The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-10
PETITION RECITEs ORIGINAL MANIPULATIONs.

ing control Of the ordinary agencies,
wholesalers, ard retailers.
Methods Of MOnopolizing.
According TO the petition. the gen
eral plan Of monopolizing the different
branches OF the Industry has been 20
acquire through one Of the coufederated
companies the business OF successful
opponents taking from owners and man
ayers agreement not thereafter 70 en-
gage in the business; TO drive out
other opponents by destructive comp~-
tition; to deter any who might wish 20
engage in the trade and finally 10 gain
control OF the agencies through which
tobacco products are distributed A ia
vOrable trade method was 10 cause q
corporation secretly controlled. TO adver-
tise itself as wholly independent and
free from association with trusts and
combinations, 10 offer its goods below
cost, TO initiate competing brands and
in these ways to use the same for de-
strucuon OF real independents
Efforts Of the Americans 10 enter the
foreign field in 1901 resulted in the or
ganization in Great Britain Of the I'm
perial Tobacco Company and 4 fierce
trade warfare. This was ended a year
later by the organization Of the British
American Company, one-thfrd OF the
stock being held by the Imperial. and
two-thirds by the American company.
The Imperial agreed 10 refrain from do
ing business, except TO purchase leaf in
the United States and the American
trust TO cOnfne it's operations 10 the
United States. their dependencies and
Cuba The British-American Company
was given absolute control OF tie trade
and commerce in other countries
This division has been strictly OBJ
served says the petition, and these.
with their allies and associates. have
all been operated in concert and har-
mony."
Control of Retail Field.
In 1901 the trust spread out in the re-
tail field by secretly acquiring control
OF the United Cigar Stores Company.
In summing up the accomplishment
OF the trust, the petition says:
They (defendantSf have already
driven out most opponents. and have OBJ
tained such power in combination that
the few established competitors must
conduct their business In the we'll
grounded fear OF swift destruction
whenever defendants may decide 10
eliminate them: and the mere withhold
ing or withdrawing OF their numerous
brands from any tobacco dealer-jobber
or retailer-would probably render his
success impossible. The opportunities
for any new competitors are constantly
being closed by defendants; the agencies
for distribution are rapidly coming
under their undisputed control"
In its prayer for relief the Govern
ment asks the court to adjudge illegal
the holding Of stock by any OF the de-
fendant corporations IN another defen-
dant corporation under the circum-
stances shown in the petition; TO enjoin
the holding company from exercising
any right or control over any such
shares Of stock; also that the Imperial
and the British-American Tobacco COM
panies be enjoined from engaging in
interstate or foreign commerce within
the jurisdiction OF the United States.
Defendants Named in Bill.
The defendants named in the bill. IN
addition to those already mentioned. in
elude:
Thomas F. Ryan. the Dukes. Loril-
lard. and P. A B. Wfdener, and tha
Continued on Page Eleven)