The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-01

tobacco sale and market of Turkey will be
granted to Mr.. Dukes corporation. II al
ready possesses the monopoly in japan and,
the impression is, will speedily possess
through contracts with the French govern
ment the concession for the monopoly of
the manufacture and sale OF tobacco In
France.
Its desperate battle in Great Britain was
after all in many respects war of Chinese
noise The American trust beat the TOM
tom, made preposterous and eccentric
propositions. all for the purpose evidently
of diverting the attention of the British
public from the purpose that was really in
mind 1t was the most peculiar strategy
which the creation of this monopoly has
made necessary and 1T seems TO nave been
successful.
No item in the tobacco trade which in
comparison with the whole business may
seem of trifling Importance was neglected.
The monopoly dominated in the Ohio VAL
ley the manufacture and marketing OF the
humble stoga Just as it secured control in
the comparatively small leaf tobacco dis
trict of the Connecticut River Valley of the
market for ConnecticutS seed lear. There
were of course some independent growers
of leaf tobacco who remained independent,
but they were benefited rather than harmed
by this monopoly, since the comparatively
few manufacturers of cigars who main
tanned their independence became eager
customers for the tobacco raised by these
Independents and therefore paid hand
some prices for ii.
MACHINERY DID 1T.
doubtful whether Mr.. Duke would have been
able to perfect this world monopoly. The
preparing of tobacco for its various mar
kets and for the many uses to which it is
put is with single exception now done by
machinery. Machinery rolls and makes
cigarettes, grinds and presses plug tobacco
prepares chewing tobacco, handles snuff
from the raw to the finished product, the
only considerable labor that is necessary
being furnished by girls.
But the inventive genius has not yet APP
peared with machinery by which the leaf
can be prepared. rolled, tipped and cut so
that the perfect cigar is at hand. The cigar
must be made by hand excepting that some
very cheap and almost unmarketable
brands of cigars manufactured by machin-
cry are placed now and then upon the mar
ket. 1t is this inability 70 make perfect
depending upon labor for cigar manufacture,
hat in great measure explains why ii is
that the tobacco trust does not control the
output of cigars as IL does all other forms
of tobacco prepared for use. The cigar
maker in his little shop with two or three
hands aiding him may still command his
own market.
Time alone can test the strength of this
organization. To-day it appears to be per-
feet. Mr. Duke has admittedly matched
the superb organization built up by John
ID. Rockefeller in some respects more easily
constructive than the tobacco trust, since
petroleum as a natural product Is confined
10 a comparatively limited area. 1nOSe VINO
are capable of passing Judgment speak of
Mr.. Dukes achievement as fully equal TO
that of Mr.. Rockefeller. presumably as
permanent as the Standard Oil has been
and otherwise matching in completeness
of organization and thoroughneSs of detail
and the control of the abest business
minds familiar with the trade. the sugar
trust organization created by III. o. Have
meyer.
Recently the Morton trust. one of the
great fir ancial institutions of New York,
has beef the financial power behind this
giant monopoly, and ii is inferred that Ii is
due in some measure to the almost limit
less financial strength and international
resources of this institution and its allies
that this trust. the most perfect monopoly
yet constructed in the United States and
apparently soon to monopolize the business
throughout the world has been able to
reach across the seas, master Japan, adj
foothold in France and Great Britain.
IL the farmers of the West desire to con-
struct an organization that may place abso-
lutely in their hands through corporate ar
rangement the control of the marketing OF
the grain harvests of the West, there are
two models they must study, one is the
organization perfected by John ID. Rookie
feller which is a practical monopoly, and
the other is the complete monopoly per-
fected within the past five years and of
which John b. Duke is the dominating in
fiuence.
The news of this morning telling of the
command of 20 per cent. of the cigar manu-
vanced negotiations with Turkey and the
admission that Mr. Duke and his company
have bought the entire tobacco crops not
only of the United States but practically
of the world illustrate the perfection of this
trust organization.