The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-05-26
SUESLUMBER FIRMS
,.,e1rRsHAM BEGINS ACTION
UNDER SHERMAN ANTI
TRUST LAW.
CONSPIRACY IS THE CHARGE
Government Starts Suit TO End Trust
AIleqea 20 Hold Buyers at Its
Mercy All over country-More
rhar $50 Named as Defendants.

Now York, May 2O.-In a suit re-
,iste aith sensational charges. Attor-
IN General Wickersham. through his
.,sciai deputy. Clark McKercher. en-
,fr.a sut IN the United States circuit
conr M this district asking that
nermanent injunction be issued
against The lumber trust restraining
!, from continuing a conspiracy In
.,rdu. and unreasonable restraint OF
trade.
Iuls IS the governments first anti
trust suit conforming to the Supreme
courts decision in the case OF the
standard OIL company. II was declared
nv Government officials that this is
merely a precursor of a succession OF
similar suits to be brought against
the giant monopolies OF the country
which have been responsible for the
Increased cost Of living.
Conspiracy is Charged.
Ten trade organizations and more
than 1870 individuals are named as de-
fendants. They are alleged to have
eonspired among themselves and with
the assistance OF the National Whole
sale Lumber Dealers association 10
prevent wholesalers from selling d.
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. y. Y.
The Lumber Dealers association Of
Connecticut
The Massachusetts, Retail Lumber
Dealers association.
The Lumber Dealers association Of
Rhode Island
The Retail Lumbermen's association
Of Baltimore.
officers Made Defendants.
The officers and directors, trustees
ard members of the foregoing are
named as individual defendants. as
We'll as the officers and directors and
members OF the following voluntary
organizations The New Jersey Lum
bermens Protective association. the
Retail Lumbermen's 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
ne suit Is based. The evidence in
ciudes copies Of the alleged agree
menis, blacklists and reports OF the
various examinations. branding whole
sa.ers and retailers. who have dared
violate the rules Of the trust as
-poachers," 'scalpers," mavericks"
and i.lteitlmate 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
o. the trust would depend upon the
nature OF the evidence adduced at the
trial
"' VI NHe great INDUSTRIAL con-
Germs OF the country. II is alleged.
nave been put under the ban OF the
trust
Ile government takes the position
'na' any agreement or act which pre-
vents customer from buying where
~ choses or to hrs best advantage. is
~ unreasonable" restraint OF trade
he department. of justice has been
making q nationwide investigation OF
we lumber situation. and Attorney
ueneral Wlckersham has found that II
i parallel with that OF many other
commodities In daily use. II the courts
es'aih the governments contention
'1e'e is every likelihood OF a sweep
4Hs attack all along the line.