Washington sentinel., 1900-05-19
what Trusts Have Done for Detroit.

What Trusts Have Done Tor DelrOlI'
One of Senator McMillan's '.judicious
combinations" has given Detroit a
practical illustration OF It's blessings.
The Continental Tobacco Company,
capitalized in New Jersey for S97, 69o,7oo,
has stung the city in a way 1t will not
soon forget.
It has wiped out one or the largest OF
the ctty's industries, thrown 2,ooopeople
ou of work, stripped S 900 from their
means of livelihood and shut up and
the dismantled one of the largest
tobacco factories in America, and the
only explanation Detroit has received
from Oren Scotch, its erstwhile propri'
etor, is that it is none OF the peoples
business.
Detroit takes a different view OF the
question and is up in arms against
"iudicious combinations
1t is a melancholy sight; this great
smokeless factory deserted and LETT to
ruin in the heart Of a section that the
industry OF its founder built up. Empty
stores and vacant houses speak louder
than words, and disgruntled real estate
owners and unpatronized grocers are
crying out VehementlY against their fate;
while the 5000 who drew their susten
ance from the Scotch factory are scat
tered to the lour winds or awaiting
employment anywhere or at ANYTHING,
for they have given up all hope Of the
factory reopening, The PLAIN truth about
The closing was that Oren Scotten had
received in the neighborhOod OF S2,Soo''
600 for his plant and long term position
as third vice president in the Continental
Tobacco Company.
The money paid out by the Scottens
supported over 5000 people and oulltup
the largest part of the two wards OF the
city. Fifty million dollars in wages Is
the estimate of the amount earned by
the employees since 1856. Many had
bought homes and furniture on the
monthly insts lment plan and were forced
to stop payments and let their purchases
revert.
The factory was one of the landmarks
of the city. Daniel Scotten came TO
Detroit from the East before the war
He was a day laborer himself worked
as lrtman, a carpenter, a cooper, and
finally got a Job in a tobacco shop,
sleeping under the bench where he
earned his daily bread When he became
rich he never forgot the poor,
With this cruel example OF the mach
nations OF a trust 1t is not strange thai
the city should be up in arms. Ine
absolute loss to Detroit is tremendous
and is felt in a more or less degree IN al
parts of the city. Added TO this catas
trophe is the closing Of the Bannei
Tobacco Mandatory, also absorbed BY
the trust and abandoned. One or two
lesser concerns are also closed, anC
Detroit, once one OF the leading tobacco
manufacturing centres, has los its pres
tige in this great industry.
Further cause Tor complaint IS the los
OF a great match factory established b.
the Goulds and cleared out by th'
Diamond Match Company.
The combination ofthe bakers effected
bv the National Biscuit Company ba
taken advantage Of the monopoly act
raised the prices OF crackers 20 cents OF
a ten pound box and so cents on barre
OF pretzels. They have also Pushe'
aside all the old delivery wagons AM
introduced their owh system.
Indignation is very high in the cit
over the action Of the Standard o
~on,na,ty In rersrnoniouslv discharg
ing a number of prominent DetrOi
managers and operators and replacin
them with new men whose salaries ar
far below those formerly paid. Th
company has also moved its offices int
cheaper quarters,
The company's only explanation wa
that it must reduce expenses and mair
tain in the future the most frues
economy
Not a single advance has been mad
in any employees salary in Detroit, an
on top OF this sweeping reduction an
decapitation oil has been raised cent
gallon.
The labor organizations have passe
resolutions to boycott all trust mad
or handled articles. All tobacco mad
by the trusts is to be taboed, and th
labor committees have instructed th
members Of the unions thereafter TO 5u
oil OF the Greensdale Company instea