The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-21
TOBACCO TRADE
ISSUES WARNING
Says Prohibition Campaign Will
Be Followed by Fight
on Tobacco.
BILL OFFERED IN LOUISIANA
Planters and Dealers Cautioned
Against ."Unjustihable At
tacks Of Extremists.
BILL OFFERED IN LOUISIANA

believing that prohibitionists are
preparing to launch vigorous cam
raign seeking TO make Illegal the cul-
turc, manufacture ana sale OF tobacco
In the State OF Virginia. members Of
he Richmond Tobacco Trade. a; {:
called meeting yesterday, passed reso-
lutions designed TO warn those en-
gagged in the tobacco business against
the threatened attack" and intended
TO protect tobacco interests against
the unreasoninS and untustinatle at
tacks OF extremists" Ten thousand
copies OF the resolutions III be printed
Jr immediate distribution. and steps
arc being taken 10 inform the tobacco
interests throughout the country OF the
situation.
TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY TOBACCO IRA ADE
Tho resolutions follow:
Whereas II has become evident ;ha,
The forces leading the fight for the
adoption OF Statewide prohibition in
Virginia have besu. fight against
tobacco its use and sale. and where
as tho prohibition leaders indicate that
should prohibition be adopted in Vir-
ginia. that 1t will DO followed by an
% tobacco in Virginia.
Therefore, he II resolved by the
Richmond Tobacco Trade:
IL That all growers OF tobacco and
all dealers ia and manufacturers Of
tobacco are hereby warned Of the
threatened attack upon tobacco, and
that the adoption OF state wide pro-
hibition will DE the beginning OF a
fight against tobacco. and they are
hereby called upon TO take such ac-
tion as VIII protcc; their tobacco In
tcres's against the unrcason!ng ana
untustiGhble attacks OF extremists.
80 That 10000 copies OF the above
resolution duly attested by the prcsi-
dent and secretary be printed for dis
tributlon. and that annexed to the
same should appear a copy OF "A hill
recently offered and defeated in
Louisiana 10 prohibit the salc in
Louisiana OF tobacco. cigarettes or
cigarette papers. as follows:
".I.ouIsinnu.
"'liousc bill 30. 1886, by Mr. Johnson
prohibitionisD.
An act TO prohibi, the sale barter
OF exchange by wholesale or retail Of
tobacco, cigarettes or cigarette papers
AND providing penalties for the vio-
lation thereof
Section !. BE IL enacted by the Cen
cral Assembly Of the State Of Louis-
iana. That the sale. barter or exchange
by Wholesale or retail OF tobacco. Gig
areties or cigarette papers shall he
prohibited in the State Of Louisiana
Section .. Bc IL further enacted. etc
That any person who shall give. pur-
cllasc. offer FOR sale barter or ex-
change tobacco, cigarettes or cigarette
papers in the State of Louisiana shall
be guilty Of misdcmeanor. and on
conviction thereof shall be fined not
exceeding one hundred dollars tsl0O)
mud Imprisoned not exceeding ninety
days or both, at the discretion of the
court.
Section ,. lie it further enacted. etc,
THAT this act shall take enec, from
snd after January !, 1915"
.CTION BASED ON STATEMENTS
IN PHOHIBrrION NEWSPAPER
The action OF the tobacco trade in
passing the resolutions is said to have
ocen prompted largely by statements
appearing recently in q prohibition
newspaper to the effect that as soon
as the Statewide election on prohi-
hition is over the antisaloon workers
vill begin an active campaign to drive
tho tobacco interests from tho State.
In the meeting II was pointed out that
already In several States Of tho Union
temperance and prohibition. orGaniza-
tions are actively engaged in seeking
20 have laws enacted making the man
Gfacturc, sale and use OF tobacco un-
lawful Laws are now effective in sew
cral States forbidding the manufac-
ture and sale of cigarettes, and in
other States prohibition organizations
arc now seeking 10 bring about such
legislation.
Tobacconists believe that TO forbid
the culture of tobacco in Virginia
would be TO prohibit one OF the largest
and most remunerativc crops grown
in the State. and that farmers would
he deprived Of crop which furnishes
them much ''ready money" Much
raIt i,t * In,
bacco manufacturing plants and stor-
nge houses. and to make the manufac-
ture OF the weed illegal would. of
course. paralyze this industry. In
Richmond alone millions of dollars are
invested in tobacco enterprises. this
city being the largest cigarette man
ufacturinE centre in the United States.
y prolific source of revenue would he
closed to the United states govern
ment should the proposed measure be-
come effective.
The plans OF the prohibitionists in
their light against tobacco. If such
plans are being made, have not yet
been made public.