Of living. This time the
Attorney General has begun suit under
the sherman antitrust law against the
Southern Wholesale 0rocers Association.
which Operates over practically the entire
South.
Considerable testimony was taken IN
Congress Investigations here recently in
regard 10 this wholesale grOcCTs' sSsocia-
ton and similar trade organizations.
The contention ol the trade organizations
invariably was that they were formed
for purely social reasons but IN the cass
Of the Southern Wholesale Grocers AssO-
ciation az least the evidence. in the
opinion Of tho Department Of Justice.
indicated plainly that Il was a Uombina-
ton In restraint Of trade
The suit against the grocsrs association
was fled to-day az Birmingham. Ala. and
announcement was made at the Depart
ment of Justice. The announcement aays
hat the department has similar organiza-
tions under Investigation and Il would
not be surprising Il the suit against the
grocers' association is followed by the
fling of hills IN equity against other
organizations dealing in the necessaries
Of life.
The grocers' association IL made mp
Of many firms and corporations engaged
in the wholesale grocery business in the
States of Alabama. Arkansas. Florida,
Georgia, Oklahoma, Louisiana. Mary
land. Mississippi. North Carolina. South
Carolina. tennessee. Texas. Virginia and
the District Of Columbia. The Depart
ment gave out this statement in regard
% the petition fled in the Federal court
a. Birmingham:
The petition alleges that the combina-
tion was organized for the purpose and
has resulted in coercing and preventing
manufacturers from selling tho actual
necessaries Of life direct to the retail
grocer in the southern States unless said
grocer il listed ia q so-called green
book published aud distributed by the
association; that manufacturers ars per-
suaded. urged and cosrced by the asso-
citation In fix limited selling prices AZ
which staple articles Of food are 70 be
sold and tO refuse TO sell such COmmodi-
ties TO any wholesale grocer who does
not maintain the prices 30 fixed and listed:
that in certain lines manufacturers and
producers have been induced 10 bill their
goods at an enhanced price and TO turn
over a percentage 20 the president Of the
association. who rebated the same TO the
| iObberp maintaining such listed selling
pnce: that no firm could become a member
Of the association or be listed in the
4 'Ereen' book unless a majority Of the
other firms in the locality gave their
I approval and that unless such firm was
| duly listed Il was unable 20 secure direct
| buying privileges from those manufac-
/ turers who observed CERTAIN rules Of
praCtice adopted by said association
There are many other allegations set
I forth IN the bill ~ 10 the general scheme
and plan by which this continuation
sought 20 prevent the free how of COM
petition among the members thereof aud
/ 20 restrict trade and commerce
| The Department for some time past
| has received many complaints a. 20 the
burdens suffered by the people Of the
SOuthern States because Of the operations
I Of this association. After a careful
/ Investigation the Department believes
I that the general plan end purpose Of the
association IL in violation Of law and that
! u operates 90 increase % tho peonle living
within those States the cost II the necess.-
ties Of life. such a. cohee sugar. cereals
aOcp and many other lines with reference
% which the association has acted.
The Investigation which this Depart
ment hrs for some lime past been making
With reference 20 combinations which
seek 20 eliminate composition. maintain
high scale q profit and increase the cost
of living. clearly indicates that the un
lawtu! conspiracy now EXISTS IN this
instance. United Statss Attorney Oliver
u. Street of Birmin CHAM. Ala. who has
been in consultation for several days with
the officers Of the Department having
the matter in charge. left last night for
Birmingham. where he will to-day de the
bill in the United States Circuit Court
The case will be- pushed 10 n speedy
trial and the Department believes that u
has ample evience 20 sub~tantiate the
charges made In the bill
BIRMENUHAM, Ala. June IS 4 hill was |
filed in the Federal Court Of this district I
this afternoon by the United St1tes % /
dissolve the southern Wholesale Grocers |
Association and 10 enioin its further /
Operations on the ground that Il iS a trust /
in violation Of the sherman antitrust |
Aw. The bill was filed before Judge I
GrIbb. who immediately issued an order .
for service upon defendants not residing 4
In the northern district II Alahama The .
subpHnas require Attendance in the /
court on the first Monday IN August
next The list Of defendants is given AZ
follows: southern Wholesale Grooers
Association. Joseph n. McIaurin. presi-
dent Jacksonville Fla: McI,e-ter-Van-
hOOse Company. a corporation. Birm-
tngham: James A. VanhoOse Bir-
mingham, Robert Mclester. Bir-
minghAm; Alabama Grocery Company.
. corporation, Birmingham; s. ". Lee.
Birmingham: Joseph VI. McLAurin. jack
sonville. Pa; l.. N. Hooper Selma. Ala: /
2. =. HashegAn. Wilmington. y. C.; c. W.
Bartleson. Jacksonville FiA tRobert Moore,
Jacksonville. Pa; Thomas {. Davis.
Fort smith. ARK; B. r. EArnshaw. Wash
ington. b. C.; e. c. Guest TiftOn. Ga
T. H. ScoveIl. Shreveport. la; W. T. i
Reeves, Tupelo. Miss; r. 4. Morrow.
annros. n. C.; J. n. c. wilbern, Charles
ton, 8. C.: J. ID. Fancsete. Bristol Tenn.
and A. Scott. North Taxswell. Va.