United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-03-04


rm streets.
To some people, the above might in
dicate that the city of Denver is to be
built up wonderfully by the advent of
the great American Tobacco Company
and one of its reputed subsidiary organ
izations. the United Cigar Stores Com
pany.
To the observer in the least interested
in the economic welfare of this city and
its citizens no such roseate vision can
abide The American Tobacco Company
operates a closed shop''-absolutely
closed TO all who are in any manner
affiliated with the labor movement. The
United Cigar Stores Company is one of
its distributing agencies
When these seven proposed stores are
in operation in Denver they will be pre-
pared to furnish large proportion of
the total amount of cigars and tobaccos
used in the city
But at what a cost,
AS the cigar trade OF these seven
stores increases. the consumption of
| Denver-made, Made in Colorado and
union made cigars will decrease.
As this trade decreases such firms as
the Soils Cigar Company, the Cuban CT
gar Company. Fritz Thies, the Cordove
Company and the Cooperative Cigar
Company, firms that have many thou
sands of dollars invested in Denver: con-
Germs that have at all times, and for
years, been in the forefront of every
movement that sought to build up the
city and state; business firms that have
had much to do in making Made in
Colorado popular, employers who have
payrolls amounting to approximately
$4,000 month the year round-as the
Denver-made trade decreases these and
other local firms will gradually have to
secure new fields for their output, put
out an inferior grade of goods to meet
the competition of the trust factories,
reduce their working force, cut wages. or
go out of business.
Not a particularly pleasing prospect,
is it, The Denver booster" in the ranks
Of the business men-who tell us Made
in Colorado is their slogan-that can
get any real satisfaction out of such
prospect is indeed an optimist
The union cigarmakers of the city of
Denver have been among the leaders in
pushing and advocating the sale of Den
ver-made products. The organization
has worked in hearty accord with the
employers along this line. The union
was instituted in August. 1854 and has
been continuously and persistently work
ing for a greater and better Denver since
| Iata
bership of more than 400 over 60 per
cent. of whom are married. have families
and own homes in the city. OF the total
membership. 60 per cent has lived in
Denver for ten years or more. These
people are skilled craftsmen. and their
total earnings will amount to more than
100000 per year And this money is
expended here-goes to assist in paying
the taxes that make the Denver Beau
tiful." to the various retail merchants
and craftsmen in other lines. Would you
consider it n good business proposition
to practically drive these 100 workmen
and their families out OF the city, that
We might have seven artistically deco
rated stores with seven. or even four
teen statesmen and one manager, to take
their places?
Quite apart from the trades union
standpoint one might further inquire
How about the retail dealers. large and
small. who have their money invested
in local establishments. many of whom
have been residents OF Denver for yearsg
VIII they be able to meet the competi-
tion of the trust. with its array of gilt
tering premiums so extensively adver-
tised and which draws many thought
less customers to their establishments.
One OF these retail dealers still carries
on his business in his old location near
the corner of Seventeenth and Curtis
streets. He has been there for years.
BY strict attention to business. integrity
and fairness he has built up standing
in the community and a good trade. At
all times his preference has been for
the Denver-made products. Some time
ago he was approached by a party said
to be representing the Cigar Stores Com
pany and proposition made to buy his
business and assume his lease. And
what was his best offer? The Cigar
Stores Compeny wanted to take his stock
at invoice, giving nothing In return for
the business he had so carefully built up.
or his good win. Result: The hrst truat
store in the city is now doing business
on the corner Immediately adjoining this
retail dealers place OF business. and II
is reported that the trust has taken a