The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-10

DEAL FAIRLY. EVEN WITH
TRI- SITS

We print elsewhere q communication
from Mr. William T. Dibrcll. editor Of
the Southern Tobacconist. I'm reply 10
recent article in Tho Times with refer
onco TO the average price OF leaf tobacco
before and since the American Tobacco
Company entered the field. Like some
others. Mr. Dibren refers TO The Times
IS the champion OF trusts when we
arc simply the champion of truth.
The American Tobacco Company does
not want a champion. and fits officers
would prefer We doubt not that the
company's affairs should Doe not discussed
in the newspapers one way or the other.
10 SIS not our endeavor therefore. 90
Nindclte this company. bout Co correct
error. We do not think it wise for news
papers TO be forever melting the people
against organized capital. and. i'm order
tho more 10 incitc them. 90 exaggerate
the evil. # evil 10 be. To would appear
from an that has been said against 30
that the American Tobacco Company has
been great curse Go the State of Viz
ginia. depressing the price of cigarette
tobaccos and throwing large numbers of
people out or employment ln point OF
fact tho company has largely increased
the demand for cigarettes and incidental
" for cigarette tooaccos. IL employs in
Richmond more people in the bright leaf
industry than were employed by all cone
Germs combined before il became corpo-
ration. 1t pays out more money for labor
than did an similar Richmond concerns
combined. before So entered the field. To
81 Richmond owes its great cigarette fac
tories. and incidentally the finest hotel
in the state. 10 say nothing OF IT'S mag
nifcont suburban drives. The American
Tobacco Company haas not been curse 10
Richmond.
A word as TO prices. In 1885, five years
after the American Tobacco Company
was organized dispositions were taken i'm
the Western North Carolina District in
o certain suit in which this company
was involved. and tho question was
raised as TO the relative price Of leaf to-
baccos before and after the company
was organized. u. J. Bass, leaf dealer
OF Durham. testified that i'm his opinion
"cutters cigarette tobaccos-had been
higher since 1880. while filters and wrap
pcrs-tobaccos not used by the "trust '-
had been lower IT. j. pnnix. another
leaf dealer OF Durham testified TO the
same effect. Captain John H. Huichins.
and NJ +. Jordan. former president Of
the Danville Tobacco Association. testified
that in their opinion there had been little
change IN the price of cutters. while nile
ors and wrappers had declined
A number of others including farmers.
made similar anldaYlts bat we cannot con-
sumo space in quoting them all In 1894 tho
year before these dispositions were taken.
the average price OF AN tobaccos sold ln
Danvilie was S. ~ and in 1850 10 vas
S1e5. an aouormaly low average. bat ace
cording 90 these witnesses. ci arctte to-
hsocos held their own The "much-low-
e." tobaocos were those not used by he
American Tobacco Company
Mr.. Blpfel says ina. Alien tiultf
used to pay 81. $50 ana SO for cutters
which now sell for half that price. pos-
sioly. But Air Dlbreirs friend she mid
ole man. who sot these fancy prices.
bought his fancy tobaccos from the FARM
Or at SIS or $50 Isn't that so? We DO
not deny that the middle man has been
hurt. but b was The farmer who cast
the first stone az him. Down with the
middle man" was The battle cr, Of the
Farmers Alliance. Isn't that so? The
American Tobacco Company was not the
first nor the only concern 10 abolish the
middle man. His services have been dis
pensed with in every branch OF trade
where II was possible 10 do without
him. and every business man buys his
supplies from first hands wherever it can
be done. All the big merchants Of Rich
mond purchase largely from the factories
direct Does SIR Dibrcii blame them for
n? We have no sort OF doubt that the
middle man IN the tobacco business would