The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-06
STRUGGLE BEGINS
IN SUPREME COURT
Opening Arguments in Pro-
gress in Suit for Dissolution
of Tobacco Trust
GREAT INTEREST HANG
ON COURTS DECISION
Government Aims Body Blow
at Great Corporation He: d. /
ed by the Dukes Hi
tofy-ot the case

WAo1lNGl oN, IL. t., Jan o.--b0s
fore the Supreme Court of the United
States to-day began the final chapter
in the famous suit by the government
TO dissolve the American Tobacco
Company, as an Illegal trust IAt0
this afternoon arguments were begun
by an opening statement by Delaney
Nicoll, attorney for tho tobacco CONS
pany. Probably three days will be
occupied In tho argument OF the case
by both sides.
Three attorneys appeared for the
defendant mpanies-Deiancey Eic-
oil. for the trust" as a whole; Sol
NJ. Stroock. for the United Cigar
Stores Company, and William b.
Hornblower. for The British and I'm
periai Tobacco Companies. For the
government Special Assistant A,tor-
ney- General j. c. McReynolds will
make the main argument, with At
torney-General Wickersham actively
assisting him.
Basing its petition on the Sherman
antitrust law. the government de-
mands dissolution Of the trust. The
lower court sustained the government
In part. but dismissed its bill against
the United Cigar Stores aud the Brff-
ish and Imperial Tobacco Companies,
The setting for this legal Waters
loo was the small. prim chamber Of
the court, and the audience of nine
Justices of the highest court and q
closely packed crowd of lawyers bus~
mess men and visitors
AS was the cast last year, when
the same case was argued the SUI
preme Court determined to permit
attorneys three whole days in which
to present their arguments Usually
70 "a hno rt1
case to at least two hours--divided
equally between opposing counseis--
but In view of the magnitude OF tho
questions involved and the intricaciea
OF the litigation, 1t was thought best
to grant almost unlimited time for
legal statements.
The case which La now before the
Supreme Court had its inception in
bill Of complaint filed on July 10.
1907, before the Circuit. Court for
the Southern District Of New York.
1t was charged that the American
Tobacco Company had gradually ac-
CURED monopoly OF the tobacco
business in the United States by a
series Of bold buccaneering exploits
had stified competition and dafied in
dependent dealers through a network
OF subsidiary companies operating ~
independent" dealers.
was an iesV, the governments
CLAIMS that the idea OF controlling
Manufacturing companies cmfwy NV
tne tobacco INDUSTRY nrst originated
Win the heads OF several big manu-
occurring companles-James b. and
-, HaIn n. luke, Inomas r. Ryan
| I'erre Losliiard' X. l.. Patterson, p
a. u. "ioener. a--d otners-and the
American Tobacco Company was
shorty thersaItsr orsanized, the stock
peihs uWfaed between the magnateAs
Al tnrousn this period OF growth
ahisir competitive methods were al-s
| ieseo- Inc counts which the govern
.nont makes lhciaoe the marketing OF
trust proaucts under the guisc OF
inospenoent goods; imitation OF
s,AnuaF9 independent brands: manip-
uiAlioh OF markets. TO suit their o.
purposes pcrcnasins OF trade MARKS
ana cneapenang OF brands. and other
lorhs or cheaunx the public. It wa1l
aIso onarseo thas' the combine orr
canned corporations Tor the manu~s
Iac.ore or TN ron. noxes. paper. hco>
rice tufther 10 tishten- Its grip On
'ns .opaeco business. companies op-s
eIatins IN prHclcaiiy every held o4
the business are parties TO the suit.
| ,t,s' year Was consumed IN thos
.ahIhs OF testimony IN the case. and
- was noe until november Z, ls0a
ma .he S.Icoi. court rendered ~
er "a ~ -