The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Indignation is Aroused Among Farmers By Article in
 Magazine
CONGRESSMAN DECLARES
 DISTRICT IS MAL|GNEO
Decided Denial Is Made to Exaggerated Stories of the Tobacco War In Which Picture of Conditions
 Is Said to Be OverdraWn.
BY j. R. HoRNADY.

BY J. R. HORNADY. Louisville, Ky, September s.-(Special) Great indignation has ben created throughout the dark tobacco district of Kentucky and Tennessee by a recent mag azine article in which the war wased in this territory against the tobacco trust is reviewed at length and which is any thing but creditable to the men who have been carrying on the fight. Because of this war" the article said, linen sit by night with rifles in their hands to guard their crops and barns. Because of 1t cities have been called to arms to re- sist threatened attack and destruction of property. Because of it every night in the nineteen counties in Kentucky and Ten nessee men sleep with bolts drawn, win dows barred and weapons within easy reach It has created unrest, suspicion and terror. In a word, it has driven peace from the land"
 This terrific arraignment has brought | forth a reply from Congressman A. c. Stanley of the Second Kentucky district, | in the course of which he says: 'I am unwilling to have a few instances, which | l deeply deplore and which have occurred | in few counties in Western Kentucky exaggerated into state of seethng war; 1 1 am unwilling to nave the coumon- wealth and district which has honored me- portrayed as a scene of anarchy and violence, and 1t is my intention to eX- pose every falsehood that is uttered, and if 1t be possible, to stamp with infamy all her defamers.'
 No Collision.
 The article in question attempted to show that there was no collision be- tween the tobacco companies, and. in this connecticut it said: "A searching inquiry by the federal government has failed to show that they are now or ever have been working in collusion."
 Replying to this, MT. Stanley said: ''This question of collision between the American and other tobacco companies, including the Regies, was thoroughly in- vestigated by d body so able and so dis tinguished and in a place so public, that 1t is utterly impossible for the author of the article not to have known it. Be- ginning on February 4, and holding it's sessions from time to time to February 25, 190i the committee on ways and means held public and open hearings and inves- tigated this very question. Collision be- tween the American Tobacco company, the Imperial Tobacco company and the Regies was proved to the minutest detail before that committee by such distin- guished and unmpeachable witnesses as Charles H. Fort, president of the Plant of.ati ifr,+ AaEl burn of Tennessee. for ten years a repre- sentative in Congress, and R. E. Cooper, for years a tobacco broker in Hopkins vile, This statement was incorporated in a resolution which was more than once read on the floors of the federal Congress, stating that the tobacco plant CT has no one else to sell his crop to except the combined agents of the trust; that there is no longer any competition fin buying; that auction rooms are dis mantled and that where prosperity and activity once reigned there is now deso- lation and emptiness; that a few buyers for corporations, all in combinations, alone remained to fix the price"
 An Inspired Article.
 Congressman Stanley charges that tho article was inspired" and declares that copies of it have been "sown like win ter's withered leaves" all over the Blue
 
 hoped to deter or discourage law-abiding citizens from entering any protective as- sociation by direful tales of riot and war in the Black Patch
 The article in question was published in the Saturday Evening Post and was illustrated with pictures of matches. bot tles of oil and sticks of dynamite. alleged to have been found In bundles of grain, where it had been placed with a view to blowing up the thrashing machines of non association members, and recited numerous instances of the destruction of tobacco beds of men not affiliated with the organization of tobacco growers.
 The publication has intensified the feel ino against the tobacco trust and already there is a movement on in Kentucky to r,,n the trust out of this state The pur- nose is. if possible, to capture the next iaoislat1Ire and then enact such laws as will make the existence of the combine ,ponossible It is argued that the result of such action would be to give new life to the tobacco trade, as it would result in the re-establishment of many smalI tobacco concerns which had been crowded to the wall by the trust. and would restore competition in the matter of huying. This movement has had it's incention in the light tobacco district of inc state. but it Is spreading rapidly in the dark tobacco district and it is nredicted that party lines will be for gotten before the election Is held and, in these districts, the question propound ed to legislative candidates will be: Are vou for or against the trust?"