AMERICAN TOBACCO CO, AND IMPERIAL TOBACCO CO. 15 
Whereas the membership of said tobacco boards of trade is composed of 
tobacco companies, auction warehousemen, tobacco dealers, and rehandlers 
(pinhookers) who fought the organization of our association and who have mali- 
ciously fought our association since its organization, we therfore are not surprised 
at the forwarding of said resolutions or the contents of said resolutions: There- 
ore, be it 
Resolved, That we who have suffered and been oppressed respectfully appeal 
to your honorable body to use all the power at your command to correct the 
present unfair trade practices of the two above-mentioned tobacco companies 
and see that they do not discriminate against our association, as we are confident 
that our association offers the only means whereby we can secure a profit from 
our tobacco and educate our children. . 
That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Federal Trade Commission 
and also be given to the press of our county and State. 
J. W. Smita, Chairman. 
Rupert M. Rogers, Secretary. 
In the above statements reference is made to resolutions winged 
by boards of trade or similar organizations indorsing the acts of the 
tobacco companies in dealing with the tobacco growers’ associations. 
These resolutions ave of a general character and come from organiza- 
tions which naturally favor the auction jr of selling. The fol- 
lowing from the board of trade at Danville, Va., is typical: 
Whereas it seems fitting and desirable that the Tobacco Board of Trade of 
Danville, Va., should express itself in regard to the methods and business policies 
of the Imperial Tobacco Co. of Great Britain and Ireland and the American 
Tobacco Co.: Therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the tobacco board of trade takes pleasure in stating that the 
local plants of these two great corporations are a most valuable asset to this 
community and region, and accordingly we would deplore anything that would 
be done that would lessen their business activities or the magnitude of their 
operations. Since the establishment of these two companies they have been 
active and steady supporters of the leaf-tobacco market, and there has always 
been active competition between these two companies as well as other buyers 
of tobacco on auction sales, They are among the most important local industries 
in this city, and their business practices have been characterized by a spirit of 
liberality and fair dealing, and we take pleasure in attesting to their fairness and 
horang and to their active support of the Danville leaf tobacco market: Be it 
urther 
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be mailed to the Federal Trade Com- 
mission in Washington, D. C., and a copy to the Imperial Tobacco and American 
Tobacco Cos. 
Jorn L. TUCKER, 
W. T. HuGHES, 
M. O. NELSON, 
Committee. 
Similar resolutions were received from the Kingston Tobacco 
Board of Trade, Kingston, N. C.; Rocky Mount Clearing House 
Association, Rocky Mount, N. C.; Durham Board of Trade, Durham, 
N. C.; Dillon, Tobacco Board of Trade, Dillon, S. C.; and the Dublin 
and Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, of Dublin, Ga. 
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION 
There are two distinct charges included in the resolution, (1) the 
present degree of concentration and relation in the ownership and 
control of the American Tobacco Co. and the Imperial Tobacco Co. 
(Ltd.), and (2) the methods employed by these comin pie in opposing 
the cooperative marketing associations. - In making the inquiry, 
porfioius attention was given to the charges that these companies, 
y boycotting and various other means, unlawfully interfered with 
the operations of the growers’ organizations.