The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-06-21
dRocERs TO WAR ON TOBACCO TAGS.
Association Meets Soon at Norfolk and
Matter will be Pressed Grocers Hold
Offer of Premiums Works Harm
and Want Practice Prohibited.
Charleston Post.)

and Want Practice Prohibited.
Charleston Post.)
The South Carolina division of the
Southern Wholesale Grocers' Associa-
tion has entered the list in the fight
against the tobacco tag and premium
award, which is now in vogue, and an
earnest effort will be made to have the
Legislature or Congress pass an enact
ment to stop the practice.
There are hundreds of collectors of
tobacco tags in Charleston alone and
the announcement of the organization
of well directed movement to put a
stop to the tabacco companies giving
away tags and premiums will not be
taken kindly by the collectors. A num-
ber of the leading tobacco concerns
present prizes of various descriptions
and values upon the return of so many
tags, with the idea of stimulating the
sale of tobacco. The idea is along the
same principle of collection of soap
wrappers and the use of trading stamps
which have secured such firm hold on
consumers. The collection of these
tobacco tags is carried to such an extent
that the collectors have rated scale of
payment for the purchase of these tags,
as is done with soap wrappers and ciga-
rette certificates and the collectors are
generally furnishing their homes with
furniture, bric-a-brac and other accep-
table articles, as result of their in
dustry in collection by purchase of the
tobacco, or of the tags, or by other ways
of collecting the tags.
For some time q counter movement
has been under way to put a stop to
the system of producing sales for to-
bacco by the use of the tags, and this
movement has now received the prom
ised support of the South Carolina gro
GERS and systematic warfare is to be in
augurated. The association is sending
a circular to dealers, calling the matter
to their attention and enclosing blanks
for signatures, expressing the opposi-
tion of the merchants to the use of the
tag and bags, these blanks to be for
warded to the Senators and Congress
men, that the latter may know the feel
ing of their constituents on the subject
1t is not known whether all dealers will
sign the blanks, thereby declaring their
disapproval of the tag system. Doubt
less many will do so, and some opposition
will be stirred to put an end to the tag
and premium award, much to the regret
of the collectors. The institution of the
warfare against tags may also promote
the collection of the tags and the dis
tribution of premiums by tobacco con-
Germs, but the association is willing to
take the chances on it's circular benefit
ing the tag collection business.
The circular appeal of the association
reads as follows:
This association has been approached
by certain retail dealers here and at in
terror points to solicit your aid in the
abolishment of the tabacco tag nui-
sance.
"You are fully aware of all the bad
features connected with the use of
these tags as cash or premium value,
the frequency of having to sell tag
or two worth of merchandise, and such
petty annoyances, inconvenience of
which you at many times suffer to re-
deem them, none of which you are com
pensated for, as manufacturers invar-
iably add the cost of cash or premium
values to price of tobacco.
"Why then should we have method
continued that pays no extra profit, but
gives instead trouble and annoyances?
We want your aid in having this move
ment brought to the attention of Con-
gress, through our Senator'S and Con-
gressmen, and have Congress make
it illegal to put value of either cash
or premium on tags or bags.
"The State Legislature of Ohio has
already passed such act and our own
Legislature should give us the same re-
lief and protection.
IF Congress will hear our prayer,
this great country will be relieved of a
burdensome tax, not only in none
tary way, but also a tax on time. The
nuisance of this tag and premium tax is
growing in greater proportions every
day, and should be voted out.
"If you are in favor of this move
ment, and we feel that you are, kindly
affix your signature to the four copies
herewith enclosed, forwarding one each
to our two State Senators, one to the
Congressman from your district, and
the other to this association.
'The Southern Wholesale Grocers'
Association meets in Norfolk on the
goth inst, and we will take the matter
up with them, and through their influ-
ence secure similar action from all
wholesale associations in the South
"It is most probable that the East
crn, Middle and Western States will
join us in this fight, which certainly is
for the good of the whole country.
please do not delay therefore in
giving this your prompt attention, as it
is most important that we should re-
ceive your reply previous to the meet
ing of the association.
Respectfully,
"THEo MELCHERs,
President"