The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-05-25
SuESLUMBER FIRMS
WICkERSHAM BEGINS ACTION
UNDER SHERMAN ANTI.
TRUST LAW.
CONSPIRACY IS THE CHARGE
Government Starts Suit to End Trust
Alleged to Hold buyers at Its
Mercy All Over Country-More
Than $50 Named as Defendants.

New York.-Sweeping and sensa
,ional charges of gigantic conspiracy
to maintain high prices. to blacklist
concerns not regarded as proper
trade, and to violate generally the
Sherman antitrust law are made In a
government suit filed by Attorney
General Wickersham in the United
States circuit court here against the
lumber trust.
This is the governme nt's first anti
trust suit conforming to the Supreme
courts decision In the case OF the
Standard oil company. Il was declared
by government officials that this Is
merely a precursor Of a succession OF
similar suits to be brought against
the giant monopoles of the country
which have been responsible for the
increased cost of living
Ten trade organizations and more
than $50 individuals are named as de-
PENDANTS. They are alleged to have
conspired among themselves and with
the assistance of the National Whole
sale Lumber Dealers association to
prevent wholesalers from selling di'
rectly or indirectly to consumers.
The defendant corporations are:
The Eastern States Retail Lumber
Dealers association of New YORK,
with Offices at IS Broadway
The New York Lumber Trade asso'
citation of this city.
The Building Material Mems asso-
citation Of Westchester county n. Y.
The Lumber Dealers association OF
Connecticut.
The Lumber Dealers association Of
Rhode Island
The Retail Lumbermen's association
of Baltimore.
The officers and directors, trustees
ana members of the following are
named as individual defendants, as
well as the officers and directors and
members of the following voluntary
organizations: The New Jersey Lum-
bermen's Protective association OF
Philadelphia and the Lumber Ex'
change OF the District of Columbia.
Attorney General Wickersham and
Special Assistant Clark McKercher
have devoted more than year to
gathering the evidence upon which
the suit Is based. The evidence In
cludes copies OF the alleged agree
ments, blacklists and reports Of the
various organizations branding whole
salers and retailers who have dared
violate the rules Of the trust as
"poachers," 'scalpers" mavericks"
and "illegitimate dealers" to whom
short shifts" must be applied
officials both here and in Washing.
ton said that the advisability OF Grim
inal actions against individual officials
Of the trust would depend upon the
nature OF the evidence adduced at the
trial
} Many OF the great Industrial con.
Germs of the country, It Is alleged. have
been put under the ban Of the
trust.
The government takes the position
that any agreement or act which pre-
vents a consumer from buying where
he chooses, or to his best advantage, Is
In unreasonable restraint Of trade.
The department Of Justice has been
making a nationwide investigation OF
the lumber situation, and Attorney
General Wickersham has found that It
is parallel with that Of many other
commodities in daily use If the courts
sustain the governments contention
there is every likelihood of a sweep
ing attack all along the line.