The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-08
SUIT To DISSOLVE
TRUST IS FILED
Conspiracy to Restrain Trade is charg-
ed Against Michigan Retail Lum-
Der Dealers Association

Detroit. Mich, Sept. Charging
conspiracy to restrain interstate trade
and commerce in lumber and its prod
ucts, United States District Attorney
Frank Watson yesterday filed a bill
in the United States circuit court to
enjoin the Michigan Retail Lumber
Dealers Association. the Scout Pub
fishing company of this city and the
Lumber Secretaries Bureau of Infor-
nation of Chicago from further alleged
unlawful business methods.
1t is alleged that members of the
retailers association endeayor to pro
hibit manufacturers or jobbers from
shipping to competitors who are non
members of the organization 4 man
ufacturer shipping to competing deal
ers is subject to a fine of 10 per cent
of the value of the sale, it is charged;
and, if the manufacturer refuses to
pay the penalty, the organized retail
ers are informed of iii
In case any association member con
rinues dealing with the manufacturer
followoing notification that he has re.
fused to pay his penalty, the member
is subject to expulsion from the body.
The Scout Publishing company issues
The Scout, a lumber trade journal. It
is charged that from time to time edi-
torials were published, advocating the
principle of the retailers dealing only
with manufacturers or jobbers who
observed the ethics of the retailers
organization. The government also
asserts that The Scout published the
names of the shippers who engaged
in interstate commerce and trade in
manner alleged to be in violation of
the rules of the retail dealers associa-
tion, thereby answering all purposes
of blacklist" for the defendant or
ganization."
When a manufacturer or jobber fail
ed to abide by the rules of the defend
ant organization it is alleged the sec
retary of the association would com
plain to the Lumber Secretaries Bu-
reau of Information and the latter
would in turn give notice to the sew
eral lumber dealers associations
throughout the United States, all of
which the district attorney holds to
be in straint of trade. The secretaries
bureau of information is also said to
have kept The Scout informed of any
violation of the rules of the retail
dealers.
According to the governments bill
the organized dealers do not object
to the shipment of lumber to railroads
or to transportation companies, or of
sash, door and blinds to hardware mer-
chants who might keep a regular stock
of such goods, provided the material
is sold in not less than carload lots.
The classes of competitors said to be
most specifically opposed, are mail or
der houses and farmers cooperative
societies.
The government names the follow
ing individual defendants in the suit:
Edward E. Hartwick of Detroit, pres.
ident of the Michigan Retail Lumber
Dealers Association; Arthur L.
Holmes, of Detroit, vice president OF
the Retailers Association, member OF
the Lumber Secretaries Bureau of In
formation and publisher of the Scout;
George p Sweet, Grand Rapids, secre
tary and treasurer of the Retailers AS
s0ciation and member of lumber sec
retaries; and the following directors
of the retailers organization; J. J
Comerford, Detroit; A. ]. Kraft, Bat
tie Creek; H. w Rikerd, Lansing
John Wood, Grand Rapids; F. D. jerks
Port Huron and c. A. Pollock, Cold
water.