Evening star., 1938-08-28
Reveals President Likely to
Speak on His Behalf at
Bridge Site.
ANNOUNCEMENT HAILED
BY TOBACCO FARMERS
Growers Also Cheered by Promise
of Justice Department to
Probe Price Fixing.
BY JAMES r. CHINN,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

Roosevelts invasion of Maryland in
behalf OF the candidacy of Represent
ative David J. Lewis may" occur
Sunday, September 4, it was disclosed
tonight by his favorite for the Demo-
cratic Senatorial nomination in a
political rally here.
Mr.. Lewis was not at all definite
about the Presidents program but
said if the Chief Executive comes into
Maryland he probably would inspect
the proposed site of the long advoca ted
bridge across the Potomac River con-
Meeting Mor9antown. Md. with Dahl
gren, Va, the site of the United States
Naval Proving Grounds.
Speaking to crowd of Charles
County tobacco growers and their
wives in the town hall, Mr.. Lewis said: =:
Il sent telegram to President
Roosevelt last night inviting him to
come to Charles County to inspect the
proposed bridge site across the Potomac c
TO the old mother State OF Virginia
L am not able to declare with anv
flnality that he will make such
visit. but l think it highly probable +"
Farmers Applaud Announcement,
Representative Lewis did not dis
close the source OF the informa ton on
which he based his prediction Associ-
ates who accompanied him. however.
said that indirect word had been
received late today from the President
al Hyde Park indicating that he would
visit Southern Maryland on Septem-
Der T.
The tobacco farmers of Charles
County applauded Mr. Lewis an
nounce vigorously. He smiled broadly
in response
Little Davy" Lewis speech here
was made under far different cor
cumstances than the one he made
earlier in the afternoon at Mutual in
the heart OF Calvert County.
He was received enthusiastically, and
spoke was plastered with banners ad-
voca ting the nomination OF Lewis
for-Senator"
At the sight Of these placards Mr.
Lewis 'let himself loose" and departed
radically from a prepared speech his
office earlier in the day had sent to
newspaper Offices in Washington and
Baltimore
Reveals Tobacco Probe Planned.
First OF all. Representative Lewis
revealed the Department of Justice
had agreed to recommendation he
made several days ago for an investi-
cation to determine whether three big
American tobacco compa nies have en-
tered into conspiracy to fix the price
of tobacco to the producer in violation
Of the Sherman antitrust laws.
That announcement provoked a
prolonged cheer from the tobacco
growers
He read letter from Thurman
Arnold, Assistant Attorney General in
charge of the antitrust division,
stating:
You state that there is widespread
complaint among tobacco growers in
Maryland that the purchasers who bid
for the Maryland tobacco crop have
combined to reduce their bids with
the purpose and effect of depressing
prices paid to producers below those
which would be established in a truly
competitive market.
Your complaint presents a matter
which appears to warrant an imme-
diate investigation by this department
to determine whether or not there has
been a violation of the antitrust
laws. We shall look into this matter
Immediately and take such steps as
the facts appear to justify"
Raps Tydings' Tobacco Stand.
Representative Lewis then said:
"Millard Tydings, on the tobacco
question. has done nothing but de-
liver interesting sermons on the tax
stamp on cigarette packages. He
passed the Tydings Price Fixing Bill.
This is the greatest boon received bv
the Big Three Che largest tobacco
manufacturers of the tobacco indus
try in all their years of operation. Be-
fore this bill they had to conspire
among themselves to fix prices. Now
they can do it with the blessing of
the law passed by your Senator from
Maryland"
Next New Dealer Lewis paid a glow
ing tribute to Justice Black of the
supreme Court. praising his work
accomplished in the short time he has
been on the bench.
state Senator Lansdale G. Sasscer.
one OF the Democratic candidates for
the Democratic gubernatorial NOM
iiietioh. preceded Mr.. Lewis and ap-
pealed to the voters of Charles County
(see LEWIS, Page A-8)