The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-12-06
A BATTLE FOR TRADE
Lively Contest of Rival Manu-
facturers In Japan.

Competition Sharp and queer De-
vices ResOrted TO-Large Signs Dis
playing Excellence of Different
Wares Are Printed on Cloth and
Swung From Tomb to Tomb.
A good story comes to the United
States concerning a vigorous contest
that is being carried on between rival
manufacturers Of cigarettes In Japan,
says w. w. Price, the Columbia IS. g.
Records Washington correspondent.
The ingenuity of Japanese manufac-
turers in advertising their product will
be found interesting. Cigarettes from
American grown tobacco are being ad-
vertised there with colored quarter
sheet posters and handbills. The col
oring of the advertising matter is most
blood red, and the cigarette campaign
is growing more active every day. The
Japanese tobacco monopoly, on the one
hand, is pushing three leading brands
in Manchuria, while the British-Ameri-
can Tobacco company, on the other,
has its agents knocking at the gates
leading to the late war zone and seek
ing to carry the campaign into the in
terror on equal terms. Thus far the
British-American company has not
been allowed to send foreigners beyond
Newchwang, but through native sub
agents the virtues of the Virginia leaf
are already being announced on the
face of old Chinese walls that have
never before been utilized for advertis-
ing purposes. The Japanese have the
advantage of being able to push their
goods under the direct supervision Of
their own countrymen. Japanese mer-
chants, also, who sell to the army, have
for several months been allowed to go
der Japanese military authority and
regulation.
In Manchuria the natives, In some in
stances women, smoke cigarettes. The
field is considered a rich one in this
trade and is consequently sought after
with much eagerness. The lurid adver-
Using matter used by both parties seek
ing the business Of the enormous ciga-
rette smoking community is decorated
with Chinese characters describing the
wonderful qualities of the tobacco
used. Pictures Of the exact size and
the distinguishing marks Of the pack
ages used are printed on the placards.
The British-American company makes
feature of the quality Of the Virginia
leaf that Is used. The leaf is imported
from America and manufactured into
cigarettes at Shanghai. The Japanese
tobacco monopoly puts its goods on
this market under Chinese labels, but
gives the names Of It's chief brands in
English on the package. This method
is the one adopted by its active rival.
A few days ago the British-American
managers at Newchwang, which is
headquarters for Manchuria, billed the
native city as prominently as a great
circus is announced on billboards. Fol-
lowing this, the Japanese tobacco mo-
nopoly managers begin giving away
sample cigarettes attached to a neat
card having Chinese and Japanese
flags printed on top, with real matches
for fagstaffs and with miniature pic
lures Of the boxes Of their leading
brands in pyramid forms under the
flags. Holes punched into the cards ad-
mitted and held the sample cigarettes.
The British-American company has
Chinese speaking foreigners in charge
of it's campaigns in Manchuria, and
house to house canvass is now going
on. Competition is sharp, and all kinds
of queer devices are being resorted to
by both the sellers Of American and
native tobacco to get their goods on the
market and prominently before the
people. House boats carry their en-
tire sides placarded with the virtues Of
different brands of tobacco, and in
many cemeteries large signs printed
on cloth and swung from tomb to tomb
display the excellence Of different
makes.
The agents of the Japanese govern
ment tobacco monopoly In advertising
their goods in Manchuria declare that
their cigarette administers life" Sup
ports the spirits" this cigarette, of
government manufacture, is sweet and
of good quality, famous, once tried al
WAYS to be liked;" Twill cause the
smoker to feel as if in dream like I'M
to the mountain Wooshan."
American manufacturers Of leaf to-
bacco will reap good harvests while
this war is on in the east.