The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-27
CHINESE MADE CIGARS,
The Local White Union Has
Locked Horns With Jacob
Brandt.
Culp'S Califor nia.Grown Leaf Tobacco
Made Up by Crew of
Mongolians.

The white union cigar-makers of this
City are at present at loggerheads with
Jacob Brandt, who conducts q cigar fac
tory at ALL Battery street. Mr.. Brandt has
undertaken to manufacture and introduce
Culp's California natural leaf tobacco,
grown at San Felipe, near Los Gatos 1t
was not long before the white cigar
makers discovered that the new cigars
regarded as unfair, particularly as dozens
of competent white cigar-makers were,
and are still, idle.
A committee from Cigar makers Union
No. 228 called upon Mr. Brandt with a
view of unionizing his factory and getting
him to employ white men to roll California
tobacco into cigars.
The committee reported to the union
the result of the interview, whereupon the
secretary was instructed to write to Mr..
Brandt letter setting forth the following
sentiments. That his answers were not
sufficiently definite, positive or satisfac-
tory. The union desires to encourage the
production of California leaf tobacco and
the manufacture of cigars therefrom, but
it is the white man and not the Chinese
who is the consumer, and it should be the
white man and not the Chinese who should
make these cigars. Inquiries had been
employed in Mr.. Brandt's factory, but the
union had refrained from giving out in
formation hoping that the factory would
become a union factory.
Unless satisfactory answer was given
as to the class of cigar-makers Mr.. Brandt
intended to employ the union would be
compelled to inform the public that Mr..
Culp's Caiifornia-grown tobacco is handled
by Chinese. There was no intention OF in
terfering with any mans business, but it
was the duty of the union to prevent Chi.
nese absorbing and controlling what should
prove great industry in the future, be-
sides protecting white labor.
This letter did not have the desired eff
feet, because, as stated, Mr.. Brandt con-
tlnues to have the only California tobacco
made into cigars by Chinese laborers. Last
1ight the Cigar-makers' Union held a
special meeting, and committee of ten
was appointed TO attend to the matter of
Brandt's Chinese. After little delibera-
ton the following official manifesto was
issued by the committee:
To the public in general and the smokers in
particular we issue this appeal on behalf of
the cigar.makers of the Pacific Coast. We de-
sire TO submit the following facts, which have
occurred in the course OF our negotiations
with Jacob Brandt. In the early part of April
committee called on Mr.. Brandt, at his re-
quest, TO endeavor 10 have him manufacture
California tobacco into cigars by white men.
Jacob Brandt expressed himself very favorable
at that time and gave us every assurance that
he would employ none but international union
clgar-makers to make CHlifornia-groWn to-
bacco into cigars. But Mr.. Brandt's statement
was very indefinite to time, which might
mean months or year.
In reply to the report of the committee the
union sent communication, of which the fol-
lowing is copy Preferred to in the foregoing)
which excited the ire of Mr. Brandt
Now Mr.. Brandt will not run union factory
makers Union. nor will he paw the bill of
prices advocated by the Cigar-mskers' Union
NO. rs. He declared that he will manufac-
Chinese labor.
Inc cigar-makers issue this appeal to the
pubic with the hope and expectation that the
pupnc VIII give him the rebuke which he so
richly deserves, ntil such time as Mr.. Brandt
Will employ white, fair-paid labor.
T. f. BURNS Chairman.