Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-16
PROBING THE LUMBER TRUST
Hearing Continues in Suit On rrtpS
at Kansas City.
SECRETARY GORsUCH A wTTNE4
Admits that he Gave Notice Of re-
ciprocal Arrangements Hav-
inE been Agreed
Upon,

KANSAS CITY. June 1b-The hearing of
the states quo wsrrsnto suit against the
alleged lumber trust before Commissions
r. NJ, Reynolds was resumed here today.
Harry A. Gorsuch, secretary OF the
Southwestern Lumber association, was
again a witness. making the third day he
has been on the stand.
Attorney General Atkinson asked him ifI
he had attended a meeting Of the Joint
trades committee of the National Lumbar
mems association and the Southern Lum-
bermeu's association in Chicago in 1904 at
which certain rules affecting the lumber
trade has been promulgated. The witness
said he attended the meeting.
did you send out a report 10 the men,
bers Of your association in January, 1903,
announcing that certain reciprocal ar
rangements agreed on at the meeting Of
the Joint trades committee In Chicago In
1904 had been abrogated?"
Il believe I did"
Row over Bulletin,
long argument was precipitated BY
the attempt Of the state TO introduce in
evidence a bulletin sent out by Bierd
Critchfield. secretary, to the members OF
the Nebraska Lumber Dealers association
in 1905. This pamphlet contained the ru]aa
trades committee in Chicago in 1904.
You are familiar with these rules. are
you not?" the witness was asked
mo. I cannot remember them clearly.
They were never put into effect and were
abrogated soon after they were promul-
gated" was the reply.
At this point W. c. Scarrett protested
against the introduction Of the bulletin
as evidence. He said several witnesses
had testified that the rules laid down by
the joint trades committee had never been
in effect and that the so-oalled rules we're
not arbitrary. but merely recommendations
to the various lumber associations.
Judge ]. r. CAN'T for the state, said
that the testimony given at ST. Louis
showed that the rules were effective for a
time in this state and that they violateH
the antitrust laws OF Missouri.
The witnesses at this hearing are ulh-
willing witnesses" he said, forced to-
the evidence shows that the law has been
violated"
Blacklist Was Used.
Testimony showing that the associations
that were subscribers to the Bureau Of
information" blacklisted those manufac-
turers VINO sold to consumers was brought
out in the testimony of Mr.. Gorsuch.
This testimony was offered by the state
In the form of letters. These letters Mrs
Gorsuch identified as having been wrftte&
by him TO Carl r. Drake. secretary OF thk
Texas Lumbermen's association in l9o4
The correspondence showed that complaint
had been made that a cement compahaNz
had sold to consumers in Oklahoma and
that on being demonstrated with by Mr..
Gorsuch had written him that they In
tended to sell whatever they pleased, add
ing. I'VE ale free people, living in a free
Another letter written by. Gorsuch Css-
cussed the abolition OF fines for members
OF the association who violated the trade
agreement and the substitution Of reports
OF such violations TO the trade. Mr.. At
kinson laid stress on the language OF this
letter as showing the existence of a black
list.