The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-10-10
NOTE COOK SKETCHES

During the past two weeks rumors
have been abroad, and mention thereof
made in the daily press, that the
Unsted Retail Stores Corporation, of
which Mr.. George ]. Whelan is the
central figure, was about to acquire
large holdings in the American Tobac-
co Co., and that the pooling of the in
terests of these great corporations
would be effected by the incorporation
of holding company to be known as
the American Products Company. The
plan seemed so gigantic, and the Unit
ed Stores Co. was so recently organ
lied, that the matter was not given
the credence that it now seems that
the rumors deserved. While some of
the statements which were printed
may have been previous and not al
together correct, the substance was
based on facts. The leading tobacco
publications in the country last week
gave the matter prominent position
and credit the news as being substan-
italy true. The details are not as yet
available but enough seems to be known
about the deal to enable the public to
form fairly correct estimate of the
scope of the new corporation. The
Tobacco Leaf in leader states that it
| has approached one of the principals of
the pool, Mr.. Whelan, (Sept. 25) and
received from him an authorized state
ment. The gist of this statement is
found in the following: Many of the
reports printed in the daily newspapers
have been somewhat exaggerated. The
only fact is that the United Retail
Stores Corporation has secured large
interest in the American Tobacco Com
pany. Nothing more can be said def
nitely at this time On the basis of
this information this much is at least
reliable. that a new combination has
been formed, and that this combina-
tion brings together the largest and
most powerful tobacco interests, not
only in this country, but in the world,
and that it will be in fair position to
dominate the tobacco trade, making
America the master of the interna-
tional tobacco market, and this both as
tee supply and demand.
-.
The American Products Company,
as the new corporation is expected to
be called, will represent merger of
many of the interests Of James B.
Duke, George j. Whelan and Percival
Hill, whose personal holdings, as well
as the vast fortunes they represent,
lfor years have. stamped them as DOM
inant men of tobacco affairs, says the
United States Tobacco Journal Sept.
27). The combination, if its pans out,
will consist of constellation of three
stars of the first magnitude in the to-
bacco world = Mr.. Duke, the great
| financial genius, Mr.. Whelan, the un-
disputed master of the merchandising
of tobacco products, and Mr.. Hill (pres-
ident of the American Tobacco Co..,
the Napoleon of organization and ex-
ecutive ability. When the news of the
formation of the new holding company
reached the financial circles Of New
York, the securities of the American
Tobacco Co. and of the United Retail
Stores advanced in price. Time has
healed old sores, and there is no quar-
rel in the tobacco industry today, 8
says Mr.. Whelan. Whether this COM
bination will effect the tobacco situa-
| tion in Wisconsin remains to be seen.
The manufacturers of cigars using the
Wisconsin leaf may not be effected,
| but time will tell.
| r."
| The United States Shipping Board
announces the establishment of rate
of So 25 per hundred pounds on tobacco,
from North Atlantic ports to Havre,
Bordeaux, ST. Nazaire and Dunkirk.
The same rate applies to Antwerp.
| No buying of the 1919 crop of any
consequence has been repor ted thus far
from any of the cigar leaf producing
| sections. Present indications are that
this attitude toward the new crop will
be adhered to by the buyers until the
crop is down and in the bundles. Water
i Street packers are unanimous in their
| declaration that the policy, followed out
consistently by the buyers this year IN
regard to the lifting of the 1919 tobac-
co, is certain to be beneficial to the en-
tire trade. The tobacco will be bought
upon its individual merits and the un-
satisfactory and usually costly element
/ of speculation will, be avoided. There
will be more satisfactory relation
ship established between packers and
growers and the manifold difficulties
arising from misunderstanding atten-
/ dant upon early contracting will also
be obviated. Moreover, the majority
y 1 L ~ rl-~N