The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-06-22
LUMBER BLACKLIST
IS BROUGHT OUT
LETTERS BETWEEN OFFICIALS
OF THE LUMBER AssociA.
TIONS READ IN COURT,
IN THE PROBE AT KANSAS CITY
State Scores by Uncovertng Secrets
of Conformation Bureau
Members Feared the Anti.
Trust Law.

Kansas City, June ia bundle Of
letters which passed between John A.
Gorsuch, secretary of the Southwest
ern Lumbermen's association, and
Carl A. Drake, formerly secretary of
the Texas Lumbermen's association,
and which were confiscated from
brakes offices when he recently fed
from Austin, Texas, put vigor into
the states custer suit against the al
legged lumber monopoly when they
were introduced in evidence by the
prosecution here.
The state contends that the letters,
which were read, prove:
That fourteen lumbermen's asso-
Citations, embracing practically the
whole of the forest area Of the United
States, maintained an information
bureau" which kept it's members adj
vised upon what manufacturers sold
direct to the consumer.
That manufacturers who sold to re-
tallers that failed to keep their asso.
citation obligations we're blacklisted.
That the members of the various
associations had agreements not to
invade one another's territory.
That Mr.. Gorsuch was fearful lest
the workings of the information bu-
reau" violated the antitrust laws.
That the Southwestern Lumber
mems association refrained from put
ting into their bylaws and constitu-
ton penalties for dealers who failed
to keep their membership obligations
because it was feared the organization
might be brought into conflict with
the antitrust laws.
Warned to be Cautious.
1t would appear from letter Drake
wrote to Gorsuch May 4, 1903, that
Gorsuch had warned him to be eau
tious. Drake said in part
II am in receipt Of your letter of
the list. I do not think there is any,
thing in our antitrust laws that is
going to affect the working of the
bureau Of information. I am much
more interested in the result of the
internal workings than scared of any
particular danger that may arise to
us. For more than four years l have
been able to keep out of the peniten-
through good luck and political in
fluence and I feel that I am getting
most too old to change my abode, and
am keeping UP my political connec-
TONS"
In letter referring to the failure
of the Southwestern Lumbermen's as
sociation to include penalties in it's
bylaws, Gorsuch, in letter to Drake
on May Is, 1908, said:
Disturbed as to Penalties.
"A number of our members have
asked me what we propose to do since
we wiped out all penalties and obliga-
lions, and l have answered all of
them that every dealer in lumber who
is a member of the association has
been in business long enough to know
just what the object of the association
is and that we proposed to protect our
members in the same old way as we
have been doing and that it is not
necessary to put It down in black and
white in our constitution and bylaws.
have found them all satisfied with
the change and feel a good deal freer
since we have wiped out all semblance
of anything that might be construed
by prejudiced Judge as in conflict
with the antitrust laws of our several
states"
Gorsuch spoke in other letters of
several specific cases where manu-
facturers had sold lumber to retailers
who failed to keep their agreemnt to
restrict their sales to their own ter
ritory. He was of the opinion that if
association members would refuse to
buy from these manufacturers it
would be but short time until the
retailers supply would be cut Off, and
this might induce him to be good"
B. r. Nelson Testifies in Chicago.
Chicago, June 16.-Five more wit
nesses testified before the federal
grand jury in the effort to determine
whether the lumber business of the
United States is in the control of
trust. Witnesses are carefully
guarded and what transpired in the
grand jury room is not allowed to
reach the public.
Benjamin F. Nelson, of Minneapolis.
and H. c. Kittredge, of Evanston, ILL.,,
gave testimony during the morning
session. Three others, o. NJ. Botsford
and J. w. Lucas, of Winona, Mimi,
and Albert Boynton, of Beresford, s.
w. were also placed on the stand.
sEAMEN GRANTED RAISE.