The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-27
BRANDEIS EXPLAINS
CHANGE OF ATTITUDE
In Answer to Allegations of President
Winslow of United Shoe Ma
chinery Company.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 27.--The al
! legations of President S. w. Winslow
of the United Shoe Machinery company
/ that Louis ID. Brandeis of Boston in
/ his recent testimony before the SEN
ate interstate commerce committee criti-
cised acts of the company which oc-
CURED while he was a director and
counsel in it were answered yesterday
| in letter from Mr. Brandeis to Senator
| Clapp of Minnesota, chairman OF the
committee.
Mr. Brandeis asked that his letter be
embodied in the hearings of the commit
tee as supplementary to the testimony
he gave on Dec IA, 10 and 10, last.
Referring to Mr. Winslow's letter to
the committee as presenting half truths
and statements, some false and others
grossly misleading" Mr.. Brandeis ex-
plains how and why he became con
WINGED shat the policy and methods of
the United Shoe Machinery company
were inconsistent with the general well
fare and that additional legislation was
necessary to protect the public against
the practices of that trust"
Mr.. Brandeis declares that while it
was true that in April, 1906, he believed
in the policies and methods of the com
pany as legally and morally unobiee-
tionable." He withdrew as director
few months later when he alleges diff
ferent circumstances developed.
Mr.. Brandeis says he believed at first
that there were good and bad trusts,
and that the shoe monopoly was be-
ing operated benefcially and was pro-
noting competition As consequence,
he adds, he appeared before the Massa-
ehusetts legislature to oppose bill seek
ing to compel change in the methods
of the company.
Meanwhile, says Mr.. Brandeis. his at
tcntion was called by President w. H.
McElwain of the company bearing that
name, and President Charles II. Jones
Of the Commonwealth Shoe and Leather
company to the so-ealled tieing clauses
OF their leases which seemed to them
Objectionable. AT a conference between
these men and Mr.. Winslow an under
standing was reached to secure the de-
feat of the pending bill and adjust diff
ferences in amicable conferences. Aft.
CT these objections had been presented,
Mr. Brandeis asserts, he pursued the
subject and ascertained facts to some
extent inconsistent with those furnished
him by Mr.. Winslow and other officials
of the company.
81 was not yet fully convinced, how
ever" he writes, that the shoe ma
chinery companies policy was unsound
or itssmethods improper, but so serious
a doubt had been raised in my mind
as to the soundness of their general
policy and particularly as to the propri-
ETY. of some of their methods that
was unwilling to assume responsibility
for the company's action and having
reason to believe that Mr.. Winslow was
not likely to make any change in policy
or methods and having as one of the 10
directors. no real control, | therefore
concluded without undertaking to de-
eide definitely whether the criticisms
made were sound or not to quietly retire
without raising the question: from the
board of directors of which | had be-
come a member to represent the large
stock interests of the Henderson fam
lily of Chicago. / rendered my resigna
ton on December 6, 1906, and it was inn
mediately accepted
Subsequently at Mr.. Winslow's re-
quest. Mr.. Brandeis declares he acted
as counsel for the company at con
fcrences with Messrs. McElwain and
Jones concerning the leases deemed OBJ
jectionable.
"The facts then developed" continued |
Mr. Brandeis, "and the further consid- |
Grafton given the subject convinced me
fully that while the policy and methods /
OF the company had on the whole operat /
ed beneficially up to that time, they (
must, if pursued eventually prove in |
furious, both So the community and the /
interest and / urged most 1
strenuously upon Mr.. Winslow and 9th
err officials who participated in the con-
ferences with me. that these methods /
be changed that the policy of monopoly /
be abandoned, and particularly that the
tying clauses be eliminated from the
leases
Mr.. Brandeis says his suggestions
were refused and he ceased to act as
for he company. never having
bten. he alleges. general counsel"
For three AMI a half years Mr. Bran
ieis saws he took no part in questions !
relating to the policy of the company
but that in the summer Of 1910. the sit