The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-15
GROCERS IN TROUBLE,
SOUTHERN Wholesale ASSO-
CITATION ACCUSED OF
CONTEMPT.
Men in Sumter, Charleston, Green
vile and Spartanburg Included i'm
Governments Petition.

Birmingham, Ala. Feb. 1O.-Crimi-
nal contempt of court proceedings
against the Southern Wholesale Gro
GERS association and SO individuals
for alleged violations of the anti
trust decree entered against the gro
GERS trust" more than a year ago.
| were begun here today by the federal
government. This is the first prose
cution undertaken by the government
against trust for the alleged dis
obedience Of courts mandate un-
der the Sherman law.
| Despite the decree, the government
declares in its petition filed in the
| United States district court, the de-
PENDANTS have employed coercion
threats, intimidation and persuasion
to prevent manufacturers, wholesal-
ers and retailers from reducing prices.
1t is charged that they have sought to
coerce and compel manufacturers and
producers to market their product
through the medium Of the Wholesaler
and have conspired to prevent direct
transactions from producer to re-
taller, or consumer
These are things forbidden by the
decree, and the court here which en-
tered it October II, 1911, is asked by
Attorney General Wickersham TO
make an order requiring the follow
ing named defendants to show cause
why they should not be attached and
punished for contempt of court
The Southern Wholesale Grocers'
association; j. H. McLaurin, Jackson
ville' Fla; j. d. Faucette, Bristol,
Tenn; c. w. Bartleson, Jacksonville,
Fla; Robert Moote, Jacksonville,
Fla; S. W. Lee, Birmingham, Ala;
John ID. Baker, Jacksonville, Fla; f.
l.. Adams, Atlanta, Ga; H. Lacy,
Hunt, Wilmington, y. c.; John Stag
maier, Chattanooga, Tenn; Sam Kauf-
man, Montgomery, Ala; b. b. Earn
shaw, Washington; j. A. Avant, Pen
sacola, Fla; T. E. Bryan, Tampa, Fla;
w. E. Small, Macon, Ga; S. j.
Faircloth, Quitman, Ga; A. Rytten-
berg, Sumter, S. c.; A. S. ]. Davis,
Knoxville, Tenn; l.. B. Rogers, Ash
vile, n. c.; ]. A. Kelly, Henderson,
n. c.. 1. A. Mclchers, Charleston,
S. c.; c. w. Garret, Greenwood, S.
c.; B. d. Hartsfield, GAINESVILLE, Fla;
:. j. Long, Macon, Ga; c. o. Kues-
ter, Charlotte, ~ c.. f. E. Menden-
hall, Greensboro, y. c.; r. A. Nor
low, Monroe, y. c.; j. II. c. Wul-
bern, Charleston, 5. c.; j. +. Brown,
Spartanburg, S. c.; j. X. Crosswell,
Sumter, S. c.; and others in various
Southern States.
The individual defendants are
members Of the association and have
been officers or directors since the
decree was entered.
In direct violation of the prohibit
tion Of the decree the government
charges, the defendants have publish
ed two editions-in December, 1911,
and August, 1912-of what is known
as the green book" containing a
list of persons doing an exclusive
wholesale business. The purpose and
effec OF this book, it is charged, is
TO delay and prevent retail dealers
and consumers from buying directly
from manufacturer and producer.
The petition cites three letters said
to have been writtn by President
McLaurin to show the alleged purpose
OF the producers to prevent wholesal-
ers and retailers from reducing
prices on certain commodities. Nine
other letters written by Mr.. McLaurin
are incorporated in the petition, with
the purpose Of showing that commerce
between producer and retailer or
consumer is being restrained in vio-
lation OF the decree.
Each of these letters is declared to
be a specific act of contempt
The petition, signed by Attorney
General Wickersham, James A.
Fowler, assistant to the attorney
general, and United States Attorney
Oliver ID. street, was sworn to by
Hinton G.. Clabaugh, special agent Of
the department OF justice.
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