The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-06-05
brief SCRAPS
OF HISTORY.
A Little Light on Tobacco
Trust Methods.
Would Seld Out RCgueS who
Would Falsely Pose as
Independent Buyers.

poot a. -Nst ChNN III busNlS
facturels lyoLGi.t about conditions un-
der when lie g:1wels of tobacco had
to sell their crops al, - below cos,'
for years. II some grower Ia. - in
dependent and having more mean.
than his fellows refused to sell mis-
tobacco in a certain market, Trust
agents were on hand to tell him he
was doing right, that they admired his
spirit, exc. They'd tell such man TO
send his tobacco TO such and such
market. Many farmers, taking the adj
their tobacco to distant market,
where they were sure to get (they
were todd much more for it, only 10
find the same Trust buyers and condi-
tions there.and disguised over being
duped-annd bled for freight, examin
ing and warehouse charges, would sell
their tobacco lower than the price they
refused at home.
Some years ago certain Cincinnati
manufacturers of popular brand of
tobacco had built up large business
tons of that State. The Trust coveted
their trade-and got it. How? BY Civ
ing twice the quantity to the dealers
for the price charged by the Cincin-
natians. For fear that wouldn't do the
work they offered premiums in addi-
ton.
A North Carolina concern some
years ago built up a big trade in the
South because it made brand of
smoking tobacco that had great meri,.
The Trust pul special drummers on
the road in the ,erri,ory of this firm,
and its customers were offered three
cases of equal. weight AT tie same
pri,e Iney ,.., paying for one sc Of
the North Ccolina goods. 1.-Two o.
those case We - b. SID .tad &C.,
given av 10 c'.."e III .l..'-,I.c g..
the T!Gs, g,OGs. Ia, T.u.. W. a,
further, it "ttr;w H. books 'of cigd-
rette pap, Win edcn package.
Jobbe5 ana manufacturers (no mat
ter in what section of the country they
were located) that had built up big
trade through legitimate goods and en-
ergy, were gone AFTER" and hard.
While prices were being slaughtered
by the Trust in the sections where
these iobbers and manufacturers had
trade, it advanced prices on thedeal-
ers and consumers in the sections
where it was the whole thing, so
you see it didn't lose much by the
"slashing" that was so ruinous 20 lis
competitors.
All this time the rerailers were hav-
ing it easy. If the Trust gave them
TWO or three times as much for the
money as some one else, twas ST.
much in their favor. If the Trust put
up the prices on retailers after ii
killed compe ,i,ion. the consumer, not
the retailer, paid the advances.
But the retailers were 10 get
theirs" They got, and they've getting
taste of Trust methods in common
with grower jobber and manufacturer.
A little corporation was organized
in New York in 1901 for the purpose of
starting a chaiI of retail stores in tha'
city. 1t had $4,000 capital.
The Trust saw and thought the
move good. 1t took" over that $4,000
corporation, and to-day the United
Cigar Stores Company" has capital
of 100000, and the chain of stores
reaches all over the United States.
The annual business of this retail
branch of the Tobacco Trust is $780,
100000. No retailer in any city can
compete with its store or stores in his
city, for its goods are made by the
company that not only buys leaf to-
bacco cheaper than any other, but ac-
tually monopolizes licorice, paste, tim
foil, paper and cloth bags, etc, etc. No
individual retailer can furnish store
SO cheaply, for no one but the Trust
buys everything necessary TO that end
in wholesale way.
The retailers of this country are on
a par with choppers" and bumpers
in the matter of short-signtedness and
gullibility. The lard conditions they're
struggling under the result OF their
own gullibility or selfishness.
Had large majority of the grow
ers, manufacturers, dealers and re-
tailers of this country beer
alive TO their own best in
terests and the interests OF
their fellow tobacco men. the grab
all" policy of the Trust would never
have found root, much less flourish
ed.
There has been a way, all the time
these pirate-like actions Of the TrusI
have played havoc by which injury
could have been averted and the Trusi
made to pay rair,,but no man has seen
the way, or If he. saw he had not the
courage to point it.
We fear that one OF such perceptio1