The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-11

NtktESflNHt ana Ills 4tSStSktuI Hive
Revealed the Nickesiness and Un~
fair Methods OF the Trust Which
i liza Practically Wiped Out CoTnpe-
titor in the Sale OF Its Goods and in
the Purchase OF LSaf.
BY THOMAS J. PENCE.
Washington, d. c.. IAN. 5.-Tfe De-
partrnent of Justice believes that its
case against the Tobacco Trust, which
has Just been argued before the Su-
preIne Court of the United States, is
the most perfect OF the many actions
instituted during the Roosevelt admin
jstration for the curbinG Of monopoly,
in other words, it IS the opinion OF
the Attorney General and his assoc
ciates tina if they fail to obtain Il
victory in the Tohacc Trust ease,
thcre is no hope Of breaking up any
of the great Industrial m~onOpolies. But
the expects to win, and
it is general opinion in Congress that
a Very strong case has been present
ed TO the highest Of al! our courts in
the Republic.
While the Attorney-General and his
able assistant, Mr.. M~cReynoids, made
strong arguments, the case OF the
government is probably best SCI forth
In the brief of these two attorneys. In
concluding his presentation OF the
governments cause, Acknowledgement
Wickersham said:
."The defendants. In violation Of law.
for many years and with great Stcce~S.
have persisted i'll destroying confpctl-
ton, OtiStr,iCting commerce and ac-
curing m~onopoIicS. They have be-
come Immensely po" e ful and only
vigorous measures can remove Tie
mischief brought abOut by them. We
submit thai the situation inlperatiNciy
demands Il decree which will utterly
destroy the unlawful arrangements
nov existing and prevent any similar
ones in the future
The governments brief. which IS a
two hundred and fifty page document,
went into the details of the a!nalga-
NATION OF the many tobacco concerns
that the American Tobacco
Company. lettering TO the manage
m2nt OF the corporation, the hF1cT as
sorted:
The numerous controlled compa-
MES regularly report to the central
office OF the American Com
rany and all are operated IN harmony
The necessary leaf for defendants
is purchased under a common over
sight by agents in all important dis
tri<ts directly from the grower at CEN
tral markets, then shipped TO ware
houses and factories as a part of com
mcrce. Their purchases OF domestic
Leaf in 1905 (sincc in~crcased), in
Guiding 5~0,000.000 by the Imeprial
Company. amounted to 468, 100000
pounds-about twenty per cent, OF
the cigar type and more than two
thirds OF all othere-ot some more
than eighty per cent.
.Derendants have acquired most OF
TIA" leading brands OF manufactured
tobacco and arc in position to con
troll the Of distribution. Their
products ara advertised and solo
through an army OF representative
operating throughout the United
States, whose detailed reports keep
the central office advised Of conGi-
tons in every locality. Immense
sums arc spent in advertising and dis
tributing free eoods-Si0, GEO, 0oo by
tn American Tobacco Company alone
in 1906. Through covenants many
owners and managers Of successful
concerns have been retired from the
Trade and possible competition from
th,1o destroyed.
"31rormous profits have accrued
ana defendants James z. Duke ana
:SSouiatcs have been the leaders in
irin4jnH about the present status.
- ne have pcrSiStently
exercised duross. have practfsed wick
Cd and unfair methods, and used
their Great power IN oppressive ways
ans they have been aCtuateu by 4
fixed 10 destroy competition
ana obtain n~,Onopnlie-. Competitors
have gradually disappeared. and tls
combination. HOW strongly cntrcnch-
III. tndu1y restricts the business oi
iitc-c in :tc trade and prevents otilcrs
Irnia entering.
'"TlIc petition sets out the facts with
circnnatantiality ana alleges an ex-
pending accomplished purpose to re
strain ana acquire nonop-