The Monticellonian., 1916-11-09
Putting Up the Master Bluff


vention at the Waldorf on the 18th, 20th, 21st and 22d It is suspected of being a conspiracy in restraint of trade. It's deliberations are i'll secret and the membership is unknown. As certain all action of the convention and procure a list of the members of the association"
 This action on the part of the gov ernment was occasioned by complaints from publishers of newspapers throughout the country which seemed to indicate that there was an under standing among manufacturers as to prices that should be charged for white paper. If there was such an agreement that prevented competition, it was probably reached through some association of which all were mem bers. There was the Northern Pulp & Paper Manufacturers association. Its deliberations and it's membership were secret. This fact put it under suspicion. Was it fixing prices?
 To answer this question, Special Agent Billy Gard went on his vain glorious debauch of assuming an i'm portance that was not his due He unleashed that tendency that is within us all and let it run riot to the limit. But back of the dissembling there was an object to be accomplished.
 You are President Van Dorn of the association. l believe?" said Gard as he presented himself to that individual on the morning the convention was to be opened. My name is William H. Gard. I am most anxious to attend your meetings.
 Are you d member?' asked the president, an ineisive and businesslike man of affairs whose factories pro dueed 40 per cent of the white paper used by the daily press of the nation.
 'No," acknowledged Gard, "I do not belong to the association, but I nevertheless believe that the mem bership would be glad to have me present"
 If you are a manufacturer you may become member and attend.' said President Van Dorn.
 T am not a manufacturer" smiled the special agent T am the man back of the manufacturer. come to you today, but in the near future you will all come to me. 1t is in the interest of the manufacturers that l want to attend
 @I do not understand" said the pres ident.
 You of course know of the Cana dian Northwest Timber company, said the special agent. tAs a matter Of fact there was no company of ex- actly that name.) "I am the repre- sentative of that company. You may also know that we have been accumu- lating lands covered with spruce tim Der for twenty years. Our holdings now amount to areas equal to the whole of the states of Maine. New Hampshire and Vermont. It is not necessary that I should call your at tention to the exhaustion of the spruce of New England, nor of other areas in the United States that have, in the past, been your source or sup ply for pulp from which to make your paper. The timber supply heretofore available for this purpose is approach ing exhaustion. When it is gone you will all turn to the forests that are next most accessible. We have those forests. l therefore say to you that all of you will come to me within the next decade. am coming to you in advance"
 As the young man who claimed to be from the Canadian northwest talked, the brusk manner of the pres ident of the paper manufacturers grad ually relaxed He stroked his luxuri- ant, close-cropped whiskers in each di- reetion from the distinct part down