The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-15
The California Product Versus
the Imported Eastern
Article.
DEALERS AIR THEIR VIEWS
Homemade Cigars Would Be Pre-
ferred if a Demand Were
Created for Them.


cigars. To that end two members OF the
agitation ommittee-Messrs. Burns and
Kelly-made tour of investigation among
the jobbers, manufacturers and retailers OF
this City on Monday.
The first cigar-store visited was that of
W. H. Harrison, on Powell street, near
Market. He stated that he had no obiec-
ton to selling home-produced cigars, pro-
vided they were of such quality as to Gre
ate a demand.
NJ. C. Haley, ex-County Clerk, who has
a cigar-store on Market street, near Powell,
said that if the material could be obtained
he was always in favor of selling the Cali
fornia manufactured article. There can
be no doubt" Mr.. Haley said, that if you
set the material and good workmanship
the demand for home goods will increase.
w. A. Oliver, another Market-street man,
was firm believer in home industry. He
did not profess to be acquainted with the
cigar trade, but supported the movement
on general principles. He keeps San Fran
cisco made cigars in stock.
The manager of the Cafe Royal cigar
store waxed eloquent about the bad quail
ity of cigars made here. He said the per-
sOnaI desires of the storekeepers have
Rothing to do with the question. Let the
demand but be created. 1t was the Cali
fornia mans own fault that he had been
driven out of the market. The customer
Is quick to perceive what is a good cigar
and what is not. He said he would be
content to sell California cigars when he
could trade as faYorably with them as with
the Eastern product.s
A partner in the firm of Michalitschke
Bros. q Co., Oh Bush and Kearny streets,
had much to say of interest to cigar men.
Asked as to the quality OF California labor,
he said that the workman does as well IN
his trade here as anywhere else. The
workmen here. he thought, asked too
much. Every new factory opened would
add to the States wealth. Just as good
stock can be obtained here as in New
York, but the fault is that the California
manufacturer cannot compete with East
ern labor. While he keeps home produced
cigars there is very little demand for
them.
Mr.. Michalitschke suggested that big
factory be established and largely adyer-
tised. He also advocated the apprentice
system which exists in Europe, as, under
present conditions, it does not pay the
manufacturer to train up workmen.
NJ. Blaskower, a Montgomery-street
dealer, said: Il am in favor of home
products every time"
'Do you believe that as good cigars can
be put up here as in the East2" was asked.
81 don't see why not" said Mr.. Bias
kower.
In further conversation this iobber stated
that all cigars handled by him were strictly
union made. He had not had demand
for a California made cigar in long time.
He ascribed this to the original feeling of
prejudice against Chinese labor. Califor-
MIA might in time be made one of the great
cigar centers of the United States, pro-
Vided the proper material and skilled labor
were used.
James Crouch, Montgomery street,
makes and handles his own cigars. He
was pleased to notice an increasing de-
mand for California manufactured cigars.
He experiences no trouble whatever in dis
posing of his goods.
Friedlander & Kaesar, another manufac-
turing firm, find a good demand arising
for the home article. "0f course" said
Mr.. Friedlander, 1.-The advertised article
always has the advantage. There ought
to be big factory erected with 100 or 200
hands. Advertise it well, and I believe
really large business could be done"
Charles Harris of Montgomery street,
puts into practice his views on homemade
cigars. His sign reads Support home in
dustries, and he handles cigars made by
himself.
Said Mr.. Harris, GA good demand ap-
pears to have sprung up for California
made cigars lately, particularly In the last
three weeks. What L want to say is that
the same inducements are not offered to the
San Francisco man as to the New Yorker.
That talk about climatic conditions is all
bosh. There are, however, certain grades
of fine Havana tobacco which never reach
San Francisco, as there is no demand. Big
European consumers get their fine-grade
cigars direct from Havana. Skilled labor
is as easy to get here as anywhere.
r<NfL Cfo1,rr ~ ~
Market street was next visited. In reply
to the usual queries, Mr.. Schwerin said:
81 do not think advertising would do San
Francisco firms much good. They all
seem to want Eastern cigars here, and
imagine that homemade cigar cannot
be good, just from the fact that it is home
made"
"What do you think is in the way of
San Francisco becoming a great cigar
center?" was asked.
81 see nothing in the way except the
prejudices of consumers" answered Mr..
Schwerin.
The Pacific Coast Cooperative Cigar
Manufacturing Company, represented by
its secretary, Henry Knobel, was enthus-
in San Francisco. Mr.. Knobel said that
many of the retailers in this City are not
competent judges of the relative merits of
the Eastern and California product. He
corroborated the statement made that
dealers here are expected to turn out a
better cigar for less money than the East
ern producer
T. Frahm of Frahm & Frankenburg, 41S
Battery street, thought much as the other
large manufacturers did, He said: ''Just
as clever cigar-makers can be found here
as anywhere. We often open up an East
ern cigar and find it filled with the COM
monest rubbish"
julius Umhalt of the San Francisco
Cigar Company said: Fasteners get a
better price for their cigars, and we have
to spend money to hold up our trade. It
is matter of prejudice. We can buy as
fine tobacco in San Francisco as anywhere
else, if there is only demand for it,
Investigations were continued yesterday,
the rounds being made among saloon men
and few Of the manufacturers.
A partner In the firm of Plagemann &
Co., Sansome street, said that he did not
care to be interviewed on the matter at all,
as it might injure his business. He
thought that as good cigars could not be
made here as in the East. Eastern goods
are handled by his Arm.
Schlaberg Bros, manufacturers, of 500
Washington street found that preference is
given to Eastern goods, even If prices are
the same.
P. Leonhardt, cigar manufacturer, Polk
street, near California, said that he made