The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-25
FIGHT ON TRUST"
. FAR FROM ENDED
independent Tobacco Dealers
Will Wage Right Vigo-
rous Campaign.
CONGRESS TO BE SCENE
-tt@2SNill Be Bombarded With
Resolutions From the State
Legislatures.
CONGRESS TO BE SCENE

New York, December 24.-Reprc-
sentativcs in Congress are going to
know a whole lot more about the to-
bacco business than they know now
II the plans of tho Independent to-
bacco men to set aside the dissolu-
ton plan OF the American Tobacco
Company. formerly known as the TO
bacco trust" do not miscarry. Not
content with having Senator Cummins,
of Iowa. introduce bill providing the
independents with the right TO appeal
from the dissolution plan approved by
the United States Circuit Court tho in
dependent interests will lombard tho
national Legislature with resolutions
adopted by many OF the State Legis-
.aturcs.
This latest plan OF the Independent
dealers became known yesterday, when
It was learned that soon after tho
State Legislature meets in January,
resolutions denouncing the reo-gan-
ization OF tho big tobacco combiaa-
ton Will be offered in both houses. AZ
the Same time the independent retail
dealers. who are up In arms against
the United Cigar Stores Company. will
Introduce bill having for Its object
the abolition of the coupon In this
State. similar bill was introduced
at the last session. but was allowed
to die In committee. Now that the
small dealers are cwnke fully to tho
menace OF the coupon. they will Inc
UP solidly behind the measure and use
every effort to insure Its passage. This
plan Will be followed in a great many
States.
To lombard Congress- with Lrttcrs
experimenting this State and ma
lonal leGislt!ve campaign tho inde-
pendent interests plan to hav. the
men and women in thoir employ write
letters to their Representatives nj
washington urging them to grant the
desired relief. AS there are shout g.
ooo'ooo employees in all branches OF the
Independent tobacco household IL looks
as though the national REPRESENTATIVES,
We're going TO get few letters In tho
next two months. Felix II. Lew,
Counsel for the independent intercsts.
has received promises Of support from
some OF the ablest and most Influential,
men In Congress-. and believes that
tho Cummins bill stands an excellent
chance of passing.
while all the independent dealers
aenounco the reorganization plan rs q
farce. only a few OF them are willing
this respect is the best evidence thar
they take little stock in the general
helief that the tobacco trust has
ended Its career. Worry few OF the In
dependent retailers can be Induced to
talk, an attitude which Is easily IN
derstood when II is realized that they
have to buy the major portion of their
cigarettes from the metropolitan To-
bacco Company long recognized as ono
of the most powerful arms OF tho
formidable combination.
Dealers stiIi ut Trusts Mercy.
Tho general public hasn't awakened
as yet to the injustice OF this plan"
snid one Of the independents yesterday.
when 1t realizes that the independon
business men In tho trade nre as much
at the mercy cf the big combination
as they were before there will be a
demand for an Investigation. Alter
all tho money that has been spent by
Continued on Third page,l