The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-05
SERIOUS COMPLAINTS MADE
AGAINST PRESIDENT DUKE
DUKE DRIVES With TOO TIGHT A REIN
designations Of Officials Give Color to The Story
gF Of Discussions. McAlpiae's Anti Trust
Fight May Yet Succeed. Talk
of Rival Trust.
(New York Journal.)

the IODaCcO Trust IL besihs W iooh ao
though d. II. McAlpin were about TO
win the great struggle of his life.
From Wall Street come more and
more persistent rumors of dissension
among the friends Of the trust, and
though the men most concerned smile
and say nothing, the rumors will not
down.
That there have been important resig-
nations from the dictatorship of the
trust-better known as the American
Tobacco Company-cannot be denied
for they are matters Of record. That
these designations are significant, Wall
Street insists. and these alleged differ
ences are regarded by many as signs
of the disintegration of one of the great
est ''grab-all'' corporations in the world
Wholesale designations, talk of n rival
trust and reports of internecine quarrels
suggest that one of the oldest and boldest
of the trusts is about to break up.
McALPIN'S SHREWD FIGHT.
And while all this is going on the
sturdy, shrewd old Scotchman, ID. III.
McAlpin, watches quietly but closely
the signs of collapse of the organization
that for years aimed to drive him from
the field because he would not yield
to its demands.
While such men as Pierre Lorrllard
and George ID. Finley, Harrison, |.
Drummond and David Keller are leav
ing their desks and getting outside of
the ring McAlpin is flooding the coun-
try with enormous advertisements of
tobacco and cigarettes. Not made by
a Trust" From every highway and by
way, from every fence and billboard,
the Not made by Trust" sign stares
the monopoly men in the face.
McAlpin bided his time and just
kept fighting quietly, but persistently,
for ten years.
Now it would appear that his time
has come.
In his fight he has been ably seconded
by public sentiment. the sentiment that
revolted against the dominion Of the
clique over so important an industry
as the cigarette and plug tobacco trade
has become in this country of smokers.
RESISTED DICTATION.
When Duke and Lorillard and the
other great manufacturers came togeth-
err in 1890 and proposed to control
the cigarette and plug tobacco trade Nc
Alpin was offered Il share in the enter
prise. He refused Then the offer as
sumed the aspect of a threat and the
refusal became a defiance. The Trust
offered the tempting bait of economy
in advertising. With no competition this
most serious portion of the running ex-
penses could be eliminated, they ar
gued.
I'll advertise" said McAlpln.
Then the screws were put on 1T
was thought that the task of wiping this
recalcitrant one out of existence would
be easy, but McAlpin went along and
fought yaliantly
McAlpin is still a power in the to-
bacco industry. His mo trust goods
are known in every corner of the coun-
try where tobacco is used.
RESERVATIONS IN THE TRUST.
What of the Tobacco Trust?
Pierre Lorillard, president of the p.
Lorillard Company of Jersey City, re-
signed his office a week ago. Report
had it that he had resigned as treasurer
of the Continental Tobacco Company,
which controls the +. Lorillard Com
pany.
George ID. Finley, auditor of the
Continental, followed. He was also
the former secretary and treasurer of
the Pierre Lorillard Company. Two
other designations We're that of Harri-
son |. Drummond, of st. Louis, vice
president of and director III the Con-
tinental Tobacco Company, and that Of
David Keller, Of Louisville. KY, form
erly secretary of the same company.
The storm is raging chiefly around
James Il. Duke, the founder OF the trust,
who is said to have been driving with
too tight a rein.
STILL OTHER TROUBLES.
director of the American Tobacco
Company, referring to these troubles.
said:
There have been complaints from
certain officers Of some of the manufac-
turing concerns that entered the trust
that Mr.. Duke has driven with too
tight Il rein. Several OF them have
charged that some of Mr.. Dukes acts
were extremely arbitrary. Other ana
grayer differences, of which | do not
feel permitted to speak, exist
ROBBED THE GRAVE.