The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1914-02-10
Editor of The Record

H0ItOr OF Inc RECORD
E. H. Stelton. of the Stanton
Meat Company, bad a long article in
the Gazette In relation to the meat
war which he is waging against the
independent meat markets in this
city and In Occur d'Alene and we
would like a little space In your
paper In which to reply to him.
He starts off by assuring the pub
llc that b. Il. Stanton & %. is not a
trust and has never used trust
methods to secure ol control busI
uess.
Mr.. Stanton seems to have a queer
idea Of what is meant by "trusts"
or''trust methods" In doing business
AS we understand IL a trust Is a nom-
bInatlon of capital used in business
for the purpose of forcing smaller
competitors out of business or for
controlling the business in any parti
cular line
The Stanton company has, as every
one knows, secured control of the
wholesale meat business In he terri
tory tributary to Spokane, to the ex-
tent that he can, and does absolutely
dictate the wholesale price of meat
In that territory This Is a fact that
anyone at all conversent with the sit
uation absolutely knows aud any
denial OF this by Mr. Stanton does
not change the facts
Not satisfied with controlling and
debating the wholesale price Of meat
Mr.Stanton determined also to secure
aud control the retail trade of the en-
tire territory, as we'll and has 80 far
succeeded that outside of the city of
Walla Walla he owns practically all
II the meat markets Ia tbat entire
territory Here aud there In some u
the places he permits some indepen-
dent markets to d. business as we
we're permitted to DO sbusiness here
But In order to do so the indepndent
market has to agree to purchase all
# his meat, except now aud then a
carcass from the farmers, from the
Stanton Go and must agree to allow
Mr. Stanton to dictate the price for
which he sells his meat and also the
manner In which he carries on his
business
The Independent cannot even de-
liver q piece Of meat without first
asking Mr.. Stanton's permission and
II Mr.. Stanton decides that he will
not give any credit, the Independent
must do likewise and cannot let a
Tiece of meat 60 out of the shop
without tirst receiving the cash or
else be called on the carpet and
threatened by Mr.. Stanton.
MIR. Stanton's control OF the in6e-
pend ant market here was so complete
that large majority Of the people
here actua N believed that he owned
the mark nd that we we're hired
by him. tosrun It.
Now a word ss to Mr.. Stanton e
mel hods Of obtaining the retail mar
kets 10 the different cities.
It lie his general custom to first
secure one market In a place. He
will then run along for awhile. then
he will do as he did In Occur d.
Aiene and other places, send a reDre-
sentitive to the different iudeDendeni
markets aud offer to buy them II
they are satisfied with their business
had refuse to sell, he will make them
q prize suggests to them that unless
they accep., the retail price of meat
Will drop
OF course these are not trust
methods Mr.. Stanton says they are
not and he should know, but they
are equally effective aud the inde
pendent sells out to Stanton.
Where this method has been effec
tive and Mr.. Stanton has secured the
independent markets the price oi
meat has, IN almost every case gone
up and where the independents dit
n t sell. the retail price of mea
usually drops until be is glad {,
sell.
a This has been the case a number d
times In Occur d'Alene At ont
time he Thought" out three lndepen
dent markets In one day and sMr Boil
we'll of this company was one Of thu
three. but that was the only tim
that Stanton ever bought him on
He had a very good business at tina
time, one that satisfied him, but va
obliged to sell to Stanton or stand
meat war aud be sold
Another word Ia regard to NJ
Stanton's methods He says they ar
not 'trust methods" A few year
ago. some OF the merchants Ia thi
city, aud Coeur d'Aleoe as we'll, be
gan 10 handle Swlft's and Armour
lard and cured meat. A Hve poun,
pail OF lard was then retailing q
70 cents. Stanton dropped the prlc
70 6S cents aud then to GO, whic
was less than the merchants ooull