The morning news., 1899-12-30

Mr.. ,. *. Garnett's letter TO NIessrs.
Cheshntt & O'NeiII.

mutt Il O'NeLl and Messrs. j. X Maner
& Co. of Shirley. S. C. Messrs. Chestnut
& O'Neill, who led the opposition to the
combine, sent out number of circular
letters to naval stores producers through
out the country These letters were sent
not onay to their own customers, but to
the customers of other factors as well,
both those who had favored and those
wh9-had opposed-the combine. This did
not tend to an Increase OF brotherly love
on the part of other factors towards Ches-
nutt 4 O'Nenl, incidentally, a number
of marked copies of the Morning News
were sent about the same time to the
naval stores producers. Among the oper
ators who received copies Of this circular
letter proposing 80 take any defenseless
operator under their wing, IF conditions
were favorable" was the firm of j. X.
Manner Co Of Shirley. $. c. 1t hap
pens that Mr.. j.. X. -Garnett, who has
been most active in the promotion OF the
combine, is member of the firm of
Maner & CO.
1t was the irony of fate that the chief
promoter of the coz bine should have been
solicited to seek sheker under the wing
of the opposition to ID. MIR. Garnett was
not at home when the letter was re-
ceived, but when his attention was called
to the matter he concluded that the time
was ripe for reply. He accordingly sent
to Messrs. Chestnut & O'Nein, in the name
of J. K Mauer & Co, reply to their
offer of assistance and protection. Both
the circular letter and the reply make in
teresting reading. The circular letter is
as follows:
Chestnut & O'Neil, Naval Stores Fac
tors and Commission Merchants, Savan-
nah Ga, Dec 15 1S99.-NIessrs. j. X. Ma
ner & Co., Shirley, S. c. Gentlemen: We
have tried to keep you posted as to the
proposed combination or trust, which OPP
orators were about to be sold TO by some
of the factors The scheme, however, has
been scotched. at least for the present.
We hear, though it is only taking on new
shape-that an effort IS being made TO
push the matter through anyway. This
cannot be done without the consent of the
operator. We believe that If any transfer
of the business, or any sale is made, the
producers of naval stores will not permit
themselves to be delivered over to any
combination or trust. II is said it will be
done under q modified form, which will
appear attractive 10 the producer TO come
in and take stock. Any so-called induce
ment of this kind is manifestly for the
purpose to unload the business at hand
some profit, either by way of a bonus
for good will, or a system of watered
stock We simply send you this letter as
warning. We do not do it 70 get your bus
mess. but if you wish TO come to us and
be protected against combinations and
trus ts you may do So We have ample cap
iial 10 take care of any business we may
decide to take and save our customers
money in many ways. First we do not
charge for custody and labor"-this alone
is a saving of cents on every barrel of
spirits and ros-n, and besides this we save
our customers in other ways, by way OF
prompt personal attention to business, thus
obtaining the highest competitive prices
with quick returns, which is saving OF
interest If you care to make a change
send US a schedule of your property, stat
ing how much you owe, the prospects, etc,
and we will send our representative to see
you; and if conditions are favorable we
will be pleased to add you TO our list of
customers. Hoping TO hear from you soon,
with best wishes, yours truly,
Chestnutt & O'Neiii.
Mr. Garnett's reply, to this letter is as
follows:
Chestnut & O'Neil, Savannah, Ga.-Gen-
tIemen: Your esteemed favor of the 10th
inst. was duly received. The absence Of
the writer must be our excuse for our fall
ure TO make immediate response.
We thoroughly appreciate the efforts
made by you to save us and the other pro-
ducers from the clutches of proposed
combination or trust. We thoroughly un-
derstand that but for these efforts, not
only would we have been delivered over,
bound hand and foot, as slaves to this ter
rible monster, but that our wives ana
children would have been cast upon the
cold charities of the world. The whoe
naval stores region is full of recognition
Of this fact, and. before long, the whole
world Will doubtless, be fun of prais oil
YOU as the savior of the produceIs ana the
successful defenders of our peop,e against
this soulless monopoly. Ordinary language
is TOO poor TO express the. obligations or
the PRODUCERS to you. We would delight
to see its fitting presentation upon csn n
vas and by a painting painted by the
worlds greatest artist, for surely ony the
most towering genius can do justice to the
subject The Illustration would remind
those of US, who We're favored with
sight of the painting, OF our early days
when we read of Jack the Giant Killer,
and saw the terrible giant prostrated in
the dust and Jack (who could be fitingly
nersonifed by your Benz, standing upon
his demolished form, with sword in hand
and arm barred, ready, if the giant novel
TO give him the finishing stroke.
what particularly impresses us and -
other producers is that your efforts IN
our behalf have been so unselfish and dis
Interested. Indeed, these words are too
veak. we ought to say so self-sacr1hcing
ana altruistic. There was surely no need
of the assurance conveyed by your letter
in the words, 1--WE simply send you this
letter as a warning. We do not do 1t 10
get your business, but If you wish TO come
fo ms and be protected against combina-
tions and trusts, you may do So" We
knoU. of course, mat the thought of gey-
ling the business of the producers never
entered into minds like yours when you
were battling so valorously against this
trust, and that your valiant services Were
/ rNFr n-f
save that which arises from the con-
| sciousness Of duty nobly done. We are
SO glad to learn that we can come to
YOU and be protected against combina tons
and trusts. This Is a wonderful assur-
ance to the poor, innocent, gdileless pro
| ducers. who, but for you, would be in a
sad state indeed. While this part OF your
| letter suggests that all who will may free
" come to you without money and with
out price, yet the latter part might. but
for your well-established reputation for
unseifishness, suggest that there was a
! condition to our coming. This cannot be