Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-21
GOODRICH CONCERN
WINS IMPORTANT
LEGAL FIGHT
In Refusing to Sell at Cut
Rates to Consumers
League, 1t Protects the
Dealers,

/ III is because We DtlttNG III uil dHSD-
| lutely square deal for the automobile
supply houses, says an Official OF the
| r. f. Goodrich company, in explana-
| ton Of the victory recently won in the
United States district court In Cleve-
land over the Automobile Co-opera-
tive Association of America.
There are 5000 of these supply
houses throughout the country. II we
sold the various consumers leagues at
our iObbing price, and If other tire
companies did the same. it would re-
suit in putting out of business ire
mendous number of our prosperous
merchants, Who have invested heavily
in the automobile supply business.
This would. in the end. be mlsfor-
tune. not only to the individual dealer
but would hurt every man who owns
and operates car.
IF YOU own Il car yourself, or IL
any of your friends own a car, anu
YOU take your wives and children OUT
for an l-day outing, one OF the con
tributing factors of yOur pleasure IL
the knowledge that almost anywhere
along the road, if you ran out Of gas,
or il YOU have blowout, or If you
need various little supplies or assist
ance of any kind, you can drop INTO
country garage or little supply mouse
and get fixed up so that you Will be
able to continue on your way feJolc-
ing.
These dealers throughout the
country. who make auto touring
Measure are not making enough prof
il ont of the sale of any one article
ia mako n living. They must make
their profits in selling a little of this
and little of that If you take away
from this dealer his earnings on tires
and accessories the chances are that
95 per cent Of them would be forced
out If business. and yet the man VINO
Joins A consumers league doesn't stop
TO consider that in SO doing he IS really
knocking the man who makes long
automobile trip a pleasure and pos
siblity for him.
'oThe significance of our victory is
the fact that we are saving the dtai-
ers for the ultimate benefit of the con-
sumner even despite the desire OF a
very large body Of these same con-
sumers."
I'm connection with this victory. the
following letter, sent out by the b. r
Goodrich company to their dealers, is
interesting.
Suit of Importance 10 Dealers.
on March 81. 1916. there ended IN
The United states district court in
Cleveland. o., trial which has lasted
for three weeks, and Is of vital inter
est to the dealers throughout the
country,
The suit was one brought by con
suners' league known as the Automo-
bile Co-oneratiVe Association OF
America. which was organized in New
.,.,I nj
in 1911 The suit was against the Il.
Il Goodrich company, the Diamond
Ruhber company, the Firestone IRE
and Rubber company, the Republic
Rubber company and the L. $. IRE
company.
The consumers league--the PLAIN
tiff-complained that these companies
had refused to sell tires to 1t at deal
ers nrices that such refusal was the
result of a combined action or con-
spiraey on the part of these compan-
les and that the result of such con
spiracv had been to cause TINS con-
sinners league TO fail in business. the
s,1if was brought for 0.000 damages
under the sherman antitrust law.
At The conclusion of the plaintiffs
oDening proofs, the Firestone RuDbef
companv and the u. S. Tire company
were. by the direction of the court |
dropped out OF the case
The fight was continued by the
Goodrich. Diamond and Republic COM
panies.
II appeared from the evidence
thereafter taken--Consisting OF testl-
monv OF a number Of prominent deaf !
ers and Of officers and branch man {
ayers of the tire ompanies---that the
Goodrich company had always ana
consistently refused to sell to clubs, !
consumers leagues and kindred or
ganizatiOns at dealers prices, recog- |
nizing that to do so would be unfair /
70 and would undermine the business
Of the legitimate dealers.
Though the court. ut the CONCLUSION /
Of the evidence. decided--and suisse /
duently so charged the jury--that no
damages were proven or could be re-
covered even If the defendants were !
guilty under the sherman law, the I
defendants were unwilling TO stop, but |
desired to have the propriety OF thelr
acts uassed upon The matter was one |
or principle to us.
So the case WAS argued before lhe
Jury which has now brought In YER
dict completely in favor OF the de-
PENDANTS
The court. in its charge to the Jury.
pointed out that the reason stated by
the defendants for not selling 10 the
plaintiff at dealers prices was mat
sThev were forced t. decide be-
tween two alternatives deal with |
the cooperative leagues, such as the
plaintiff was assumed to be. and lose
The business Of the regular dealers. or