The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-28
JUDGE WILLIAMS
EXPLAINS HOW He
COT into THE CASE
Attorney-General Delivers a
Hot Reply to Editorial
in Newspaper
lNSlNUATlONS ARE
STRONGLY RESENTED
Acted in Tobacco Suit Only
After Conferring With
the Governor--No
Outside influences

One of the most indignant men In
the State OF Virginia yesterday was
Attorney-GeneraI s. W. Williams.
Acting, rs he declared. for what he
had conceived the best interests OF the
tobacco growers Of Virginia he had.
together with the attorneys-general of
the States of North Carolina and South
Carolina, filed a protest against the
proposed plan of reorganization of the
American Tobacco Company. on yes
terday morning the Richmond Times
Dispatch editoriallg referred to his
action in a manner that Judge VIII
Hams denounces-
Last night Judge Williams addressed
the following communication to the
editors of the Times Dispatch:
Judge Williams Letter.
In your issue of to-day there appears
and editorial under the heading. The
Three Attorneys General" in which,
amongst otrer things. you state as fol-
lows:
How did the attorneys-general OF
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina get into the American To-
bacco case? Wha, authority have
they from their several States to be-
come parties 10 this affair? Who sent
them to New York To appear before
tne lhtAFG states 1lFtHAA 1oiib ia
the business with which that tribunal
has been entrusted by the Supreme
Court at Washington? What an-
thority have they for their most I'M
usual and surprising course? Who is
paying tho expenses OF their venture
and why? What special clients. II
any. do they represent and what for !:
What particular African Ia enscnnced
In this particular woodptle2 What
assistance. If any. have they had In
the preparation of the petition they
have submitted TO the COURT And II
they had any assistance In this WAY.
who rendered 1t and why and what
for?''
am not unmindfal OF the dis
courtesy and evident injusticc on your
mart of making my conduct In this
matter the subject of editorial COM
>ment, without first applying to me for
the facts in the care. and my seii-
respect and due regard for the dignity
OF the office which I have the honor
70 hold might very we'll justify me IN
declining to NOTICE your editorial fur
Their than to enter my denial OF all on
tts uncallcd for and uncounded In
situations and imputations OF i'm
proper conduct on my part.
But for the benefit OF the tobacco
growers Of Virginia, in whose interest
my action was primarily taken, WIN
waive all personal considerations anu
will answer fully all Of your comments
on the conduct Of myself and the
other attorneys general. with whom
am associated in this matter.
First: You ask how did the attor-
neys-xenerat Of Virginia. North Caro-
lima and South Carolina get into the
tobacco case? This inquiry might De
answered In a general way. that we
were actuated by the same motives
which prompted the governors In tneT
recent conference, In appointing
committee to appear before the gu
preme Court OF the United states 10
assert the rights OF the Stare IN re-
enrd TO the power TO regulate intra-
state commerce, which has been de-
MED by the judge of q United States
d,strict court. and which strikes AZ
the very root and foundation or the
r1VfIfs or yhH StAtps to crteY tefsaa4
solf- government The attorneys gem
eral concluded that the more tnan
SOC. 900 tobacco growers In the three
statae. who produce over ze2.0Oe.ooe
pounds Of leaf tobacco. had a right
10 be heard and 10 be represented IN
= case which virtually affected their
interest. and which case has for It's
object tho destruction OF a monopoy
in the tobacco trade which had Tor
years so grievously oppressed tne TO-
bacco growers of the three States
Ana speaking OF myseff personally
1 rot into the case In this way. On
The ninth OF October. 1911. received
the following letter from the Hon.
=. w. Beckett. Encouragement OF
North Carolina:
Raleigh. Oct. ., 1911.
~F9on. samuel w. W1liiama. Attorney
General OF Virginia, Richmond. Va:
.Dear Sir.-To my mind 1t 10 per-
fectly plain that the plan OF reor-
ranixation submitted by the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company will afford no
-~m.sF.a eve ,ren who rrow tobacco