New-York tribune., 1911-10-06
Democratic State Chairman and
Seven Others Accused of Vio-
Iating Sherman Law.
IN A "WALL PAPER TRUST"
Dix Was Formerly Director OF
Company-Huppuch, in Al
bany, Says Charges Are
Ridiculous.

The indicted manufacturers are Win
field A. Huppuch first vice e-president or
the Standard Wall Paper Company, OK
Hudson Falls. ". Y; Robert F. Hobbs, n
director OF the Hobbs. Benton & Heath
Company. Of Hoboken. y. j; George
TAFT, director OF the William Campbell
Wall Paper Company. Of Hackensack.
y. J.. and John Mccoy OF the York
card and Paper Company, OF York Penn.
The indicted jobbers are Jay 3. Pearce.
president OF the J. B. Pearce wall Paper
Company of Cleveland; G. G. Aler presi-
den. Of c. G. Aler & Co. OF Columbus,
Ohio; Norton Newcomb. secretary OF the
Newcomb Brothers Wall Paper Company.
Of St. Louis, and Charles f. Maxwell.
manager Of s. E Maxwell & TO. ot
Chicago.
The indictments charge that Huppuch.
Hobbs, TAFT and Roche. constituting
committee representing the Wall Paper
Manufacturers Association Of the
United States. repeatedly met with
Pearce, Aler, Newcomb and Maxwell.
members of a committee representing
the National Association OF Wall Paper
Jcbbers in the United States, and de-
vised a plan TO prevent their products
being bought by and 10 cent stores.
Many Concerns in Organization.
According to the indictments, thirty
seven concerns from coast TO coast arc
members OF the Wall Paper Manufact-
urers' Association, and twenty-seven
concerns are members Of the jobbers
organization, practically controlling the
country's wall paper output.
To-day's action OF the grand jury IL
the sequel TO many months OF investl-
cation by the government, which last
spring returned similar indictments
against a number Of jobbers. owners
Of ) and 10 cent stores from all over
the country and two wall paper jobbers.
whose names are withheld. gave evil
dence before the grand jury.
United States Attorney U. G. Denman
conducted the governments case.
Attorneys representing the indicted men
promised that they would have them In
court TO plead and give bond without de-
Law. Both sides expressed a desire Tor
an early hearing.
The financial and political prominence
of some Of the indicted men and others
connected with the companies concerned
insures national interest in the coming
trial. with the foremost attorneys OF
New York. Chicago. st. Louis and Cleye-
land appearing for the defendants.
The penalty on conviction is a fine Of
from $1,000 to $1,000 in each case, with
a prison sentence Of from one TO five
years. at the option Of the Judge.
Thomas L. Roche. OF Philadelphia for
mer secretary Of the Manufacturers As
sociation, ard William l.. Yetter. Of
Omaha. former secretary Of the Jobbers
Association, were not indicted. it being
set forth in the bills that they furnished
the government Information relating to
the alleged restraint of trade, and thus
received an immunity bath
Albany. oct. 5.-Governor John \. Dix
was at one tine a director in the stan
dard Wall Paper Company, Of Hudson
Falls. whose vice-president, Winfield A..
Huppuch. was indicted in Cleveland to-
day by the federal grand jury. The
Governor resigned from the directorate
before assuming his present office on
January l.
Mr.. Huppuch succeeded Mr.. Dix as
chairman Of the Democratic State Com
mittee, following the latters nomination
for Governor last fall, and In February
was appointed by the Governor as
member of the upstate Public Service
Commission. Mr. Huppuch resigned the
chairmansh:p OF the state committee,
but his resignation has not yet been
accepted.
Huppuch Denies the Charge.
Discussing the indictment tonight Mr.
Huppuch said:
"The intimation that this action mas
boen taken against a wall paper trust
,s an ridiculous that It is hardly worth
attention, were it not made with the Idea
Of misleading people who are not ac-
ouainted with the facts. There Is no
wall paper dealer in the United states
large or small, who cannot testify as
70 the absurdity of this charge.
curing the last twelve years the con
dition Of the wall paper manufacturing
trade has been one OF Generalization.
nuring that period 80 per cent Of the
wall paper manufacturers who were IN
business twelve years ago have either
haG hAa
nm. Two large mills in the United states
discontinued business in June or July OF
,bi, year. one OF them voluntarily and
the other through bankruptcy or the
re,nainIng 45 per cent. severa. Of the
larger manufacturers have been obliged
IN undergo reorganization FOR financial
reasons"
-rr Huppuch expressed 'he opinion
that the indictment was based on COM
plaint made by Frank Hall, OF Pitts
burgh. that certain jobbers and manu-
facturers had met and decided not to
sell their goods TO ) and 10 cent stores
This allegation" he said, has posi-
lively no basis the facts being that ON
the date which Mr.. Hall says the meet
ing was held there were no and 10 cent
wall paper stores in existence other than
those operated by him.
In the last state campaign Theodore
Roosevelt made the charge that John A.
DIX was the leading stockhoder and dlrec-
tor OF the Standard Wall Paper Company