The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-28

Carolina and South Carolina nled q
petition before tho United States court
above stated and asked permission OF
that court to appear and ME briot
by way Of objection to the plan Of re-
iean Tobssso by the Amer
was granted by tho court. and this
should silence all cr!ticisms to our
course.
Az to Expenses
Fifth. You next ask the following
question: Who is paying tho expenses
OF their venture and why? II you
mean to insinuate by this question
thu. any person. corporation or pri-
vate interest is paying. directly or
Indirectly. any expenses of the At
torneys-General. then SO far as I am
SO far as the Attorneys General Of
N>rth Carolina and South Carolina are
concerned. this lnslnuation Is not only
unworthy OF great leading daily
this editorial. but Is without any
foundation in fact, whatever. AS FAR
as my expenses are concerned, con-
suited With the Governor of this State
ana with many other citizens of this
state. for whose opinions I have the
highest regard, and told them that
thought that this was q case in which
! shouid use enough Of the contingent
Iund OF this ONCE to pay my actual
expenses to New York to look into
tnis matter. stating at the time that
u there was any reason why should
not do this. then my interest in the
such that I would pay the expenses
out OF my own pocket. All OF these
gentlemen whom consulted expressed
the opinion that would be justified
IN paying the expenses out of nv con-
| tingent fund. have not as yet drawn
on the contingent fund for these ex-
Lenses, anu II you or any other tax
payer can point out to me any reason
why | should not do So. then / will
pay the expenses out of my pocket
sixth You next ask what special
eien,s DO they represent and what for.
and also, In the same connection. you
! ask. what particular African Is en-
| sconced in this particular woodpile?
IN reply, l do not represent any spe-
ga clients and do not believe that
either the Attorney General Of North
| Carolina ar South Carolina represents
any special clients. represent and
oeneve they represent, alone what we
eeMeve TO he the hest interests of the
toiiins masses OF the three states. who
are engaged in the cultivation of to-
bacco: and as for the reference to the
negro In the woodpile. this carries with
as IT Is contemplate. and one which
no fair minded man should be willing
to make, and which no reputable ne VS.
paper should print.
! Prepared Petition.
seventh. You next ask. what assist
ance. II any. they have had In the
preparation of the petition they have
submitted 40 the court? And. IL they
! mad any assistance In this way who
rendered It. and why. and what for?
| In reply. when we reached New York
we succeeded in getting hold OF printed
copies OF the plan Of reorganization
Company. After carefully going over
and studying this plan. we consultej
! with cert~tn independent tobacco man.
ufacturers. who were there present in
/ Our
| and we got information from them and
| all other sources available 20 us as to
the true meaning and probable effect
upon the tobacco growers OF the plan
American Tobacco Company, and We,
| the Attorneys-GenGral of the States of
Virginia. North Carolina and South
Carolina went oarefully over the whole
matter and discussed It, made full
notes, and agreed upon our objections,
| or petition. as you cali II. and after
| this was done II was agreed that the
! Hon. T. w. Beckett. ATTORNEY General
throw the petition in form, which he
, did. and after having been thrown in
! form, was adopted and signed by all
| of US. and acting upon the leave given
! by the court. was filed. L copy OF which
/ presume Is in your possession. This
! paper represents the work Of all three
I OF us. and it was inspired by us alone,
| and this is a full and complete answ CT
| to the suggestions and covert insinua-
! lions contained In this last question.
Honestly believing that the protec-
| ton of the rights OF the tobacco grow
, ers of the State OF Virginia demands
at my hands as full and thorough rep
resentation OF their interests before
the court l am able to give. shall,
unless prevented by unforeseen causes,
go to New York and be present at the
hearing on the 30th instant, and do
whatever Is in my power to secure for
the tobacco growers In this State the
full benefit of the decision already rem
dered in the suit of the United States
against the American Tobacco Com
pany and which demands that compe-
tition in fact. and not In name. shall
be restored in the tobacco trade so far
as 1t Is In the power OF the law to
| restore It, Yours truly,
SAMUEL. w. WILLIAMS.
Attorney-General of Virginia