The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-06-28
ADOPT RESOLUTION TO STAND
BACK OF STEPHENsAsHURsT
BILL
Action Followed Address Of c. e. Ia.
N'sne A. Joint Meeting Yesterday
-Rotarlsns Were Guests

Action Followed Address Of c. e. Ia.
Vi9ne A. Joint Meeting Yesterday
-Rotsrlsns Were Guests
The Wheeling Commercial Assoc,a
ton and the Wheeling Rotary Club
went on record yesterday in Joint
meeung, as endorsing the stephens
Ashurst Bill. when. following the ad
dress OF Mr.. c. T. La Nigne on the sub
rect, Truthful Advertising. False Pre-
lenses in Merchandising. and the Ste
pnens-Ashurst Price Maintenance bill
they enthusiastically adopted a resolu-
ton TO stand behind the measure.
MT La Nlgne explanation OF the
workines OF the proposed bill was
handicapped by the length of time Civ
en- him, but many of the men who.
heard him said n was a very force
ful talk and showed an intelligent con.
ception OF the points at issue. Mr.. La
Nlgne will leave Wheeling this morn
there to Philadelphia.
Al The session yesterday noon. the
Joint luncheon a enjoyed az III
Board OF Trade Rooms in the Market
Auditorium. In beginning his talk. the
speaker said: BY the thoughtful cour-
tesy OF General Manager ketchum I
Witnessed yesterdays luncheon of the
wheeling Commercial Association, the
only kind of wal that We ought TO have
"a municipal Improvement contest be
"ffh hAdNn lOINtc OF the army ana
the navy to increase the o%rganiza.
tons membership and to sustain the
reputation OF the slogan that Wheel.
ing Means Business" I carry the mes
sage from chambers of commerce and
business ORGANIZATIONS in MANY states
OF the Union before whom I have re
Gently talked that YOUR efforts here are
a reflection of the new vitality and en-
ergy which has taken hold of all of
these ORGANIZATIONS. auguring every
] thing that ia GOOD IN Nhn 1traAsHAV, -
large and fair business dealings i'm the
independent communities and for the
country al large toward which YOU are
all working.
BY the courtesy of Postmaster W.
". Irwin and Mr.. W. I. Nicholl II is "A
distinct privilege TO meet the Rotarians
mere as well as me members OF the
Wheeling Commercial Association, be
cause II Is my experience that the Ro-
tarlans encountered everywhere I'm the
united States are the regular fellows
dong public spirited things in regular
fashion n taking moro fun out OF the
dolng thar n other organization in
Discusses the Bill.
In discussing the Stephens-Ashurst
bill. Mr.. La Vigne said in part:
congress, state legislatures, and
the courts have been from time 10
time more or less occupied for many
months back with problems arising
from abuses n eXcesses that have
become positively oppressive 20 the
interests of honest business and the
public under the present development
OF unrestricted competition. There
Is q vigorous. earnest. and well ground
ed call from individual and CONNER
clal units over our lane for 'regula-
uon OF competition by Federal enforce
nent.'
"A monopoly or control Of the mark
let on any trade-marked or branded
ID article ~ nnaH .nE...... .a..L.--
ton. or understanding with a comp.-
titor in the production. manufacture,
or sale OF merchandise in the same
General class automatically prevents
me marketing Of articles under this
act There are provisions 20 project
me dealers in cases Of damaged, de
Perforated, or soiled goods. or in The
event OF winding up business. rsceiv-
erShlps. bankruptcy. disposal sales.
and even special sales OF goods IN dull
months. For example. the dealer de
cides TO discontinue carving the
price-maintained article in his .toclC;
or he finds he cannot sell the line:
or ne has some other reason for rid
ding his shelves Of n. In such case.
me holder of the merChanIi se offers
the goods back TO the manufacturer
or producer al the price paiC for them
u the offer is refused or ~naglected
ihen the dealer can sell the goods at
any price he chooses. d.
And finally. a schedule Of the
known uniform levels of prices TO
wholesale. 10 retail dealer. and to the
lubllc must be filed al the office OF
the Federal Trade Commission by The
manufacture or producer. with a
statement setting forth the trademark
or special brand on which said uni.
form prices are 70 be operative
The uniform price regulation would
MOI Apply IN n case To standardized
products subject 10 quickly changing
fashion or seasonal value. 10 bulky ar
ticle~ involving heavy freight charges.
TO parts sold 10 assemhlers to perish
able articles. 10 novelty whims
for the public as distinguished from
staples. and the like Nor would IL
lend itself 10 the marketing Of articles
manufactured under special specihca-
lions or special designs n would be
impracticable 10 attempt Uniform prices
on such goods. No manufacturer or
producer viii undertake o. The prin.
ciple would not apply 10 unbranded and
unidentified merchandise Of any dcscrip-
ZION. consideration 81 tho specific pur.
! poses Of the mCasure and the com
parafively small proportion n goods
that would lend themselves 10 IFS oper.
alton will eliminate many arguments
that have confused the issue.
There be- just as much reason for
allowing the maker 10 establish tho
selling price 49, there is In allowing
him 10 decide ne quality n the article
to be- put upon tho market.
The CLAYTON act and tho Federal
Trad" Commission act are designed 10
ald IN preventing monopOlN hy prevent.
INK unt'tr or destructive competition.
ana Tho worst form ~ destructive com
petition Del unfruthful advertising. either
lN direct Wisstafcmcnt or deceptive in
ference" a- q lure of price cutting
III i- no longer tCuahIo that all
forms NJ price cutting are economically
and moral, dcfDn4ihlc Under Tho
ruI-o NJ price cutting much unfair
competition is resulting and unfair
competition create. monopoly
STANDARD goods ~ standard prirog
nrn b gauge Pos which We measure
Tho Urfft 40 ought fo paw FOR an other
article. ~ that class
aro ernrhronoua freN are rnmuIo
w'nfa Go hack in industrial history
anH WON win find that fhero uaa M
standard Of quality or price orcn "a
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