The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-27
PxNNELL RUCKER.s STATEMENT
Ii il Denied BY "a Leading CitizcA
Who Tells of Trust Operations.

To the Editor: A letter was recent
~ published in large number OF
papers signed Pannell Fucker Pres
ident of the late Rucker- Witten To-
bacco Company. that contained the re-
markable and ingeniouSIy construct
ed statement that the +. j. Reynolds
Tobacco Company. of Winston, ~ c.,
was not part of the tobacco trust.
The contents of the letter, which, fo-
some reason or other, Rucker had 10
Daddy" caused many knowing one
to smile, for did they not know. tina t
as a manufacturer of tobacco. Pannell
Rucker took advantage of every OPP
portunity to denounce, (and justly SOD
the tobacco trust on account Of the
unfair and INSCRIPTIONS methods 1T
pursued in crushing competition. and
destroying businesses that had been
built up by great energy and hard
work. Rucker was ever bitter in his
attacks. and ALWAYS strenuous in his
fight against the trust and the Very
remarkable letter referred to above
was, to say the least. in poor taste.
coming as ii did Immediately after he
oslo his business TO the tobacco trust.
The fact is that Mr. Rucker has placed
himself i'm ridiculous attitude in per-
hitting his name to be used in such
a manner. The intent of the letter is
SO patent, and its contents SO very ri
diculous as to cause an utter miScar-
riage of its mission. and the publica-
ton of the communication. causes the
people to be more suspicious than
ever before.
Now, to come down to facts Why
was the letter written? The only in
telligent construction to be placed up
on the matter is. that after Mr.. Ruck-
er sold out to the trust, he permitted
them TO use ms name in publishing
an article that was not only mlSleau-
ing, but which was calculated (and |
suppose was so intended 10 prove
hurtfuI to the independent manufac-
turers. In order to correct any wrong
impression that the Rucker letter
might produce. | make the unqualitic
statement that there is Il tobacco trust
in Winston and other towns, and [
further declare that these branches
of the great and mercileSS Octopus are
proving destructive to the best inter-
eStS of the people. and especially 10
the grower of tobacco, and the indc-
pendent manufacturer | am safe in
making the statement, that these same
branches of the trust do not hesitate
to spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars to destroy competition, and
then to deduct the money so spent
from the prices of the leaf tobacco.
Now, permit me to indulge in d lit
tie history. The tobacco trust first
made its appearance in Winston, \.
c.. by buying the business of II. j.
Reynolds. Immediately after this sale
was effected. Mr.. Reynolds made the
announcement that no money would
be made in the tobacco business dur
ing the next five years. Following this
statement the trust, through the X.
]. REYNOLDS Tobacco Company, bought
out the business of T. /. Vaughn <
Company, Brown Bros. Company ana
p. H. Hanes & Company: Then fol-
lowed the purchase by the trust of
the following firms: Liipfert, Scales
& Company, Winston. \. c.; F. r.
Penn q Company. Reidsville, n. c.,
and the Spencers. of Martinsville Va.
1t is believed and generally understood
that the three last named firms were
bought with the understanding that
they were to continue business as IN
dependent manufacturers. The OBJ
iect of the trust in owning and operat-
ing these plants, as independent con-
Germs are so plain that HE who runs
NAV read" The oBect of the trust is t
to eventually obtain an entire and aoao
lutte control of all the tobacco bust
ness, and it's allied interests, regard
less of the damage and sufferlngS OF
the people. With these few facts |
leave the question with the pubic
With the lights before them. the peo-
pie may decide why the fetter signed
"Pannell Rucker'' was sent broad cast
throughout the entire country Is the
trust in favor of lar uedl IL ao'
why should it try to deceive tie peo-
pie? The answer IS easy. -
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