New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-08
TOBACCO MEN WATCHFUL
Independents Insist Upon Unre-
StriCted Competition.
ASSOCIATION READY TO ACT
If Reorganization Plan Is Unsat-
isfactory Body May Appeal to
u. s. Supreme Court.

The INDEPENDENT tobacco interests of the
country are preparing 10 meet any
emergency that the Ming Of the reorganiza-
ton plan Of the American Tobacco Com
pany may demand, as viewed from the
necessity to secure conditions OF unre-
stricted competition The position Of the
National Cigar Leaf Tobacco Association
was made clear Yesterday by director OF
the organization, on behalf Of A. B. Hers
Of Lancaster Penn, the president Of the
| association.
III the American Tobacco Company" me
/ director said, does not file plan that will
comply strictly with the mandate Of the
! Supreme Court and restore competition, in
! the sense Of the highest court. We may be
| able 20 show them a plan that will achieve
/ this
! NO plan that contemplates a continue
/ ton OF the present control OF the industry
/ by a hall dozen individuals can be accepted
by us as a dissolution Of the monopoly
/ found Illegal by the Supreme Court II the
plan is satisfactory in these respects We
won't say a word We don't want the Sc
curity holders of the American Tobacco
4 Company 20 be punished by the dimnuton
Of the value Of their holdings. and We be-
lieve that a plan can be devised by which
I the decree Of the Supreme Court can be
obeyed 10 the letter. and yet will not en-
danger private or public interests"
What the plan would be, the spokesman
I for Mr. Hess refused 20 discuss al the time.
/ lie said that when the first rumors about
/ the contemplated plan Of the American To-
bacco Company started. many OF the indie
pendents realized that they should come
forward and combine in an effort to guard
their own interests, which, it seemed TO
them. could be irreparabIy hurt. 1t was
decided to lay the matter before the Ma
tional Cigar Leaf Tobacco Association. with
a request for immediate action.
The association has been in existence
twelve years. and has gained a powerful
membership in all lhe great tobacco cities
Of the country. The local representation in
each city rests with the Cigar Leaf To-
bacco Board Of Trade, and it was this or
can.zation in New York that took the
initiative.
The outcome OF the movement was a
meeting of tine board of directors, al which
# was decided 10 retain LOUIS D. Bran
deis. Of Boston. and Felix H. Levy, former
Assistant Attorney General. TO act as the
{ legal representatives Of the association. Mr.
Brandeis came 10 New York to confer with
the members Of the association, and through
he returned to Boston on Friday ne is ex-
pected 10 come to New York again as soon
. as the plan OF the American Tobacco Com
pany is filed
Members Of the association were EN-
phatic yesterday in their assurances that
they were not swayed by vindictiveness
and that al they wanted was 10 gain actu-
, ally the rights that have been pronounced
theirs by the decision Of the Supreme
Court They said that they did not ASK
for ANYTHING but a restoration Of compet-
= tive conditions. and that It was simply
their desire tc present 10 Attorney General
yiczersham the views of the independents
81 ms TO whether or not the plan about to be
submitted 10 the court would really restora
: such conditions from the point OF view oil
the trade.
The alliance Of these large Independent
interests has brought into the situation a
fourth possibility Of an appeal TO the Su'
preme Court from any decision that the
lower court might make as TO the plan Il
the government. the American To
bacco Company OF l.. p. Richardson, IT.,
4 Co. as parties TO the suit, should oe Un-
willing to appeal the case, these indepen-
ants may petition the Supreme Court for
"a hearing and ask for review OF the
case.