The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-24

brought under the Sherman law, as
interpreted by the Standard oil de-
clslon. the department OF justice
aled suit In the United States Court
here today against various constituent
organizations. which are known as
the Lumber Trusts" alleging the
presence OF widespread conspiracy,
''unreasonably" to restrain the lumber
trade In this country.
IL Is stated that the suit may be
the first of series planned by At
7 ttorney General wickersham looking
10 the breaking up OF alleged agree
meh:s among the retailers OF many
OF the e0s.inC 1ities OF life to main
tain high p-.ces. 20 force all ultimate
consumers to buy from retailers and
to blacklist wholesalers who sell to
! others than members OF the retail
organizations in the various States
and cities.
Ten trade organizations and more
than one hundred and fifty individuals
are named as defendants i'm today's
! suit. II alleges violation of the
, Sherman antitrust law, and seeks a
permanent Injunction restraining the
defendants from continuing the con-
spiracy charged.
The elaborate system of blacklist
ing. attributed to the alleged conspir-
ators, copies OF circulars sent out by
the various organizations. classifying
the consumer as proper" and i'm
proper" trade. extracts from reports,
the threatening short shrift" to deal
ers daring TO violate the rules OF the
organizations. and branding such Of
tenders as "poachers," "scalpers."
mavericks" and "illegitimates,'' are
fully set forth in the Governments
petition.
IL Is alleged that not only have
private consumers been blacklisted
but that many Of the great industrial
concerns OF the count have heen
= put under the ban by tn, lumber deal
ers. The Governments 5in Is replete
with sensational alega ons and In
teresting exhibits.
The suit Is directed specifically
against retail organizations in tho
Eastern States. but the trial will en-
n brace methods adopted by retailers
and wholesalers throughout the Unit
ed States. In general the case Is
regarded as Attorney General Wicker
sham's long planned test suit to have
the courts determine how far COM
blnations of retailers may go TO pre-
Z vent the ultimate consumer from
dealing direct with the wholesaler or
producer.
The Government takes the position
that any agreements or acts which
prevent a consumer from buying
: where he chooses. or to his best ad-
vantage. are in unreasonable" re-
straint OF trade. and violates the
Sherman law.
No attack on the middleman has
been intended. the department OF JUS
tice holding that there is legitimate
business opportunity for him.
III the Governments, contention I'm
this case Is sustained. there is pro-
mise Of a sweeping attack upon sim
liar alleged conspiracies as to other
conn Ft o1fffas In daft,, ,,.o IT.. 49,.
mcut OK justice regards the case as
tho most important in principal OF all
the 'uu-trust suits undertaken. At
J toIney General Wickersham personal
" directed the gathering Of evidence
His special assistant Clark McKocher,
who has been In active charge OF the
preparation Of tho case. filed the
bill today which was also signed by
Henry a. Wise. United States district
attorney, az ,;ew York; James A.
Fowler. assistant to the Attorney Gen
craL and Felix Frankuerter. assistant
United States attorney.
The principal defcnhants in the
Sult are The Eastern States Retail
LuNber Dealers Ass Iciation, New
vIork corporation. the central body
of the min, other dcfendlrts' organi-
zation; the SOW York Lurnier Trade
Association Of Ncv YORK CITY, the
Builders Materials Mons Association.
Of West Chestnut county. New York;
the Lumber Dealers Association. of
} Connecticut: tho Massachusetts, Retail
Lumber Asso 'lauon; tho Lumber
Dealers Assoc lation. Of Rhode Is
land; the Retail, Lumber Dealers As
sociation. Of Baltimore
The officers and directors and mem
bers Of tho above are named as in
/ dividuai defendants. with the New