, 1934-11-27
WASHINGTON
BY George Durno

called Big -FOUR cigarette manu-
facturers.
II everything works out as the
union StrategistS hope, cigarette
prices 10 consumer win be reduced,
tobacco workers will yet more pay
and better hours. tobacco growers
win sell more Of their crop and tbs
independent manufacturers win be
enabled TO put out . truly low-cost
cigarette.
Bear In mind that the American
OF Labor convention at
San Francisco formally charged It's
leaders To set the scalp OF 3. ClEy
williams, chairman OF the new NRA
administrative board. and at the
same time force adoption OF a ciga-
rette code. williams. president of
the Reynolds Tobacco Company, was
cigarette code authority before he
stepped IN to help run NRA and the
unions blame him for blocking an
agreement on wages and hours.
Code Here's the plot. For the
past two months the Tobacco Work
ers' union, which embraces manu-
facture OF cigarettes, smoking and
chewing tobacco and snuff. and the
Cigar Makers Union have been
.functioning together as The To-
bacco Council. Ira N. Ornburn.
head Of the Cigar Makers. and q
shrewd. aggressive organizer. Is the
genius.
Quietly but effectively Ornburn
has been forming n rough working
alliance with jobbers, retailers. in
dependents and farmers-none Of
whom have overmuch love for the
Big -Four.
When Congress convenes he hopes
to have an impressive lobby at work
calling for reduction Of the present
cigarette tax-together With a diff
ferential in favor Of manufacturers
putting out packs for 10 cents or
less.
Ornburn's argument Ks hydra head
ed. He Is pointing out 70 the farmer
that the present tax lis So per 1000
but that the farmer gets only so
cents for the tobacco producing q So
federal levy. Lower taxes would
force a decrease In retail price, which
bring about increased consumption
and thus present the grower with a
bigger market.
II a further concession we're made
for ultra-cheap cigarettes indepcn-
dents would be able % give the Big
-Four some vigorous competition.
Jobbers and retailers naturally would
benefit by greater volume OF bust
ness.
AS for the workers, Ornburn has
figures 70 show that when you and
/ put down IS cents for two packs OF
the popular brands, only ? per cent
OF That quarter represents wages
paid 10 labor. The bulk Of II Is
profits. dividends and advertising.
If the labor leaders lines I'D the
united front he expects he figures
the Big -Four win be more amenable
70 reason about the long-delayed
picture Of the Republic
can Party's woes is incomplete I'M
less the ominous storm clouds of
1886 are painted in with a bold
When the q. O. r.. gets its next
crack at a comeback two wears
hence ~ members or the u. 5.
Senate will be up for reelection.
Nineteen are Democrats and Is are
Republicans.
And why shouldn't the Roosevelt
boys be clipper? OF the IS Demo-
Gratis IL hail from the so-calIed
solid South from whence no Re-
publican is ever apt to come to the
senate; 8 are from states which nov
nave : Democratic Senator's and a
Governor. and 2 have
the benefit OF Democratic Cover
nors during the next two years
OF the Is Republicans who come
up W the presidential year. Borah
Of Idaho, Carey Of Wyoming. Dick
Inson OF Iowa, and Metcalfe of
Hnooe Island must work in the in
TERM against a Democratic Sena-
.orial colleague and a Democratic
governor. Norris OF Nebraska would
oe III the same boat except that the
New Deal long ago embraced him
and vice versa.
Barbour Of New Jersey. Gamer
u Kansas, and Reyes OF New Hamp-
snire saw their states elect a Demo-
cratic Senator IN one Of the last
Two elections. Oregon and Maine
wnere McNary and White must face
me voters now have Democratic
Governors. Minnesota has gone
uefinitely Farmer-Labor In the face
Of Schall Only Couzens OF Michi-
gan, ana Hastings OF Delaware win
have the benefit OF a statewide Re-
publican organization In power.
IN brief, the Republicans viii be
physically unable To unset the Demo
cratic Senatorial majority until
1888, when q Democrats (onIv 4 of
whom are from the Solid South
must risk their togas as against 5
Republicans
Laggards- This vale OF tears ~
ours must contain nc least a few
Iolks who don't need financial 49,
sistance and who won't even lift a
nand 70 set some money thai 4
theirs for the asking.
hEC figures show between $50
Ovo'O0 and $50. 100000 Is available
over the country to liuuidate ac-
counts IN closed banks but the DE-
Positors haven't shown up "a cet
y ~ Detroit alone there "A ar
9vO-1u9 going begging while cleve-
iand Is holding 100000.
over 100000 World war veterans
never gone to the trouble al
applying Tor an adjusted service
certillcate-oonus to you-pavabIe
N ls4o unless Congress gets big
hearted &C the coming session and
makes It immediate. After Jan. ?