Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-01
RESTRAIN LUMBER TRADE,
IS GOVERNMENT CHARGE
Suit Instituted in Detroit to
Enjoin Michigan Retail
Association.

DETROIT. Mich, September 1.-Charg-
ing conspiracy to restrain interstate trade
and commerce in lumber and its prod
ucts, United States District Attorney
Frank Watson has filed a bill In the
United States circuit court here to en-
join the Michigan Retail Lumber Deal
ers' Association, the Scout Publishing
Company Of this city and the Lumber
Secretaries Bureau of Information OF
Chicago from further alleged unlawful
business methods.
1t is alleged that members of the retail
association endeavor to prohibit manu-
facturers or jobbers from shipping to
competitors who are non-members of the
organization. A manufacturer shipping to
competing dealers Is subjected to PEN
atty of 10 per cent value of the sale, it
is charged. and if the manufacturer re-
fuses to pay the penalty the organized
retailers are informed Of 1t.
In case any association member con-
tinues dealing with the manufacturer fol-
lowing notification that he has refused to
pay his penalty the member is subject to
expulsion from the body.
Printed Blacklist, Is Charge.
The Scout Publishing Company issues
The Scout, a lumber trade journal. 1t
Is charged that from time to time edi-
torials were published advocating the
principle of the retailers dealing only
with manufacturers or jobbers who OBJ
served the ethics of the retailers or
ganization. The government also asserts
that The Scout published the names of
the shippers who engaged in interstate
commerce and trade in a manner alleged
to be in violation OF the rules Of the
Retail Dealers Association. thereby AN
swering all purposes of blacklist for
the defendant organization"
When the manufacturer or jobber fail
ed to abide by the rules OF the defend
ant organization, 1t Is alleged that the
secretary of the association would COM
of Information and the latter would in
turn give notice to the several lumber
dealers association throughout the United
States. all Of which the district attorney
holds to be In restraint of trade. The
secretaries bureau of information is also
said to have kept The Scout Informed
Of any violations of the rules Of the re-
tail dealers.
Opposed Farmers Societies.
According to the governments bill, the
organized retailers do not object to the
shipment of lumber to railroads or
transportation companies, or for sash.
doors and blinds to hardware merchants.
who might keep regular stock Of such
goods, providing the material is sold in
not less than carload lots. The classes of
competitors said to be most specifically
opposed are mail order houses and
farmers cooperative societies.
The government names the following
individual defendants in the suit: Edward
E. Hartwick of Detroit. president Of the
Michigan Retail Lumber Dealers AS
ISOLATION; Arthur l.. Holmes of Detroit,
vice president of the Retailers Associa-
tion member of the Lumber Secretaries
Bureau Of Information and publisher of
The Scout: George P. Sweet, Grand
Rapids. secretary and treasurer of the
Retailers Association and member Lum-
Der Secretaries. and the following direct
ors of the retailers organizations: j. j.
Comerford, Detroit; A. j. Kraft. Battle
Creek; H. W. Rikerd. Lansing; John
Wood. Grand Rapids; F. D. jerks. Port
Huron. and C. A. Pollock. Coldwater.