The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-05-26
LUMBER MONOPOLY
UNREASONABLE
GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO HAVE
CERTAIN PRACTICES EN-
JOINED BY COURTS.
Most Serious Offense Is 6lackiisting
Suit Said to Be the First OF =
Series Planned by Attorney General
Looking to the Breaking Up OF
Agreements to Maintain Prices.

New York, May 20.-In the first fed
eral antitrust proceedings brought I'M
der the Sherman law as interpreted in
the Standard Oil decision, the depart
ment of justice filed in the United
States court here yesterday a suit
against constituent organizations OF
what is popularity known as the "lum-
Der trust" alleging the existence OF a
widespread conspiracy "unreasonably"
to restrain the lumber trade in this
country.
Ten trade organizations and more
than $50 individuals are named as de-
PENDANTS. 1t alleges violation OF the
Sherman antitrust law. and seeks q
permanent injunction restraining the
defendants from continuing the con-
spiracy charged.
1t is said the suit may be the first
of series planned by Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham looking to the break
ing up of alleged agreements between
the retailers of commodities to main
tain high prices; to force all ultimate
to blacklist wholesalers who sell to
others than members of the retail or
CARNATIONS.
The elaborate system of blacklist
ing attributed to the alleged lumber
conspiracies, copies of circulars sent
out by the organization, classifying
consumers as proper" and Tim.
proper" extracts from reports threat.
ening short shrift" to dealers daring
to violate the rules of the Organiza.
ton, and branding such officers as
"poachers," "scalpers," mavericks
and ''illegitimates," are fully set forth
in the governments petition.
Corporations Listed.
1t is alleged that not only private
consumers have been blacklisted, but
that many great industrial concerns
have been put under the ban by the
lumber dealers.
The government bill, aggregating
| 10000 words, is replete with sensa-
tional allegations and interesting ex.
hibits.
The suit is directed specifically
against retail organizations in the
| Eastern states, but the trial will en-
brace methods adopted by retailers
and wholesalers throughout the Unit
ed States. Although the lawyers in
charge of the case believe the Stand
ard Oil decision involving reasonable
or unreasonable" restraint will not
affect the lumber case, as it is repre-
sented to be one of simple conspiracy
nevertheless the accusatory parts OF
the bill conform to that decision and
| charge undue" and unreasonable
restraint of the lumber trade.
+ Less stress is laid on the alleged
conspiracy between the defendants
themselves. In general the case is re
garded as Attorney General Wicker
sham's long planned test suit to have
the courts determine how far combina
lions of retailers may go to prevent
the ultimate consumer from dealing
directly with the wholesaler or pro
Queer.
Governments Position.
The government takes the position
that any agreements or acts which
Iprevent consumer from buying where
he chooses or to his best advantage
are in unreasonable" restraint Of
trade and violate the Sherman law
No attack on the middle man, as such
is intended, the department of justice
holding that there is legitimate oppor
tunity for him. 1t is known that while
the department has been making q
nationwide investigation, it's agents
have reported that the case is nearly
paralleled in the marketing of many
other commodities. If the govern.
ment's contentious are sustained. there
is promise of a sweeping attack upon
some alleged conspiracies.
Attorney General Wickersham per
sonally directed the gathering of the
evidence. which has occupied more
than year.