Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-03
MAKING AN ISSUE
John Wesley Gaines and the
Tobacco Trust. 7E
CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
TRYING 10 STIR UP INDIGNA-
TON AMONG GROWERS.
Holds Administration Responsible for
Lack Of secution-Repuh-
Hcans Not Worried.

voting his energies to a campaign which
has for its object the stirring up Of the
tobacco growers of Kentucky and Ten
nessee against the tobacco trust.
Another motive that appears to be even
more important with him is to send broad
cast the impression that the Department of
justice Is not In sympathy with any course
that might mean the bringing of an injunc-
ton against the tobacco trust to restrain it
from carrying out policy that results. as
1t is alleged. in sitting competition In the
purchase of the weed from the planters.
The third object among the many appears
to be to place the administration in such a
light before the voters In all those states
IN which tobacco Is raised to cause the
growers OF the weed to vent their indgna-
ton against the administration by voting
against Roosevelt and Fairbanks and for
Parker and Davis.
In Kentucky and Tennessee reports have
been circulated to the effect that Mr.
Gaines sought to have Attorney General
Knox direct District Attorney A. NJ TILL
man at Nashville to investigate the com
paints against the trust and that he de-
clined TO do so. but rested the case by mere
ly directing the district attorney to receive
Such evidence as Mr.. Gaines might present
to him.
rms report places the department in the
attitude OF practically ignoring the com
plants except to the extent Of giving a
formal recognition of them by willing
ness to receive and file in pigeonholes ali
evidence that might be turned over to that
omcial FOR the mere purpose of having
tnen covered with the dust of ages as the
ONCE OF the district attorney continues its
existence into the dim future
single-Handed Campaign.
Mr.. Gaines has devoted wonderful energy
ana the powers of oratory in pursuing the
course he has mapped out. He has carried
on campaign all through Kentucky and
tennessee that has made the iniquities OF
the tobacco trust and the alleged indifYer-
ence OF the Department Of Justice the one
ISSUE IN that state. He has aroused a
great deal OF interest and, in fact has done
50 Wen In those states that 1t has been
proposed that he extend his field OF opera-
IONS INTO west Virginia. southern Ohio and
tonhectlcut, where tobacco is raised In
order TO make votes for his party where
votes VIII mean something next November.
tennessee and Kentucky are not being
clalmed py the republican prophets Just
now so that the making of democratic
votes In those states is looked upon as rath-
er an empty honor. For that reason Mr..
Gaines may extend his operations to other
fleds of activity.
Some republican leaders who have Len+
themselves informed about the activities of
Mr. Gaines say that if he continues his
present course he Is apt to descend to earth
win very hard thud. They declare that
ne is just now in the air They are anxious
TO nave the facts in the case of the tobacco
trust Known. They declare that these facts
VIII not tend toward the Qualification of
Mr. Gaines by the tobacco growers. and
that they can result only in increasing his
esteem in the minds of partisans who are
ready to turn any trick to get votes.
1t is said at the Department Of Justice
that Mr. Gaines opened his correspondence
ATTORNEY General
Ject OF the tobacco trust in letter of May
10 last. He then informed Mr.. Knox that
the tobacco trust was violating the law
by combination which has stified competf-
ton in the purchase of tobacco He init
mated that as lawyer he knew enough of
this case to know that the Attorney General
might proceed at once against the trust
both in relation to interstate and foreign
commerce. He inclosed for the perusal of
the Attorney General a newspaper clipping
about two years old and copy of a report
of testimony taken by subcommittee Of
the House committee on ways and means
in the last session of Congress.
Against the Trust.
In a general way it is claimed that the
British-Amercan. the Continental, the
American and the Consolidated Tobacco
companies have a trust agreement where
by they do not compete in the purchase of
tobacco and that only one buyer of to-
as is known this statement of the cas-
rests on popular reports and understand
ings of a kind that would have no stand
ing in any court In order that the depart
ment may bring a proceeding against the
trust it must have in its possession evil
dence OF these conditions which cannot be
controVerted. AS Mr.. Gaines appeared to
have knowledge of the facts and as he s
brilliant lawyer the department supposed
1t would soon be assisted in establishing a
q bot 1.
held in the courts
Mr.. Gaines letter of May 10 was replied
10 eight days later. Simultaneously with tho
writing OF instructions to District Attorney
l1ilman at Nashville to receive the evidence
IN the possession of Mr. Gaines or any one
else and to investigate the subject This
was IN accordance with the course nursuad
py the departments in all similar cases
1t was practically the course pursued in
bringing about the prosecution Of the
Northern Securities Company for violation
or the federal antitrust law which result ed
IN decision by the United States Supreme
Court against the company.
No Proof in Sight.
The department was disappointed in not
securing the proof of the combinat ton in
the case of the tobacco trust that it cup
posed Mr.. Gaines possessed Instead it
received sharp letter from Mr.. Gaines
himself 1t was letter of denunciatiOn
that Is tucked away somewhere among the
hles of the department. Mr. Gaines was
told that what the department needed to
establish its case was evidence and not
abuse. On the oath of May District At
torney Ttllman at Nashville acknowledged
the receipt of his instructions and pro-
ceeded with the work of getting the facts
In the case in such shape that If the de-
partnent proceeds against the tobacco
trust IL VIII not be Inundated by having
its case thrown out of court for the want
of evidence.
The last letter written on the subject was
by Attorney General Knox Just before he
lett the Department of Justice. The case
mas not assumed such form as to call 1t to
the attention of Attorney General Moody
since he took charge of the department
District Attorney Tiilman is hoeing his own
row in getting evidence, so far as is known
here.
1t Is reported that Mr.. Gaines is securing
thousands of affidavits from planters to
make out case against the trust. The de-
partment is itching to get hold of those ar
idavits. At the department the failure or
Mr.. Gaines to proceed more rapidly to state
his complaint to the district attorney at