Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-07-25
ADVERTISEMENT.
FISCHER & PAGENKOPF,
LOCAL |. II. C. DEALERS,
MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Harvester Company's attitude
in regard to the petition just fled
against it by the government in the
United States District Court at st.
Paul Mimi, is set forth in a state
ment by Alexander Legge, President
Of the company, which has been re-
ceived by B. B. Reppert, Branch Man
ager Of the International Harvester
Company of America in Madison, Wis.
Mr. Legge's statement says:
This petition is a continuation OF
the suit brought against US eleven
years ago. Upon the hearing of that
case, held more than nine years ago,
the Harvester Company was acquit-
ted, both by the finding of the court
and by the attorney generals admis-
sion, of any wrongful dealing or I'M
fair practices toward customers or
competitors, but, to insure the fullest
competition, decree was entered III
1913 requiring the company TO sell to
competitors certain complete lines of
harvesting machinery, and to limit its
sales representation to a single dealer
in any one town.
That decree further provided that
at the end of test period which has
now expired the government might
ask the court to determine whether or
not the free competition contemplated
by the Sherman law exists in the
farm implement industry. This step
the government has now taken
CAS- we understand it, the sole issue
raised 10y the present petition relates
to competitive conditions with re-
spect to harvesting machines only. Il
does not charge the company with un-
duly raising the price of harvesting
machinery to the grave injury Of the
American farmer, as was charged in
1912, but it does charge that the COM
pany has been unduly depressing the
price of harvesting machinery, par
ticularly since 1920 to the injury Of
it's competitors.
Without attempting to argue our
case at this time, it seems fair to say
that the unfortunate condition in
which manufacturers of harvesting
machines, and in fact of all other
farm implements, find themselves, IS
due to the serious business depression
that affected the entire country be-
ginning in the fall of 1920
During the last few years the
whole farm implement industry has
been in an abnormal and distressing
situation which directly reflects the
situation of the farmer. High costs
of labor, material and transportation
have burdened it with high manufae-
turing costs, while on the other hand
low prices for agricultural products
have left the farmer unable to buy his
normal and needed requirements Of
farming machinery
eve are confident that the hearing
on the present petition will clearly
show that the Harvester Company is
not in any way responsible for these
conditions in the farm implement in
dustry. Prices of harvesting ma
chinery are the result of vigorous
competition, exactly the kind of com
petition which the Sherman law was
enacted to preserve, and are fairly
comparable with the prices Of other
implements which the government
comedies were fixed by normal COM
petition" $780,
LOST-One brown Auto Tent enclos-
ed in sack. Supposed to have fallen
from car between Glen Haven and
Lancaster, probably between Beetown
and Lancaster. Finder will be re-
warded by leaving tent at Groenier's
Music Store, Lancaster, Wis. 23c2
FOUND-At Wards Cafe, one lady's
silk scarf. Owner can have same by
proving property and paying for ad.
Wards Cafe. 23c1