New-York tribune., 1910-11-27

Moses c. Wetmore, at one time head OF
the biggest tobacco manufactures in .he
world, was for many years as well promi-
nent figure in Democratic national politics
He was one of the most intimate friends
and active supporters OF William Jennings
Bryan. and a large contributor to his CAM
paigns. In the campaign OF 1893 he took
charge of the finances at the Democratic
national headquarters, in Chicago.
Mr.. Wetmore was born sixty-fve years
ago, the son of poor parents, and after a
meagre education began work as tobacco
stripper in a small cigar factory in St
Louis He was a hard worker and soon
became an expert cigar maker. He was
little more than a boy when he was as
signed TO a subordinate place in the man
agement of the business, and as soon as
he had mastered the details of the office
was put on the road as a salesman
The little concern had been growing
meanwhile. Young Wetmore received a
small interest in the business. and with
his savings bought more. At length, about
twenty-five years ago. the concern was
reorganized as the Liggett & Myers To-
bacco Company, a big factory was built
in the outskirts of St Louis, and Moses G.
Wetmore. the prime mover in this latest
expansion and now ranked as a millionaire,
became its president.
When the influence of trusts first began
to be felt and generally recognized in the
West the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Conn
pany was at the height of its prosperity
The net earnings were over S,OolOD a
year. and the business was continually
extending. Then the Tobacco Trust was
formed by the big Eastern manufacturers
The trust soon realized that without the
Lfggett & Myers and Drummond Tobacco
companies, both of ST. Lous, it could not
control either the output or the market.
So it's agents were set to work to capture
the two big Western outsiders.
Wetmore from the first declared he had
no sympathy with the object or methods
of the trust. and declared his independence.
Harrison l. DrummOnd, president of the
Drummond Company. also declared his in
tention of staying out, and agreed to stand
by Wetmore and fight til trust bitter
commercial warfare began Wetmore was
triumphant and at the end of the year
announced the largest dividend in the his
tory of his company.
After steadfastly keeping the agreement
for two years, Wetmores ally, Drummond,
entered the trust, with the Office of vice
president.
Wetmore called his directors together an6
made an appeal TO them to stand by the1l
guns. The directors agreed TO support the
president in continuing the fight for lnde
pendent existence It was then war TO the
knife One by one all it's minor allies fell
and the Liggett & Myers Company stooc
alone opposed 10 the trust. Finally, in 1899
Mr.. Wetmore was forced out of the com
panv. but with a few associates he organ
lied an independent company and con
tinued the fight. He was at length forced
to retire altogether, but not until he hat
spent $5.GOO,O0o in fighting the combination
Although all his life active in state poh
tics if was not till 1896 that ne became
national figure. In that year he hnance'
the boom of Richard Parks Bland for Presl
dent on a free silver platform When ina
roo,-A failed Mr.. Wetmore gave his supper
+o p2rvan It was not till Mr.. Wetmore wa
,ere,a4ed m give I'D Bland hopeless can
,-,g +t,a+ tho nomination of Bryan was as
s,7red The campaign that followed wa
nra7rad in Mr. WetmoTes apartments
tho Planters Hotel Several times during
that summer the activities of the eomrnltte'
would have ceased had it not been 10
timely checks signed by Mr. Wetrhofe- y
the time Of his death he was chairman
Tho financial committee Of the nauona
Democratic organization
Mr. Wetmore was recognized as one O
+T,a wealthiest and most public spirited GU
zens of St. Louis. He contributed 10 many
n,bIic and seni-public enterprises lie wa!
a large owner of real estate. lie heFeI
married