The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-07-12

company, Inc united IlSdF StOfc5
Company, The American Stogie Com
pany, The McAndrews and Forbes
Company, the Conley Foil COMPANY
and fifty-six other corporations and
twenty-nine individuals connected
with the named companies. These
corporations and individuals consti-
tute what is generally known as the
tobacco trust" and the petition direct
ed against them sets forth the purpose
of the government to dissolve this
trust by breaking up the agreements
under which the consolidated concerns
are working. In showing the growth
of the trust since its organization,
in 1890 the conclusion is geached that
at an early day, unless prevented it
would completely monopolize the en-
tire tobacco industry. That all of the
defendants are engaged in interstate
and foreign trade and commerce in
leaf tobacco and products manufacture
ed therefrom is alleged by the motion.
1t is stated that the act of July 2, 1890
"to protect trade and commerce" and
subsequent acts have been violated
and the government therefore seeks tn
prevent and restrain the unlawful ex-
listing agreements, combinations and
conspiracies, and attempts TO monopol-
iZe and break up perfect monopolies.
The government asks that the existing
combinations, cOnspiracies and mon
opolies be enjoined and that each OF
the defendants be restrained from
holding or controlling stock in an
other. Ii is asked further that the
Imperial Tobacco company be enjoin-
ed from doing business with the juris-.
dictiOn of the United States until it
shall cease to observe the terms of
it's agreement with American compan-
les; that certain of the defendants be
declared combinations in restraint Of
trade and be enjoined from engaging
in Interstate and foreign trade and
commerce. Or that a receiver be ap-
pointed to take charge of their affairs
and administer them so as to bring
about conditions in harmony With the
law
The petition shows the history, de-
velOpment and growth of the American
trade and elimination of competitors
that it's total assets exceed $275, ,0O0,-
600; and likewise the origin of the
manipulation of scores Of created, ac-
quired and controlled corporations util-
lied as agencies to accomplish the gen.
eral design; the progressive absorption
vided pthe tobacco business of the
and destruction of formidable opposi-
ton; and the entry by defendants into
various departments Of, manufacture
Of trade, domestic and foreign into to-
bacco products with intent to monopo-
liZe.
The allegation is made that the
members of the commission have di-
900 pounds of domestic leaf of the
world, assigning to some special ter
ritory for unmolested exploitation. It
is declared that the consolidated cor
pOratiOns annually purchase 475000,-
900 pounds of domestic leaf and Of the
manufacture sell and distribute more
than 2SO,OO0,OOO pounds, 80 per cent of
the smoking and plug tObaccos; 95
per cent. of the snuff, 80 per cent of
the cigarettes, Is per cent of the small
cigars, 95 per cent of the licorice pro-
ducts, 80 per cent of the tin foil pro-
ducts and 10 to Is per cent Of the CT
gars and stogies; that they are rapid
ly acquiring control of the ordinary
agencies, jobbers, wholesalers and re-
tailers through which the tobacco pro-
ducts are distributed.
Of the total annual production Of
domestic tobacco, estimated at 800000,-
900 pounds, rs per cent is purchased by
the American Tobacco Company and
it's associates and allies at prices which
the government alleges to be unlawful
ly produced by the combination.
The operations Of the monopoly, ac
Icording to the petition, have been along
this general plan; to acquire through
one of the confederate companies the
business of successful opponents, TAX
ing from owners and managers agree
ments not thereafter to engage in the
tobacco business; to drive out other
opponents by destructive competition;
to deter any who might wish to en-
gage in the trade and finally to gain
contrYl the ngencies Through which
the tobacco were distributed. 1t is sad
these things have been accomplished
by means Of increasing power and re-
sources of the combination and by its
means of acquiring control of the stock
and interest in the corporation there
after operated without competition.
Many kinds of unfair trade methods
have been resorted to it is said, fav-
| or able one being to cause a corpora
tiOn secretly centralized tc adyortiSo