The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-20
LUMBER TRUST
CHARGED WITH
VARIOUS SINS
Government Brings Proceed
ings Under Sherman Law
AS Interpreted by the
Supreme Court.
BILL is REPLETE
WITH SENSATIONS
Ten Trade Organizations
and More than $50 In.
dividuals Are Named
as Defendants.
BILL is REPLETE
WITH SENSATIONS

NEW YORK, May 19.-ln the first fed
eral antitrust proceedings brought un-
der the Sherman law as interpreted in
the Standard Oil decision, the depart
ment of justice filed In the United States
court here today suit against constitu-
ent organizations OF what is popularity
known as the lumber trust" alleging
the existence Of widespread consplr-
acy 'unreasonably" to restrain the lum-
ber trade in this country.
Ten trade organizations and more than
LOO individuals are named as defendants
The complaint alleges violation OF the
Sherman antitrust law and seeks per-
manent Injunction restraining the de-
PENDANTS from continuing the conspir-
acy charged.
1t is said the suit may be the first
Of series planned by Attorney General
Wickersham. looking 10 the breaking up
of alleged agreements between the re-
taiers Of commodities to maintain high
prices; to force all ultimate consumers
10 buy from retailers and to blacklist
wholesalers who sell TO others than MEM
bers OF the retail organizations
The elaborate system OF blacklstlng
attributed to the alleged lumber conspir-
ators; copies Of circulars sent out by the
proper and improper extracts from
reports threatening short shrift To
dealers daring to violate the rules OF the
organization and branding such Offend
ers as "poachers" ''scalpcrs. 'maver-
icks" and 'ilIegtlmates. arc fully set
forth III the governments petition.
Replete With Sensations.
1t is alleged, that net only private con,
sumers have been blackllsted but that
many great industrial concerns have becn
put under the ban by The lun!be: dealers
The government bill. agsregatins 20 0po
words Is repiete with sensational allie
cations and interesting exhibits.
The suit is directed specifically against
retail organizations in the eastern suites
hut the tral vii! embrace methods adopt
ed bv retailers and wilolcSa 'erS through
out the United states.
Although the lawyers in charge OF tho
case believe the Standard Oil decision
restraint will not affect the lumber ease.
as il is represented To be one Of simple
conspiracy. nevertheless the accusatory
parts Of the bill conform. to that decl-
soma BILE" restraint of the lumber trade.
Lesser stress IS laid on the 9ile9cl
conspiracy between the defendants
themselves. In general tho case IS r"-
earded as Attorney General Wicker
shams long planned test suit Ia ha'"
the courts determine bow far c"mbina-
tions Of retailers NAV go TO prevent m"
ultimate consumer from dealing directly
with the wholesaler or producer.
Position of Government.
The government takes the position that
any agreements acts which prevent
consumer from buying where Re
chooses OF 10 ms ptSl h'' ~
unreasonable restraint Of trade. and
violate the Sherman law. No attack
on the middleman, as Such, Is intended
the department OF justice holding that
there is legitimate opportnnity Tor him.
1t is known that while the department
has been making nation wide infestl-
CATION its agents have reported that the
case is nearly parallelcd In tho market
ing of many other commodities. IT the
governments contentious are sustained
there is promise of a sweeping attack
upon similar alleged conspiracies.
Attorney General Wickersham person.
ally directed the gathering of the evil
denCe which has occupied more than
wear His special assistant. Clarke Nc
Clercher who has been In active charge
of The preparations Of the case. f'od the
hill TODAY which also was signed bv
Henry A Wise. limited States district
attorney AT New York; James A. Fow-
ler assistant 10 the attorney general.