The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-05-30

GAGL0Hn* fNSt*N EpF4&& Aa 99& AA
anxs1a Fu ~ citrate ane aeN
mniaatloa grgVb 5gt os taem
s7story Of Fswcas AS.sS.
The American foAsesa ss.@uB0ra obs
we're made the target af the s@cnaa
bSg 'trsast prosecution of recsat
years. The first was the Sfanlar1
OIL Because sae testimony sasen
In the tobacco case Was n0f 50 ex-
fen5iva al that III fhe Standard Jii,
the fNo esses we're before si4e sa.
rreme court f0F consideration at the
same time
The attempt ~ the government 10
dissolve the tobacco corporation as
violating the Sherman antitrust iaw
took shape Ill a@4g I'D thaE YeaF "A
.Betifion was FLED in the Taised
States circuit court az New York.
The government asked taAf the
American Tobacco company. its Of
fcers directors and aGWistea corr
pofasions, he prevented and eaj0ine4
from restraining and nl0nopolizing
commerce in tobacco
TIE restraints and moH0B0lies al.
legea bv the government we're said
10 have been obtained hy aH ngri.
cate system 0g corporate Dr@ant1as
fiou Il began in 1890 when tAe
FIRST American Tobacco e0mpanw was
organized The uew company took
over tae business Of lve IHdepen5-
eni cigarette c0meeFn
.Cz gatazati9n Cf the Trust
In 1855 lne Continental Tobacco
company was Incorporated IS AXE
ever tie plug tooaoeo business O.
tbs American Tobacco company ana
that Of fiYe Independent pigg nam
ufactureFs
ln 1880. tha American Snuff enm-
pauT wag incorporated 10 take Gyer
the snuH business of the American
Tobacco e0mpang Ell fne CoaliM qt.
al Tobacco campauys and 81 two 9TH
As independent manufacturers
&c 1901. tie American Cigar com
pany VAS incorporated tQ take a4er
the business q tbe American Tohac,
10 company aEd other manufacturers
aad sellers 0i elgass. cHcFeats ana
st0gieg
tN Asa% HhfttN FFfAtt Ait1 tNNtssstffMtAt-
ed Tobacco camDamy WIS ine0fuefAt.
"a To take oyer in exchange feY It's
bonds substantially aii OF the stock
0l tAe American Tobacco company
aud tie Continental Tobacco sUn-
panx
In 1905. the ArseslcaH st0gle com.
pang was Incorporated 70 take over
the Efnale bGslneaa al the American
Cigar COMPANY tAe American i0
Daoce company. ard the Continental
Tobacco COMPANY
la IeA4. the American 30barco
company. the Continental ubace0
company, and the Consolidated T0
oace0 company Were merged iuso tae
present American Tobacco company
The Governments Claim
The government claimed ibaf an
these organizations we're created
atH lhe definite purpose to destroy
competition aEd rhai they aecamp
iisnea Enai purpose Each step waa
attacked as past of ala unlawful
llaa, whose Development and prog
ress WAS advanced II was charged
5y dnFeRs, oppression. ana nnfam
methods intended ID 4Flve ons and
keep out competitors and secure
monopoiies
The defendants claimed thas 99ih-
ing vas to ba found ln tae nfsant
zptl0n TX these corporations, Uut tne
orderly. natural aha Legitimate degef
opment al great business They
said lhe acquisitions had been aT9p
GA sad that ag irteai 10 restraint
trade 0r in0Gopvlsze trade aad
prompted the creation ot corpora
lions
In addition, II vas charged .hat
the American Tobacco company ac.
quired control Of the United Cigar
stores company which conducts re-
tail stores in large cities, and fhsfp