The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-20


the American Tobacco company SUB
mitted by its attorneys to the suil
bench OF the United States circuit
court. Il Is learned why concealmene
was praeticed In stock ownership and
why the trust tried 10 keep secret
the fact that Il had acquired interests
In certain plants.
II Is claimed that In 1903 the Am.
erican Tobacco company found that
a prejudice existed against II and that
II could carry on its business moro
successfully II left In the hands OF
separate organization. This idea led
TO the organization OF the r. ]. Reyn-
olds Tobacco company. Thurman Il
welbern Tobacco company. the John
Bollman company and others.
Growth Of Prejudice.
In the brief II Is stated that con-
sumers had become pretudiced against
trust-made products and that this
prejudice was constantly being famed
by independent manufacturers and
trades unions. Another incident that
was used by It's competitors. the brief
says. arose out Of its relations with
the Tobacco Workers union. Now
the American Tobacco company Is
not antagonistic to labor unions II
employs labor and pays adequate
wages. without requiring them TO
belong to any labor union. but with
out forbidding their Joining any they
please. and without any desire to use
on It's own products the blue label that
indicates that the goods bearing such
label have been made In a manufac-
tory operated on union lines"
President Duke Testlnes.
President Dukes testimony was as
follows on the question OF the label:
Il understand that II was the fear
that they would lose business that
caused the stockholders In some OF
the concerns that were using the
union label on their goods 10 keep
secret the fact that we--the so-called
trust-had acquired majority inter
est in those concerns. | would not
use anybody's marks except my own
on my goods"
Mr.. Duke disclaimed hostility 10
the unions for himself and for the
American Tobacco company. but
maintained that they would not use
the union label. though he admitted
| that some subsidiaries OF the trust
were using the union label.
Globe Tobacco Company.
The Globe Tobacco company. OF De-
/ troit, seemed to be a thorn In the
side OF the trust. and this Is taken
from the brief:
With this hostility on the part OF
the labor unions. some independent
manufacturers, competitors OF the
American Tobacco company. were In
dustrious In their appeals TO public
sentiment and prejudice. The Globe
Tobacco company, OF Detroit, Mich,
caused 10 be issued a circular adver'
Using most OF its brands. beginning
in display type: To Organized La
/ Dor. Greeting-Beware or trusts. why
patronize the tobacco trust? Eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty"
The whole circular referred TO reads
as follows:
The Globe Circular.
why, patronize the tobacco trust?
Eternal vigilance Is the price OF lib
erty' Is II not time the consumers OF
tobacco took some action by refusing
to buy tobacco made by trust? The
tobacco trust Is seeking to control the
whole tobacco industry Of this coun
try. II 1t Is allowed TO do this. who
will be the greatest sufferers? Why
the working men. Trusts are forcing
the working people to lower wages
and idleness. Union men. how Ions
"