The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-29
By The So-Called Lumber Trust,
Says Government
ILLEGAL METHODS used
Maintains Spy System, Blscklists,
Division Of Territory and Other
wise UnlawfulIy Controls business
Through Lumber Secretaries
Bureau Of Information.

Denver. Sept. Sensational
charges that the so-called lumber
trust completely dominates the lum-
ber trade of at least 20 states By
maintaining spy system, blaeki.s.s,
division of territory and other al
legged illegal methods conducted
through central agency In Chicago
called the Lumber Secretaries But
reau az Information. are made IN an
anti-trtst suit filed In the United
States court here. yesterday by the
department Of justice.
i'his Is the governments fourth
move In a nationwide fight against
the lumber trust IN addition 10 the
criminal il.dictnents already stand
ing against the secretaries Of four
tesn igmbs men's associations. Anti
trust suits under the Sherman .aw
are now pending against the MIclti-
gan Retail Lumber Dealers Associa-
tion. aud the Eastern States Retail
Lumber Dealers Association.
The secretaries bureau and the
Colorado and Wyoming Lumber
Dealers association are defendants
IN the action hlcd yesterday. The
government asks the court 10 enicin
the bureau from continuing an
espoInasc upon lumber men by paid
sries aTd circulating "blackllsts
and other Confidential infornsa-
fion." u asks that the Colorado
and Wyoming association be- enjoln-
ed from Subscribing to the aid az
the bureau Lumber dealers assoc
CATIONS In sbcut 20 states are nam
ed ~ the biz as members OF the sec
retaies' bureau but are not named
a. defendants In this suit. Fourteen
secretaries o. various lumber asso-
clauons represented in the bureau
were indicted recently In Chicago
under the. criminal seckons Of the
yherman law
III government charges that the
operation of the alleged conspiracy
tetwecn the lnmbermen and the Sec
sesaries' bureau has eliminated all
comptition for the trade Of the con
sumer. except among retail yards
II Is charged that dealer IL PEE
vented from soliciting or competing
Tor business In the territory Of an
other: that contracting bnllders and
other large consumers ARE prevented
from buying nj Wholesale: that lum-
ber dealers who have not obcyed the
ethics" prescribed by the organiza-
tion have been watched by deiec-
tlves from the central bureau and
their irregular" sales published TO
other members of the association.
that they have been 'blacklisted'
and have found II difficult 10 con
tinue business The effect OF all
this. the government alleges. has
been TO hx prices and restrain trade
The bill Is replete with allegations
Of threats and intimidations said 20
have been practiccd upon manufac-
Iturers. wholesalers and so-callcd
"uncthical" methods.
"Customers' lists. made up an
nually. the government charges.
designated from which manufactur-
crs and wholesalers. membera of the
allied associations. are permIttsi to
buy their supplies. Tho Lumber
Secretaries Bureau. acting as the
clearing house." Is alleged TO be
the medium through which the al
legged blacklists. etc. have been fur
nishcd 10 all dealers IN the COM
blned associations.
The government holds that by at
lacking the bureau the department
of justice expects 10 strike at the
root of the alleged restraints. which
are said 20 make costly the dlslribn.
tIon ~ lumber from the manuiac-
turcr to the consumer
Attorney General wlckcrsham
and his special assistant. Clark Nc.
kercher. have been working more
than year gathering the evidence
lupon which The suits are brought.