Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-06
RECIPROCITY HEARING.
CONTINUED from Page one

Senator McCumber's action brough
a quick protest from Senators Ston
and Bailey, who declared that wit
nesses should not be irsulted.
Mr.. Ridder had made the statcmen
that the newspapers of the countr,
and the Publishers Association hat
not attempted to suppress facts or t.
color stories sent from Washington Oh
tie subject of reciprocity when Sena
tor McCumber Interrupted with hi!
charge of falsehood.
Several senators insisted that Mr.
MoCumber's remark should be strick'
en- from the record.
IF any witness appearing before
this committee" said Senator Bailey
were to imply that some senator had
told q falsehood ] would insist that
it be stricken from the record"
Senator McCumber agreed to have
his remark changed so as to make
it read that what Mr.. Ridder said was
''unfounded."
Mr.. Ridder in reply to questions
from members of the committee de-
clared that he, as president of the
Publishers Association, had sent out
word to the members of the assceia-
ton telling them that the reciprocity
agreement was of vital Importance.
But | would not have favored the
agreement" added Mr. Ridder. IF /
had not thought it would have
been of good to the whole country,
Independent of my interest in it as a
newspaper publisher"
Mr. Riddar dapia rod that uhiIa he
was In favor of reciprocity as a whole.
his reason, as newspaper man for
urging its passage was that he might
get out of the clutches of the paper
trust which he said was robbing the
newspaper publishers of the country.
Have you ever made an effort"
asked Senator Bailey, to have the
paper trust punished by The depart
ment of JUSTICE"
Yes" replied Mr.. Ridder. Il had SO
paparmakers in New York indicted
and they paid $4,000 apiece. These
were manufacturers of various kinds
of paper. although 1t has not been pos
sible as yet to prove legally that a
white paper trust exists. Mr.. Walker,
vice president of the International
Paper Co.. swore before the Mann
paper committee that there was no
combination of any sort. although re-
ports were being made to him every
month as to what the various paper
mills of the country were doing"
Would you be satisfied asked SEN
ator Hepburn. IF the paper trust were
punished in some other way than by
the passage of the reciprocity agree
ment?"
Il want help during my life time"
said Mr.. Ridder. Il have not yet seen
any trust magnates go to jail. | favor
the measure SO that | may buy paper
in the open market | do not intend.
if ! can help it. to let the paper trust
dictate TO me what | must pay for
paper"
Mr.. Ridder said he was opposed to
all trusts.
Stone asked Mr.. Ridder if the So
called paper trust" did not limit the
amount of paper manufactured. fix the
price and tell the publisher of what
manufacturing concern he must buy
his paper.
Mr.. Ridder replied In the affirmative.
and said that it could be proved that
the price of paper was fixed by the
trust"
The reading public would benefit,
said Mr.. Ridder. III the measure is
passed. because the publishers could
afford to give a better paper"
Ana would not all the small papers
OF the country" asked Stone, benefit
in the same proportion as the large
papers,"
Yes, answered Mr. Ridder