The Washington herald., 1915-03-03

the board Of directors and discussed
the high price of materials" said MIR
Ward. We felt at that time that il
was the attitude of the Federal an,
State authorities to throw as muci
protection as possible around the small
producer. We felt that IL we main
tanned the price of bread at a leve
that would drive the small baker ou
of business. since he was less able Il
afford it. We would be severely crit.
iciesd by the public
Then your motive in raising tn.
price Of bread was altruistic-to pro.
tect the small dealer-was it?" put in
Deputy Attorney General Becker.
Partly" replied the witness. land
partly because We couldn't afford To
sell At the old level ourselves"
Mr.. Ward said that he had given
instructions for the advance after he
learned that the Shuts Bread Com
pany and others We're going TO raise
the price.
Competition is so keen here that
no one wanted to be the goat" he con-
tinued
The witness admitted that many re-
tailers are selling scent bread in COM
petition with the Scent loaf of Ward
bread. He denied with emphasis that
any, attempt had been made to prevent
retailers from selling the cheaper
loaves. Also he was sure that no at
tempt had been made with authority
by drivers to force retailers to charge
six cents a loaf for bread.
''All subordinate officials received care
full instructions not to refuse to sell
bread to anyone who would pay the
price," said Mr.. Ward We would
know better than to attempt 10 dictate
to retailers what prices they should
charge for our bread after 1t had passed
into their hands
Now. Mr.. Ward" put in the Deputy
Attorney General, there are going to
be number of retailers produced here
who will swear that they were told by
your drivers that they should sell the
5-cent loaf at six cents. Is it your
attitude that all these dealers are mis-
taken?'
Not Drivers' Affair.
The witness answered that instructions
had always been given that the retail
price must not be made the affair Of
the drivers. Frequently. when some
dealer would be undersclllng another
had come In. said Mr. Ward.
but the company had always refused to
step IN. Instances like this had come
up many times In the last two or three
years. both before and after the recent
advances. he added.
II came out In quiz about the status
Of jefferson Lasher. the driver whose
testimony at the inquiry resulted in
quick action by the District Attorneys
office. and who later repudiated every es-
sential part of his testimony. that Lasher
was picked yesterday as one OF three
who would be given an eff
cheney course" at the expense OF the
company.
I'VE picked Mr.. Lasher. one OF our
best statesmen: a medium ability sales
man. and a poor salesman. to see how
the course would work out in each case"
said the witness.
Mr.. Becker called attention TO the fact
that LAsher had declared he had been
to tell dealers to sell bread
At cents. and at a later appearance
mad not only denied the truth of this
statement. but had denied that he re-
nembered saying il.
Don't you think, Mr.. Ward put I'm
the deputy attorney general, that A
reasonable memory is needed by a good
The witness replied that a good mem
sees his customers twice a day. After
further questioning about
he recent interest taken I'm Lssher. Mr.
Ward was excused.
At the close Of his testimony given at
his second appearance at the State In
JURY Lasher was warned by the deputy
attorney general that he faced a posi-
lie indictment for perjury.