The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-05-31
INDICT 88 IN
FOOD CONSPIRACY
Federal Grand Jury at Boston
Takes Action as First Result
of Nationwide Inquiry.
PRICE FIXING is CHARGED
Also HoardInG Of Supply Of Onions and
Division Of Territory to Prevent
Com"etition-Bulk Of Crop
Is Now Held.

Boston.-Eighty-eight corporations
and individuals were indicted by the
Federal Grand Jury here for conspir.
ing to monopolize interstate commerce
in onions.
The indictments, which were re-
turned as a result OF a nationwide
inquiry into the cost OF food con-
Quoted last winter by United States
Attorney George w. Anderson OF this
city, allege that the defendants divided
up the territory OF the country be-
tween them for the purpose OF elimi-
mating competition, that maximum
prices were fixed for the purchase
OF onions and that the supply was
boarded in order TO increase prices
Mr.. Anderson estimated that the
annual crop OF onions amounted to
2OO,000,000 pounds. three-fourths OF
which he said was alleged to have
been controlled by the defendants. In
outlining the case Mr. Anderson said:
"The gist OF the charge is that the
defendants have maintained a nation
al onion association. composed OF
large onion dealers, who buy up the
bulk OF the onions OF the Northern
States during the summer and early
fall, storing them in warehouses
owned or controlled by the various
members and putting them upon the
market from September TO April. The
Government charges that this associa-
ton has had a dominating and illegal
control of the onion trade for the
past three years.
The Government expects to show
that as early as September, 1916. at
least 75 per cent. OF the years crop,
then harvested, was in control of the
members of this association. The
headquarters OF the association are
at Kenton, Ohio, where the regular
annual meeting was held in July. The
August meeting was held at Spring
field, Mass. Subsequent monthly
meetings were held in other parts OF
the country.
1T is a part OF the plan of this
association to have monthly meetings
in various parts OF the country so as
to get as large an attendance as pos
sible OF members who might other
wise be reached only through the
mails. After these monthly meetings
the secretary Issues to the members
printed confidential reports contain
ing summary review OF the amount
of onions available in various pro-
ducing sections. followed by such sug-
gestions as: The bulk OF the onion
crop is now in the hands OF specu-
lators. fully IS per cent. of whom are
members OF this association
Enormous Profits Received.
For the 1916 crop the producers
probably received less than two cents
a pound. In midwinteT many OF these
onions were sold to retailers and
through them TO consumers at 10 and
10 cents a pound. It is claimed by the
Government that this tremendous mar.
gin between the price accruing to the
producer and the price paid by the con-
sumer was largely due to the illegal
control of the trade exercised by this
association"
The following corporations are
named in the indictments:
NJ. Piowaty & Sons. Chicago: the
Horr-Warner Company. Wellington.
Ohio; John b. Froy Company. Roches.
ter. ~ Y; Wayl Zuckernan e. Co. and
A. Levy & J. Zenter Company, both OF
San Francisco; Jackson -Sobrlng. Com
pany, Inc. Middleport, N. Y: the
Farmers Mercantile COmpauv and tho
Farr Produce Company, both OF
Greeley. Cal; Olathe Produce Asso.
citation. Olathe. Col; Bridge e. souter
Company. Inc, Canastota, N. Y: c. B.
Hoagland & Sons. Williamson. N. Y;
Separate indictments we're returned
in many cases against officers OF the
companies named