The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-20

necessary. From. one point of view the
plug tobacco business ran itself
After the Tobacco trust was dissolv-
ed, the Liggett & Myers and the other
corporations resumed their original
independence. It is true that the own
ership of a majority of the stock of
these various corporations was prac-'
tically in the same hands, and it is
presumed to be true that for this rea-
son there has been understanding as
to what the prices of this product
should be.
The various selling agents and man
ayers of the different corporations
learned that it was expected that they
would demonstrate their capacity to
get large increase in business For
that reason the energy which has been
displayed now for year by the ex-
ecutive officers and the employees of
the different independent plug tobacco
industries Is something the like of
which was not seen while the tobacco
trust was itself in existence. All of
these employees are striving to make
the best showing possible. They are
for that reason competing with them
selves. This competition, however, is
not carried on by cutting prices
Other methods have been adopted. 1t
is observed that there is return to
upon large lines, an ex-
trust was organized. This
competition is aimed at the business
of the independents, and has already
cut heavily into it. They are hav-#
ing difficulty in maintaining success
full competition. But it is not COM
petition instituted by trust, for
there is no trust. 1t is a competition
between Independent corporations that
were formerly of the trust family, the
desire of each plug tobacco manufac-
turer being to make great increase
in business, so that a handsome show
ing would be to the advantage of the
and selling agents.
The Greatest Sale Yet known.
What is true of the tobacco BUSH
ness, now conducted by Independents
who were formerly members of the
tobacco trust family, is also true of
other departments of the plug to-
bacco industry. Never have there
been such hustling and energy to Sc
cure new cigarette business as has
been shown since the tobacco trust
was dissolved. There are three COM
panies which manufacture cigarettes
trust family, but are now independ-
emit. The managers and the sales
agents of these companies are seek
ing new business, not doing it os- |
and yet doing it very eff |
fectively.
The situation can be likened to that
which is common experience of |
hose who control some of the larger |
corporations. The New York |
Central Railway company is the own |
er of the Lake Shore, the Michigan |
Central and practically of the Big
Four. These, however, are indepen-
lent corporations in the eye of the
aw. The employees of each of these
-ailway companies constantly strive |
% get as large an amount of bust |
hess as possible, one company fre-l
Iuently competing with the other or |
even the other two, and this is done
or the purpose of making good rec
,rds in the offices of the New York |
Central.
When the cigarette trust was organ
zed it was reported that the intense |
between the cigarette |
manufacturers entailed very heavy ex- |
0enses. Among them was Autograph |
ng. 1t was asserted, officially, that |
Telegraph advertising had cost the
cigarette companies in one year about |
eight hundred thousand dollars. When |
he merger of the cigarette companies |
vas made, advertising of that kind |
vas no longer necessary. The loss of
his business was for time a serious
natter with some of the photographic |
companies, but the abandonment of |
expensive advertising was great adj |
to the merged cigarette com |
oanies Now it is understood that |
he revival of competition between |
which were formerly |
s causing also a restoration of ex-
,ensive advertising. That, of course, |
s a pleasing incident to some of the |
and printing companies. |
rhe strange feature, however, of this |
is the fact that the public |
which buys tobacco is not benefited |
W it at all.
The Greatest Trust.
The suspicion is changing into be-
ief that ultimately the British-Amer-
can tobacco corporation will become
perhaps the greatest trust in the |
world. The evidences are strong that I
more and more the British company
8 securing ownership in the various
companies which former
v were of the tobacco trust family.
his British-American tobacco trust
3 not obnoxious to the laws of Great
Britain, but is, in fact, fostered by
hem. 1t is frequently said here that
t would be an extraordinary and, of
curse, wholly unsupported effect of
he dissolution of the American To-
acco company if by and by it should
e found that a corporation in Great
Britain was in control of these Amer
can manufactures and interests.
here seems to be no way under our
avs by which such control can be
revented, provided only the Ameri-
an company operates as an indepen-
ent manufacturer of tobacco.
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