The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-21
TOBACCO TRADE IS
DRAWN INTO FIGHT
BY RESOLUTIONS
Alarmists Say Fanatics WIZ
Break Up Industry After
Driving Out Liquor Business

That feeling Of perturbation exists
In the tobacco industry. or that GER
tain members Of the tobacco trade
desire that 1t be believed that such
feeling exists, was indicated yesterday
when, at a meeting of the Richmond
Tobacco Trade, resolutions were
adopted, despite strong opposition,
asking that tobacco growers in Nir-
ginia oppose with their votes and in
fuence Statewide prohibition at the
election of September 22
The resolutions were offered at
special meeting OF the Richmond To-
bacco Trade, held at noon at the Office
OF the organization. There was pres
ent but little more than one-third OF
the mem bership of the body, and in
view OF the fact that an opposition
developed threatening the success OF
the resolutions, 1t was stated last
night that they can hardly be said
to be representative OF the views Of
the trade as a body.
News that the meeting was held did
not leak out until late yesterday af-
ternoon. Members of the trade were
reticent last night and declined to
go into discussion of the resolutions
offered and finally adopted after lively
debate.
1t has been learned however. that
but about one-third Of the member
ship of the trade attended the meet
tng--that third including nearly all
the members who are more active in
its work and who attend a majority
OF the meetings. Most OF these
members had come prepared to take
action on matter having bearing on
the Statewide prohibition campaign.
When the resolutions were offered
by a representative OF one OF the
larger and more influential of the
local tobacco buying and manufacture
ing companies another member.
representing another large concern.
declared, II is said. that II prohibi-
ton wins In Virginia and the liquor
industry is destroyed. certain fanatics
will next turn their attention to the
driving out OF business OF the tobacco
industry. Others who favored the
adoption of the resolutions are SAID
10 have argued in similar vein
Those who opposed the adoption or
the resolutions expressed the beiief
that no such movement would be IN
augurated as harm in tobacco could
not be proven to the citizenship o.
the state. Those who opposed held
that liquor and tobacco could not ha
placed in the same category. and rid
icuied the idea that such step as the
alarmists in the tobacco industry pre-
dicted would not be taken.
The debate. 1t is understood became
warm and at one time persons oppos-
ing the passage OF the resolutions vera
pointedly asked II they were for States
wide prohibition.
Despite the fact that the resolutions
were adopted II is said that the feel
ing exists that the ten thousand copies
shat Il Is proposed In the body OF tho
resolutions. shall he gent In grnWsrs OK
I - III M a ry1a S
circulated as anticipated by those who
fathered the paper.
1t was suggested yesterday afternoon
that President John NJ Taylor. of the
Richmond Tobacco trade. may decline
TO sign the resolutions as president,
and that before he Will permit his
name TO appear on the resolutions II is
possible he will resign. This belief
is strong among members OF the trade
who opposed the resolutions, 1t 10 said
that President Taylor opposed the reso-
buttons.
Among those who led in the fight
for the resolutions adoption is w. T.
Reed president of the chamber OF
commerce. A member OF the tobacco
firm OF T. II. Darlington. a former
president of the chamber also opposed.
President Taylor. OF the trade. last
night declined to state the substance
of the resolutions declaring that while
he knew In general way what II IL.
he felt he should make no statement
for publication until the resolutions
themselves were ready TO be- issued.
He refused to be drawn into statement
as to his position when 1t comes to
signing the resolutions
Mr., Darlington. who Is president OF
the Southern Tobacco association.
could rot be communicated with last
night He has been feeling I'll for sew.
eral days, and II was stated at his
homo that he did not attend yester-
days meeting. and retired early last
night
Mr. Reed. 1t was stated at his home
last night, retired early. and he could
not be reached