The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-09


the witness said, "for 100 cases of goods.
They advised me that on account of an
agreement with Shreveport jobbers they
could not sell except through jobbers
The local wholesale grocers of our city
[ and the members compose the 1obbers
The northern Louisiana grocers prevailed
upon the Fairbanks people to absolve
any difference between the small and
large buyers which rule resulted in an
increaseN in price. Many makers refused
to sell my firm direct. None of the firms
mentioned the grocers association or the
blue book
On direct examination the witness testi-
fled that his firm was rated between $780,
600 and 81, 100000
Mr.. Bernstein testified on cross exam
nation by Mr. Percy that he presumed
that many makers chose to distribute
their products through local jobbers for
economic reasons, He said he did not
understand that the defendant associa-
tion had anything to do with the action
OF the Fairbanks company in changing
the price of its products which only af-
rected Shreveport and state grocers
L. +. Curran, an exclusive wholesaler
testified that his company was not listed
nor was his company a member of the
Southern Wholesale Grocers association
He said that upon many occasions his
company had made efforts to buy direct
from makers and had failed each time.
lie named several firms. He said the
Fairbanks company refused to sell him di-
rect and assigned as the reason his not
being member of the Southern Whole
sale Grocers' association. He related an
instance of discrimination when all local
Jobbers were priced sugar at certain
price excepting one firm against whom
a s.ATa wtrI
ting. He testified that he buys in all
states, but sold only in Texas and Louis
lana.
Question by the court to Mr.. Cur
ran; Did you ever apply for member
ship in the Southern Wholesale Gro
cers?'
NO"
Witness said he asked about what
one had to do to join, and he was told
there was nothing to do except pay the
dues. The witness said he took the
matter up with Mr. Scooelle. but never
cared enough about the association to
carry it further.
The witness was excused
Refused to Sell Direct
The government called Lewis Fox a
retail grocer of Monroe, La. He testi-
fled that subsequent to october, 1911.
he had applied to many makers for
direct purchase, but in practically ev-
cry instance he was refused. Witness
testified that he enclosed a postoffice
money order for a bill of goods. and
said he wanted quick direct shipment
He said the goods come. but were billed
through jobbers. He said he had never
looked over a blue book.
James w Miller of Natchez, Miss.
was called. He said he was a retail
merchant. He said he made many ef-
forts to buy direct but generally failed.
Sometimes he said the makers would
sell direct
Oza Blodgett of ST. Augustine a
printer, was called. He testified that
he was acquainted with the so-called
blue book. He testified that he printed
5000 copies of the box in 1912.
The defense injected the assertion
that his testimony was omitted, and
1t was unnecessary to bring Mr.. Blod :
gett from st. Augustine to prove that
c. M. Gilbert of Savannah, Ca, was
called by the defense. He said he sold
salt to jobbers. He said the asso-
citation had never tried to bring any
pressure to bear on him. He said he
handled his business as he saw fit.
| Mr.. Gilbert said some of his best GUS
toners were members of the grocers'
association but he did not sell them,
because they were members alone, but
because he considered them good GUS
toners
A. Fl. Bynum of Rock Hill, S c.,
operator of a semi-jobbing house. tes-
titled that 80 per cent of his business
was the wholesale grocery part of 1t.
He said he had applied to makers direct
but was refused
| Noble Anthony Hardy of Fernan-
dina. Fla, said he had written makers
asking for direct purchases but had
| been. unsuccessful. Three of the many
he had written to answered. He said
that his firm at a heavy expense built
separate building for the retail de-
partment of his business. On crosse
animation he said that great many
makers had recently put his firm on
| their list. He denied that Mr.. Clabaugh
had suggested his writing anyone about
the purchase by direct methods.
Refused Because Non-Member
! w. w. Garnett of Decatur testified
! he had made application for direct
+, buying but had been refused. He said
that he was told by all those to whom
he applied that as he was not a mem
ber of the Southern Wholesale Grocers
they could not sell him.
| On cross-examination by General
Wright 1t was admitted by witness that
some Of the makers were only selling
to people exclusively jobbers. whether
members of the grocers association OF
net
| c. e. Davis Magnolia, Miss. who Is
buyer for seven stores. testified that
he was refused the privilege of buying
! direct. He named several makers. Mr.
Davis said he was told his concern was
not listed and therefore could not buy