The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-22
THREE THOUSAND THERE
With One Voice They Declare War on
Monopolistic Greed and to Thwart
it Adopt the Plan of Cam
paign Outlined by Col
onel Grimes,
Especial from Staff Member.)

Especial from Staff Member)
Rocky Mount, N. c., Aug. 21.-A Wig
orous blow straight from the shoulder was
struck at the American Tobacco Company
trust today by nearly three thousand
tobacco farmers, who had gathered here
from Eastern Carolina.
1t was an afternoon of speech-making
after the Committee on Plans and Reso-
lutions had been appointed by Col. John
S. Cunningham, who was made chairman OF
the meeting, and in these speeches, made
by men representing almost every phase
OF the tobacco industry, there was ex-
pressed great Indignation at the dcspotism
OF the tobacco trust and a determina-
tion to thwart the plans of the monopoly
that is at work to confiscate the tobacco
crop of North Carolina
The business of the meeting came when
the report of the Committee on Plans was
made
The plan adopted was that given in
the News and Observer yesterday morn
ing as outlined by Col. Crimes it being
prefaced by resolutions condemning the
American Tobacco Company, thanking the
various associations, expressing sympathy
for the tobacco growers and asking their
aid and cooperation.
The plan adopted by the meeting with
out one dissenting voice, is to organize
local tobacco corporations in every sec
tion with shares at five dollars each taken
by farmers and men interested in to-
bacco; the tobacco to be bought on the
market, held for rise, or manufactured
II found necessary.
The meeting began with a great crowd
in Gravely's warehouse, and Col. Cunning
ham made a forceful and strong speech
urging the farmers to organize.
a Committee on Resolutions. one from
each tobacco growing county represented,
was appointed, and after it withdrew the
speech making began. Each speech was
on the line of a necessity for the organi-
zation Of the farmers against the to-
bacco trust and each speaker denounced
the American Tobacco Company for its
action lii cutting down the prices of to-
bacco to starvation figures. The conven-
tlon was deeply interested and vigorous
applause greeted each speaker. Among
those who delivered addresses were
the Messrs. Cutchin, of Caswell Dr. H. F.
Freeman, of Wilson; j. O. w. Gravely,
Rev. L. L. Nash, Hon. B. II. Bum, of
Rocky Mount; Hon. R. A P. Colley, of
Nash; w. F. Parker, of Halifax: O. L.
Joyner, of Pitt; J. E. Pogue, w P Batch
elor, Frank Stronach. j. Bryan Grimes
E. E. Britton, R. NJ. Phillips of Raleigh;
Jesse Brake, OF Edgecombe; f. B. Par
ker, of the Farmers Alliance; DR.. j. T.
Graves and ]. A. Farmer, of Wilson, NJ
w. Llncke, of Nashville; j. j. Laughing
house. of Pitt; J. F. Green, of Vance
The meeting ordered that organizers be
put at once in the field by the Farmers
Protective Association and that the for
nation of stock companies be pushed The
whole meeting was full Of enthusiasm and
deep interest Tomorrow another great
meeting will be held in Wilson.
COL GRIMES PLAN.
Colonel Grimes plan, which was adopt
ed by the meeting here today compre-
bends the establishing of corpora tions in
every tobacco section which will enable
the people at hong to control the tobacco
situation. The price Of shares in these
corporations will be five dollars each,
putting a share within the reach of even
the smallest tobacco grower.
The amount of the capital stock of
each separate corporation is 10 be such
as the stockholders desire, and the pur-
poses, of the corporations are set forth in
the certificates as follows:
1.-THE object for which this corporation
is formed is to buy sell, handle and In
any manner deal in and with leaf and
manufactured tobacco; to manufacture
tobacco into plug, twist, cigars, cigarettes,
cheroots, smoking tobacco and any and
all other forms. To own, lease, erect,
maintain and operate warehouses for the
handling and sale of leaf tobacco upon
commission or otherwise, and also prize
houses, stemmeries, and any and all other
houses or factories incident or necessary
In carrying on a general tobacco busi-
ness, To own, lease, erect, maintain and
operate storage warehouses and to issue
receipts for tobacco stored and to ad
vance money or other credits upon such
tobacco, which receipts shall be trans
ferabe and shall entitle the holder to
the property so stored, or to that part
remaining after the payment of all ad-
vances and charges; such tobacco may be
redeemed and removed upon presentation
oil the receipts and the payment of the
amounts advanced, together with all in