The sun., 1916-11-01
TOBACCO MEN LAUGH
AT DANIELS DENIAL
They Expose Weak Attempt to
Excuse Sales Of Tons Of
Plug as Junk.
TARS ARE GREAT USERS
Official Of Metropolitan Com
pany Says There Is Not
Slightest Decrease.

The statement issued Monday night by
the Navy Department at the instigation
Of Secretary Daniels. attempting to JUS
tify his sale as junk of t~hirty-one tons
OF the finest plug tobacco on the mar
ket. by assertions that plug tobacco
was not being used in the navy was
denied yesterday by an OFFICIAL or the
Metropolitan Tobacco Company.
This official told THE l. that thou
sands Of pounds of plug tobacco have
been purchased and sent to the various
ships and navy yards since J~osephus
Daniels came into office. He said there
has not been the slightest decrease. APP
parent to the tobacco trade. In the az
lection Of the bluejackets for their
"wad" of navy plug.
One ship Takes 500 Pounds.
The statement issued by Secretary
Daniels's department. attempting to as
sumo amusement In THE SUNS expose OF
this waste, has been. labelled as forced
and ungenuine by the fact that in the
New York Navy Yard alone 500 pounds
of cut plug were ordered by a ship sta
toned there during the month or Sep
TENDER. This shipment was made by
the Metropolitan Tobacco Company.
The navy, according to the Metro
politan company, buys great quantities
Of plug tobacco. as well as the granu-
lated and cube cut. It's purchasing
methods vary. Once or twice each
year 1t buys large quantities Of plug cut.
which Is sent to the paymasters of the
various yards.
Most OF the plug tobacco. however.
is used on board ship. The leaf con-
stunned by the crews Is ordered direct
from the ship. The order goes through
the hands of the paymastcr assigned
to each vessel and the material Is sent
direct to him.
Its Use Il General.
Proof OF the everlasting use OF plug
cut by the navy was deity pointed out
Yesterday by the fact that the use q:
cigarettes Is prohibited on board ship,
| The men therefore have TO rely on their
plug cut. Il Is also against the regula-
tons OF the navy to permit smoking In
any OF the navy yards. Hundreds of
sailors and marines are assigned to the
yards for duty when in port. and they
are almost without exception inve;erate
consumers of tobacco.
When ashore and thus occupied IN
the yards they are compelled to as
suage their craving for nicotine by
chewing plug cut. Therefore. the to-
uttCD men Stlu stSl'Iuds' lIt I'puAdAit ny
o. plug cut has not and probably never
will wane in the affections OF the en-
listed men.
There has been a certain dlssatisfac-
ton among the sailors. II was learned
yesterday. because the Department per-
sistently purchased a form OF plug to-
bacco which the men. generally speak
ing, don't like. The purchasing OF n
large amount of plug tobacco, u~nlabelled
had caused great quantities TO &c &c
waste.
The reason for this is simple. II Is
said. and Is principally a matter of habit
The sailors are afflicted with the sam,
advertising weaknesses rs the multi
tude. They want most what they So,
advertised. This does not reflect either
on the brand purchased by the navy ol
the manner in which 1t Is offered TO th'
men. II "A sailor halls from the Yves
he wants to chew or smoke the branC
which he bought in his own home town
\ plain piece OF plug tobacco with M
name or familiar trade mark on 1t, N
matter how good 1t may be. does no
satisfy him. He want the kind he usc'
to get at home.