The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-23


 show what kind of record the Attog. ney General whose ofice is provided with s500,0O0, less s25, 900 already expend- ed, to prosecute the trusts, is willing to make in the performance of it's duty on this question. It may be recalled that in other instances during the regime of Attorney General Knox proceedings have begun through the Initiative of the De- partment of Justice. 1t has been freely remarked that part of the $5o0,oo0 has been used in working up the peonage cases in which the administration rushed to the defense of southern negroes for political effect upon the northern negro vote. Numerous agents of the Depart ment of Justice went into the field of the alleged peonage practices and worked up the cases which the courts were obliged to handle. The protestants against the tobacco trust complain now that the Att torney General ought to do something more than merely advise where evidence and complaints may be lodged, as he
 has just now done in the case present. ed by Congressman Gaines.
 The following is the correspondence:
 May 10, 1904.
 Hon. Phiiander c. Knox, Attorney Gen.
 eral of the Cnited States:
 Sir-During the recent session of Con- gress my attention was sharply drawn to the existence and operation of to- bacco trust which I found was exercis- ing absolute control of the markets and of the prices for tobacco raised in my district and in the adjacent country, and elsewhere, It is commonly known as the British-American Tobacco Trust, but technically the "Brttish-American To- bacco Company, Limited"
 I have every reason to be most posi- lively convinced that it is now engaged in prosecuting it's business In q manner directly in defiance of the statute, re- straining commerce between the States and with foreign countries. to the great injury and loss of the tobacco growers and the tobacco business of this country. This company. it can be definitely shown, is in agreement with the Regie agents in this country whereby they refrain from competing with each other in buy- f ing tobacco, fix the prices that all shall pay, parcel the territory between them upon each others domain and, having all other like concerns into its organization and found means effffectually to stifie l and destroy all competitors, it has | founded for itself an absolute monopoly, | The fact of this Is abundantly apparent l The proof of 1t may be found. The fact itself affords most positive presumptivs evidence.
 In view of the great injuries inflicted upon the people represent in Congress | through the unlawful operations of thii trust and it's coalition with foreign to- bacco buyers, I feel 1t my duty to cal your especial attention to the hearing | before the subcommittee on interna revenue of the House at the session oi Congress just adjourned copy oi which Is inclosed, and also to a copy of an article which appeared in the Gin cinnati Enquirer of September 2s, 1902 | which together make plain the existence I of the several speeches made during fht session by MessFs. Stanley, TTtmble | Hopkins. Flood. Sin,ms and myself, 1T | which all the facts are discussed ana which may aid you In discovering fh' sources of proof
 It Is abundantly manifest that all thu l evils and injuries that the statute mean | to prevent are being Inflicted by fhi' combination, that 1t is operating In al rect restraint of interstate commerce ant | foreign trade. and that 1t is a monepoll | in the exact sense contemplated and tor | bidden by the statute, and In view O. the vast injury being inflicted upon oul people and the incalculable losses thel are being forced to sustain, desire re spectfully to suggest that you cause proper action to be brought in the courts civil and criminal, to dissolve the trust | to enjoin it's operations and te punisl | the individuals who are 50 Aagrantl, | and contemptuousiy defyiRg the law. | - s4 Very respectfully, John W. Gaines. Office of the Attorney General. Washington. D. C., May IS, 1904. ! Hon. John W. Gaines, House of Repre- 1 sentatives:
 sir-Replying to your letter of Ma, 10th, relative to the Brittsh-Americar Tobacco Company. Limited, I have re ferred it, with it's enclosures, to MT