Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-04-25

Oliver Onllleu ~" "oN''
Mare than 500 retail dealers in
q, wimplements operating In the
S,atss ~ Of Maine, Massachusetts,,
ps"Ss Island, Connecticut, New York,
psnnsyIyania, ,T New Jersey, Delaware,
MARYLAND, Virginia, North Carolina,
Smth Carolina, are named In the CON-
Ssint Individually as respondents and
slso as members of respondent asso-
Sations. These dealers operate
through their several associations
which are also made respondents,
namely. New England Implement
Dealers Association, New York State
Retail Implement d Vehicle Dealers
Association. Eastern Implement d
Vehicle Dealers Association, Virginia
4 North Carolina Implement, Ma
rhnery and Vehicle Dealers AssocIa-
ton, and South Carolina Implement
Dealers Association. These several
associations are themselves joined in
parent association, the Eastern Fed
Grafton Farm Machinery Dealers.
"The Eastern Dealer in Farm I'M
plements and Vehicles" publication
generally known to the farm imple-
ment trade and the farming public
as "The Eastern Dealer" is the Off
dal organ of the Eastern Federation
Farm Machinery Dealers, and its
constituent associations. The pub
fishers of this journal, Messrs. Wright
4 Wilkinson, Inc., and Grant Wright,
president and treasurer of the firm,
ana editor of "TAe Eastern Dealer
are named as respondents in the COM
plant as joining with the manufac-
turers and the retail dealers in their
conspiracy to fix prices and cut off
the supplies of farmers cooperative
associations. Grant Wright is also
secretary of The Eastern Federation
Farm Machinery Dealers.
Dealers Associations Agree on Prices,
Commission Charges.
Details are given in the complaint
Of the manner in which the combina-
tons and conspiracy charged therein
were brought about and are being
maintained.
Among other things, the complaint
recites that the dealers associations
nave been organized for more than
seven years and hold regular and spe-
aal meetings at which were agreed
upon among other things, uniform
methods of ascertaining costs of
cong business; uniform expense per-
eentages and profits thereby arriving
al uniform selling prices, price lists
al winch farm machinery, implements
ana supply parts shall be sold.
manufacturers who continue to sell
~ farmers cooperative associations
au not enjoy the patronage of retail
ueaiefS who are members of the re-
spUhdeht associations. The respond
ellt retail dealers in their meetings
asleed upon certain manufacturers
a n9' named as respondent herein with
s snolh the members should not deal
.U the reason that these certain
nalnulacturers aHl would not agree to fix
sa suu maintain prices for the sale of
.aim implements, ETC., and who con-
anued to sell cooperatives. In. addi-
nno. %On 'ne dealers associations agreed
;T~ spUh ways and means at which meet
ss msS,t 70 eliminate competition between
msnaps s,npefs OF the association and nom
i'e'noers iae otherwise known as irregu-
manufacturers and Dealers Work
Together.
IN ~ ~ d part of the conspiracy charged
~ ,s.a we complaint, it is stated that the
soSpot .oSpondent dealers have at all times
st,;ee.iL1euiy conducted their business
rbaso biy upon plan involving the pur-
tb"se e OF farm machinery only from
f,s;s. & manufacturers who have re-
onal asnea from selling to farmers CO.
fpssS associations and have re-
s,eu bsTa 70 deal with manufacturers who
msnsb e nlade sales to retail dealers not
r. Teis OF the dealers associations.
noIo, insure adherence to the dealers
ms;ets, ;et, a system of espionage was
nf,..'aihed over the business of man.
an uIets nelts and over the businesses of
dealsrs' peulors not members of the
toneS;s ts associations. Information
srs N'IIg ilg the acts of any manufactur-
cor5 'oGoefs, and retailers not in ac-
den. WIN the policy of the respon-
Vats. All ieIall dealers was Systematically
rs"nei sas,eted and disseminated among the
tp,ssl tprponaent retail dealers. Manufac-
tiys 's VINO sold to farmers coopera-
the ,.ss;, associations were boycotted by
yen,o5 r te'ali dealer respondents and pre-
nsnt eu from obtaining farm equip
Nsnahu aug supply parts.
u'acturers Refuse to Sell to
N.. Co0peratives,
dep,S :; aC'ufers named as respon-
hsys IN "a me complaint, it is charged,
5eslo,e9 continuously assisted the retail
thsis associations in carving out
eoetr;bpans cont, pans and purposes and have
Tbsr 9ed money for this purpose.
come na.e refused to sell to farmers
desgielauYe associations and all other
emf dosihGt hGt members of the respond
agrsJ Saer associations who have not
t5s Tu Tu. TO TX and maintain prices of
'9 manufacturers. p-N "
Easttsaln,lt Wright, editor of the "The
ss, baI b,n pealer," the complaint charg-
seven %as Deem active for more than
notin, n years in organizing and pro-
deajsr,, many of the respondent retail
an ls MAS associations and has acted as
HNH