The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-02-23
KenOshan Tells How He
Lost Circulation Rights
for Tribune.
SEE MONOPOLY SOON
Bitter Fight Against Freezing
Out" Journal of Commerce
Occupies Court.

The way the patronage Of Kenosha
people is shifted when it comes to
selling Chicago newspapers here, was
laid bare on Tuesday afternoon when
George Becker of Kenosha appeared in
The United States court of Judge Lam
dis in Chicago and gave evidence in
the suit for conspiracy brought by
James A. Patten of the Chicago Jour
nal of Commerce against the Chicago
Tribune. 1t is alleged in the suit that
agents of the Tribune company have
made an effort to hinder the advance
ment of the other papers by what is
termed boycott" on the sale of the
Journal Of Commerce by the "oficial
carriers" Of the Tribune company.
Becker was called to testify as to
the recent transfer of the agency for
the Tribune in Kenosha to R. Lando,
who is declared to be a brother-in-law
Of Max Annenberg, who is in charge of
the circulation of the Tribune.
Becker Deprived of Business.
George Becker declared in court that
he had been an Official carrier" for the
Tribune in Kenosha for sixteen years
and he declared that Lando had taken
over his list of customers, owned ex-
clusively by himself, and had deprived
him of his business.
GLOW Lando uncovered this list,
don't know" he testified. "He didn't
give me a penny for it"
Becker told how he had purchased
part of his business for $500 sixteen
years ago, and built up the rest.
81 stopped selling the Tribune Janu-
airy 7, 1922" he said. 81 had been
notified that could not handle it any
longer. Annenberg offered me $4,000
for my list, but l wouldn't accept it
because I know my equipment alone
had cost me more than $4,000"
Becker declared that a cash amount
of $3.50, with the balance taken care of
in a manner "he didn't know anything
about" were the particular terms held
out to him in payment for business
worth at least $4,000, carrying an an
nual income of $4,000, and a special
newspaper delivery plant built partic-
ularly for that purpose.
previously they told me I could not
handle the Tribune if I sold the Jour
nal Of Commerce." he concluded.
Many Shifts in Business Here.
Kenosha people who take the Chi
cago papers have seen number of
shifts in the delivery system here.
Only little while ago, with a display
of considerable vitueration and with a
determination of war to the knife"
the Hearst publications under the di-
ness, admitted that he was interested,
zee, a brother of Max Annenberg of
Chicago, who is in charge of the Trib-
une circulation, opened a delivery
business in Kenosha. At that time the
entire Hearst business was taken away
from Becker and placed under the
charge of Fred Runte. The latter
worked up q considerable business.
Threats Of suits for damages aggre-
eating thousands Of dollars were made
and complaints were filed The Trib-
une was named in one of these suits.
Later on Runte's business was taken
overN by the Lando agency and Runte
lied a petition in bankruptcy. Attor-
neys are still fighting to protect the
rights Of the Runte creditors. When
Bunte was ousted from Kenosha and
Laudo put in charge, the Tribune and
the Hearst papers were put under one
circulation system.
Local Company Suggested.
On Tuesday it was said that an eff
fort was being made to organize new
local company to take over the hand
ling of the Tribune in Kenosha. One
man, very prominent in the business
life of Kenosha but never connected
with the newspaper circulation bust
ness, admitted that eh was interested.
He said, however, that he had not Sc
cured any word from the Tribune com
pany as to the possibility of his being
given chance to handle the business
here. The recent developments have
indicated rather clearly the plan to
form monopoly for the handling of
all papers from other cities under one
head in Kenosha. This official distri-
button" system is said to be planned
for other cities in Wisconsin as we'll,