New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-20
TALK Of TOBACCO FIGHT
Southern Attorneys General In
dicate Protest Will Be Made.
TO HOLD MEETING TO-DAY
Mr.. McReynolds Declares Report
That He and Mr.. Wickersham
Have Disagreed Is Silly.

A protest against the reorganization plan
OF me American Tobacco Company by the
ATTORNEYS general Of North and South
Carolina seemed practically assured last
risht after day OF investigation by At
tornev General T. w. Beckett Of North
Carolina and Attorney General J. 7. LYON
% South Carolina. who arrived here yes
terdav
Although no definite plans have been
made because the two men wanted to con
Yer FIRST with Samuel W. Williams Attor-
new General Of Virginia. whose arrival in
the CITY has been DELAYED until this morn
inr. the manner in which the two state
officials discussed the situation left little
doubt that thew were not favorahly i'm
pressed with the proposed plan for the
dis,ntes~ation OF the Tobacco Trust.
There can be no real competition with
out antaEonistic interests" said Mr.. Bick-
EFT last night. The principal grievance.
the one most deeply felt in our states, is
that the tobacco grower gets for his to-
bacoo only what the trust chooses 10
give him. and the reorganization plan gives
TO relief 70 the grower The American To-
bacco Company has fixed prices arbitrarily
for many years. and our state law was
inadequate 20 furnish a remedy. We could
Gust the Tobacco Trust from North Caro-
Ina. but we could not prevent It's agents
from purchasing our tobacco at their own
prces, because there was nobody TO COM
pete with them.
North Carolina. Virginia and South
Carolina produce practically all the bright
tobacco in this country. which is used for
cigarettes. cigar wrappers and light colored
smoking tobacco The American Tobacco
COMPANY has controlled 10 per cent at least
Of this trade. and what our growers could
sell 10 independents was but drop in the
bucket"
The reason why the three attorneys gen
era decided 10 look into the matter OF
the reorganization plan. Mr.. Beckett said
was because the tobacco growers had no
organization and had no legal represent
alive 10 take care OF their interests lie
added that whatever decision might he
arrived AT after the conference to-day with
Mr.. Williams action would he taken this
week. as both he and Mr.. Lyon we're anx-
lous 10 return 10 their work at home.
2. ?. Richardson. head Of Z. P
richardson. IT.. & Co.. OF Raleigh, y. c.,
arrived here yesterday to confer with
Charles r. Carruth. his counsel, on an
amendment 20 the protest against the plan
which will be submitted TO the court be
fore October q.
The Independent Retail Tohacconists
obtained yesterday the permission Of the
United States Circuit Court 70 present
written objections 10 the plan and 10 be
heard by counsel AZ the hearing on Octo-
Ter 9o
The question of the governments possible
attitude toward the plan was still the most
discussed topic IN the financial district.
report coming from Washington brought
the rurlor OF a sagreement on the ques-
ZION between Attorney General Wicker
,bsr and James G. McReynoids, the gov
e-rrnent's special counsel in the tobacco
case. The only thing Mr. McReynolds
,rouId sav. concerning the report was that
Il was silly"
A meeting OF delegates representing as
sociatiors composed Of men engaged I'm
every roseible branch Of the tobacco In
d,strv was held yesterday IN the rooms
NJ the New York cigar Leaf Tobacco
BOARD NJ Trade vigorous protests against
the reorganization plan Of the American
Tobacco Company were voiced and It was
unanimously decided that all the orGaniza-
lions represented al the meeting should
combine for harmonious action IN their
fght against the plan.
There were delegates from many states.
and kilograms indorsinz their efforts were
received from ali parts Of the country.
Aaron p. Hess. president Of the National
Cigar Leaf Tobacco Association. said after
The conference that the men assembled had
represented q total capital Of S25o.coo 100 in
ar industry that employed a million per
sons He added.
The policy Of the conference was not
me OF destruction but rather one Of con
srruction. What We desire is the adoption
n plan Of disintegration that viii in
sure 70 the present and future generation
ssir and honest competition in the tobacco
rrsde
Although the conference has been at
.en5ed nv representatives from I'll over the
xount-v. the opinion was unanimous that
.be proposed plan was wholly undesirable
The Imperial Tobacco Company, Limited,
NJ Great Britain. fled q petition TN the
United States Circuit court asking for
xecree under the finding Of the Supreme
Court which would cancel its covenants
with the American Tobacco Company.