New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-04
J. WESLEY ON WARPATH.
But It's Only Gaines, of Tennessee
after the "TObaccO Trust.
[FRoM THE TAIBUNE BUREAU


Washington Aug 3.-The alluring promises %
some Of Judge Parker's campaign managers W.
in addition to predicting victory FOR 'Ael
date. are announcing that every worker il 10
vineyard viii he properly rewarded. eI'eI 80
ton" With a -eckIessness that would booze no COCO
to Civil Service reform we're there me s1sI'e91
possibility OF their predictions coming uue' nav
resulted In % the lightest weight DeihoC
throwing themselves into the maelstro'h Oh PoiN09
with energy than good judgment ne 49,
one 20 attempt great things for Parker ana Da''s
Is Representative John Wesley Gaines OF IeIliieS-
see who has undertaken. single handed ano ALONE
and despite certain cruel practical Iacts, 70 c'e
trouble among the tobacco growers IN the poIue'
States With activ.,y that would ne aoIli'i'pie
were q wisely directed the Hon John wesley is
going about Ike a roaring lion, proclalming lhe
mpossbiIity Of inducing the Department or justice
take action against the Tobacco trust despte
the fact that he, John Wesley Gaines mas cail@u
the attention Of the department TO the glazing VIC
iations OF the Sherman act CT which the trust Is
guilty.
Mr.. Gaines says he has made numerous converts
IN Kentucky and Tennessee. ana announces ms
further intention to carry the war into Egypt oy
disseminating his alleged facts I'm Maryland. West
Virginia and Southern Ohio He also believes that
effective work for the Democracy can be done in
Connecticut with. his found. or rather. manu-
featured issue
In brief Mr.. Gaires's allegation IS that he dis
covered that the BritishAmerican. the Continental
the American and the Consolidated Tobacco COM
panies have effected a trust agreement whereby
they prevent competition in the purchase OF to-
bacco. sending only one agent into each OF the ais
trtcts into which they have organized the tobacco
growing section. AR Gaines intimates plainly
that he called the attention of the Attorney Gen
eraI TO the facts that his communications were
pigeon holed. and that the Department of Justice
IS unwilling 10 undertake any investigation Of the
facts or prosecution Of the trust
The facts accessible to any sincere inquirer.
and hey Tafia no on
effort to curry favor with the Democratic cam
raigu managers. In fact. the Republicans who
have looked into the subjec. declare that Mr..
Gaircss little campaign viii provo boomerang
IN the end. and suggest that {! might he almost as
wek 70 leave TO the tobacco growers the privilege
of discovering the facts. in view Of tho opinion
which they viii have Of Mr.. Gaines and the meth
DDS he has adopted when they learn the truth
On MAY 10 Mr.. Gaines wrote to Attorney General
Knox on the subject Of the alleged violation Of tho
Sherman act He asserted that Ills legal know.
edge was such as TO enabls him 10 assure the
Attorney General that the law being violated
and that ample evidence 10 establish the facts
could he readily obtained Ia support of his al
legation he nclosed newspaper clipping and
copy Of hearing of the House Committee on
Ways and Means some two years old.
The Attorney General. pleased TO learn that his
department could rely the assistance OF law
yer so able Mr.. Gaines described himself 70 he.
that he had ordered District Attorney Tnlman. al
Nashville. receive the evidence which he had
no doubt Mr.. Gaines possessed in proof of his al!
legations. This practically the puT
sued in ali similar eases, and was the same form
of initiative resulted IN the Supreme Courts
decision against the Northern Securities Company.
Instead of receiving the proof which it had sup
posed Mr.. Gaines to possess. the department was
amazed aud disappointed at receiving letter OF
snarp denunciaticn from NJ. Gaines. He was
promptly informed that what the department re-
Guired valid proof not abuse. District At
torney TiIlman. acting under Instructions went 10
work Immediately with view 70 securing proof
which would save the department from having its
0v1sr ont n
tinted Mr. Gaines went 10 work Immediately. also.
but his work took the form Of advising the tobacco
growers that the department unwilling TO act
against the trust District Attorney Tillman IS stilI
working Representative Gaines is working also,
and saws he has secured thousands OF afftdaVits
from farmers in proof Of his allegations bur why
he is unwilling 10 submit his evidence TO Attorney
Tllman and why he refuses TO cooperate with
the department in meriforous a work Is p
mystery which the department cannot solve.