United labor bulletin., 1911-09-07
THE TOBACCO TRUST.
The Only Solution to Demand the Union
Label

(By A McAndrew, President Tobacco
Workers International Union.)
The United States supreme court re-
Gently handed down a decision in the
dissolution of the American Tobacco
Trust How far the officers of this gil
gantic corporation will carry out the Or
ders of this decision remains to be seen.
If union men and the general tobacco
consuming public had consistently done
their duty towards humanity by refusing
to purchase any tobaccos, or cigarettes
manufactured by this gigantic octopus,
there would not have been any neces-
sity of a decision of this character.
This corporation has been incorpo-
rated in New Jersey for S475,0OOOOO, and
in the past year paid 50 per cent. divi-
dends on that enormous amount of cap
ital Does the tobacco consuming pub
lie know under what conditions those
tobaccos are manufactured? In the
southern factories, principally through
the Carolinas, Maryland and Virginia
they operate some of the largest under
their control. OF those employed, about
so per cent. are children working long
hours and for almost starvation wages,
including the men where the maximum
wage is about $500 per week Also dur
ing the hot summer months the win
dows are closed to keep the tobacco from
drying, not any consideration for poor
unfortunates who are compelled to be
in their employ.
This company will not under any cir
cumstances employ members of the To-
bacco Workers international union or
members of any organization if known
to hold a union card. Who is RESPONSE
BILE for the conditions of which | have
quoted above? The union man, or card
man rather, who will openly boast of his
membership as union man and then
purchase non-union tobaccos, for every
five-cent package of tobacco which does
not bear the label of the Tobacco Work
ers' International union goes to increase
the profits of this gigantic corporation
and the employment of more children
at starvation wages.
Has the union man ever taken into
consideration that he himself is an en-
ployer of labor through his purchasing
power? Believing that the union mine,
mill or factory is conducive for the best
interests of mankind through organiza.
ton and higher wages and shorter hours
for those employed then why not try
and help their brother organizations by
being consistent and insisting on the
label on every article they purchase. Re
member your obligation, Il shall never
knowingly wrong member or see one
wronged if in my power to prevent ii.
Wei, # .-ou belIet ~ your obligation,
remember that every necessity OF life
you purchase that does not bear the
union label, wrongs some member of an
other organization. See that your dealer
handles union-labeled tobaccos; insist
upon it and use no other, for you will
then know that you are not becoming a
partner to some institution that is de-
irving profits through drudgery and deg
radiation of their unfortunate employees,
and at the risk of public help.
To organized labor and our friends,
we appeal to you if you want to help the
Tobacco Workers in their fight against
the gigantic monopoly, the Tobacco
Trust look for the union label on all
tobaccos. snuff and cigarettes you pur-
chase. and remember the emblem of la
Dor is Union Label, Justice, Fraternity
and Humanity"