The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-28
TOBACCO TRUST HIT
HARD BY BRADLEY
Kentucky Senator Pleads
That All Taxes Be Taken
From Product.

Senator Bradley, OF Kentucky, speak
ing IN the Senate today. spoke out in
favor Of the removal of all taxes and
restrictions on the sale Of tobacco in
its natural state. He has offered an
amendment that provides fer this
The Kentuckian denounced the night
riders of his and other states How
ever. ne said there was a cause for
the conduct of these violators Of IGw.
He found this cause in the grin the
American Tobacco Company has OBJ
tanned on the BUSINESS. and he de-
scribed in some detail how that trust
had swallowed its competitors and built
itself up.
out of these causes" he said. with
out Justification. but not wholly without
reason, grew the terrible conditions that
afflicted Kentucky and Term essee. The
profitable market that heretofore pre-
vailed for tobacco was destroyed by the
combine. and an arbitrary price that
was mere pittance was fixed at home,
while. by. conspiracy and fraud, the
markets abroad were closed.
No Living Returns.
The farmer who had invested his all
in the production of tobacco found that
he could no longer obtain remunerat tive
returns, that there was no market save
that cornered by the American Tobacco
Company and its allies. the Imperial
Tobacco Company and its other COM
panies. and the purchasers for foreign
countries.
Instead of receiving fair returns, he
was forced at one time to sell the best
grade OF tobacco for $3.50 per hundred
which cost him s6 per hundred TO raise
and cure.
The producers. in order to protect
themselves organized into various so
cleueS, numbering n Kentucky 6O.O00
mo afaz-r<e
that by pooling their tobacco through
mutual aid, curtailing production, and
holding IL until unavoidable and per-
sistent demand forced good prices, and
the trust would be compelled to pur-
chase it at its value. in order 70 supply
its customers. The result of this ac-
tion vindicated their good judgment. as
to bacco has been sold IN large quanti-
ties al from s. 10 $50 per 100.
When this pool was formed con
siderable number Of farmers refused to
enter it, but held their tobacco inde-
pendenty, by reason OF which they
were enabled to sell IL TO the Trust at
fair prices as II became absolutely nee
essary and because by purchasing the
same the Trust hoped TO dissatisfy
those engaged IN the p0Ol by inducing
them to believe that they too could OBJ
tain the same benefits by breaking
away, and thus in the end the organ
izatiOn would be destroyed and the pro-
ducer again placed at its mercy In
order to prevent sales and additional
production by Independent growers,
some of those who felt themselves ag-
grieved. took the law into their own
hands"
Defends Amendment
OF the effect of his amendment Sena-
tor Bradley said:
"By the amendment 1 offer, in plain
terms, the sale of unstemmed tobacco
in the natural leaf may be made not
only by the farmer, but by ali others
without the payment OF any tax or
charge whatsoever We are told in
the same breath by those who oppose
this law that il viii not benefit the
farmer because of his failure to find
purchasers and that great frauds will
be committed and the revenue largely
decreased. How car Ii be possible If no
considerable quantities can be sold, that
the revenue Will be so greatly deereas-
ed? Such a law will give the farmer
market with many customers and re-
lieve him from the commercial boa con-
life
The fight that is being waged against
this measurs by the cigarmakers is
wholly without reason, because 90 out
of 100 of those persons who prefer
natural leaf are not able to indulge IN
even the cheapest cigars and will not
purchase them even il denied the right
TO purchase and smoke the common
leaf
Il have voted in every instance with
those of you who have asked protection
for your people. VIII you not now vote
with me to protect mine? WIN you not
DO unto others as you would have them
do unto your