Ness Motley Documents
Summary of Annual Meeting of Stockholders Held at Flemington, New Jersey on Wednesday, April 1, 1964
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- Notes
Produced by: ATC
Affected Defendants: ATC, TII
- Type
- Report
- Characteristic
- Under Protective Order
- Named Person
- Walker, R.
- Hanlon, J.
- Hager, V.
- Janson, A.
- Bowden, A.
- Heimann, R.
- Waterhouse, J.
- Young, W.
- Cunningham, J.
- Findlay, A.
- Hager, J.
- Mooney, E.
- Sparrow, J.
- Strickland, S.
- Turner, G.
- Wilkinson, G.
- Hetsko, C.
- Batzer, R.
- Staub, W.
- Lybrand
- Limited, Gallaher
- Wix, J.
- Market, European Common
- Medical, Nebraska State
- Weybrew, B.
- Gifford, F.
- Team, New York Giant's Football
- Baxalys, O.
- Bowden, A.
- Cunningham, J.
- Findlay, A.
- Hager, J.
- Hager, V.
- Hanmer, H.
- Heimann, R.
- Janson, A.
- Mooney, E.
- Sparrow, J.
- Strickland, S.
- Turner, G.
- Walker, R.
- Waterhouse, J.
- Wilkinson, G.
- Young, W.
- Gilbert, L.
- Gilbert, J.
- Henry, J.
- Treasury, United States
- Ancier, S.
- Applebaum, P.
- Astbury, J.
- Brosnahan, T.
- Maguire, E.
- Moskowitz, S.
- Phillips, S.
- Springle, E.
- Stanton, A.
- Summers, E.
- Szczech, J.
- Valentine, A.
- Willson, F.
- Wolfe, P.
- General, Surgeon
- Abingdon
- Hanlon, J.
- Original File
- TobDocs1
- Named Organization
- Ross Bros. & Montgomery
- AMA
- Public Health Service Committee
- Journal
- Fortune Magazine
- Life Magazine
- Surgeon General's Committee
- The Tobacco Institute
- FTC
- Pennsylvania Journal
- AMA
- Case
- FL-AG
- Site
- Edward Moss request to produce
Document Images
PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
From the Nebraska State Medical
Journal:
"... Lot us not tell then they are going
to get lung cancer on the basis of ciga.
retie smoking. Such a course might save
us very red faces in the near future."
From an article in Fortune Magazine on
"The Science of Statistics":
"Basic physiological investigations must
now take over. The only way to prove
that smoking causes lung cancer is to per-
form scientific experiments that would
prove the existence of a biological
mechanism."
From a Life Magazine article on the Sur-
geon General's Report:
"The report and its conclusions are al-
ready being challenged by scientists as
eminent as any on the Surgeon Gen-
eral's Committee. These critics.., have
pointed out that the incriminating sta-
tistics have never been backed up by
conclusive laboratory proof-lung cancer
has never been induced in any experi-
mental animal by the inhalation of ciga-
ret smoke alone."
Before we leave this subject, let us look
briefly at the other side of the coin. There
must be very good reason.~-reasons deep-
rooted in human needs and wants-why
65,000,000 Americans, representing more
than half our adult population, smoke
cigarettes regularly. Let me illustrate
this with a little news item which ap-
peared in the press last December. This
item was headlined "Navy's No-Smoking
Test Turns to Ashes in 3 Days." It read
as follows:
"The nerves of 15 sailors ordered to stop
smoking for eight days became so frayed
that the test was halted after three days,
Lewis D. Gilbert
,%muel Go/dbladt
Albert Goldstein
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Navy psychologist Benjamin B. Wey-
brew reported today.
"The smokers in the test got irritable, ate
too much, had trouble sleeping and per-
sonal relationships began to deteriorate.
"Dr. Weybrew said the 'psychological
contagion' spread to nonsmoking sailors
and 'there was a danger of impairing the
efficiency of the crew.' The test was held
aboard the Triton while the nation's
largest nuclear sub was on a six-month
global crui~ in 1960."
Fortunately the great contribution made
by tobacco to our daily lile-which has
always been self-evident to me-is also
self-evident to objective seientists and
medical men. In the Annual Report we
quoted a statement from the American
Medical A.~sociation which is worthy of
repetition here. Said the A.M.A.:
"Since smoking may produce a tranqui-
lizing otlect as well as other favorable
psychic reactions not so well identified,
these factors need further study in evalu-
ating the whole matter..."
I may turn out to be a poor prophet, but
perhaps we may begin to hear more of
the good effects of our product than
some of our anti-tobacco campaigners
would like.
My report to you today would not be
complete without reference to a series of
positive steps the present management
has taken to underline and reaffirm a
policy and position we have always held.
We believe smoking is a form of enjoy-
ment for adults. We have no interest
in promoting tobacco use among young-
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stem. For many years we have taken
special pains to see that our advertising
copy and our advertising illustrations are
consistent with this position. Early last
June I instructed our sales organization
to discontinue all advertising in college
publications and all campus promotion
so that there could be no possible mis-
understanding of our position either by
the general public or by critics of to-
bacco. Later that month several other
tobacco companies made similar an-
nouncements through The Tobacco
Institute.
In August of last year we terminated the
employment of our last remaining sports
figure as a commercial announcer. We
did this with regret because Frank Gif-
ford, the great halfback oI the New York
Giants Football Team, is a fine young
man. However, we believe it to be in the
best interests of the Company to lean
over backwards, if need be, to demon-
strate that we have no wish to appeal
to youth in our promotion. In that
same month we stated categorically in
Lvcgv SvRIgv. advertising that "smok-
ing is a pleasure meant for adults," and
while our attempt to separate the men
from the boys was criticized by some we
received favorable comment.s from men
of good will who appreciated what we
were trying to do. Three months ago we
announced that we would undertake no
new commitments to sponsor sports pro.
grams on radio and televlsion-again, to
avoid even the appearance of directing
our advertising to minors. I am not going
to criticize an), of our competitors for
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their advertising practices in this area,
but I will say to you that the present
management of The American Tobacco
Company is determined to promote its
brands with clean hands.
As to the immediate state of our busi-
ness, I bring you good news. While our
January dollar sales were down, Febru-
ary sales showed a distinct improvement.
For the first 28 days of March unit ciga-
rette sales, unit cigar sales and consoli-
dated dollar sales were higher than for
the comparable period in 1963. We do not
have final March figures, but it is certain
that dollar sales for the full month will
be substantially higher than March 1963.
Net income figures for the first quarter
will not be available until later this
month. The trend of our business is such,
however, that I would hope and expect
these figures will not be far below last
year's for the same period, even though
our advertising expen.~s in the first quar-
ter of 1964 will be higher than for any
other quarter in the Company's history.
As you know, we are now promoting five
major cigarette brands on a national
basis, as compared with four last year.
One reason for our good showing in this
quarter is the fact that our new
Cigarette is requiring less advertising
expenditure than we had anticipated.
CARLTON was so well received by the
press that a demand for the brand ex-
isted even before we had distribution or
paid advertising. While it would be pre.
mature for me to make any predictions,
it does appear thus far that in CARLTON
We have the right product at, the right
time. It is a product which literally sells
on sight, and in fact our ~lllng theme
for C^RLTON Cigarettes is the simple
Matilda Clickman
Joseph d. Hack
John Campbell Henry
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Edward J. Maguire
I)r. Samuel Moskou,itz
Evelyn Springlc
phrase "See for Yourself."
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to express
on behalf of my associates and myself
our thanks for the very real support and
encouragement we have received from
the stockholders. We have our share of
challenges and problems in this compli-
cated age, and we are doing our best to
meet these problems so as to serve the
best interests of the Company and the
stockholders. We know today's problemg
must be met with hard work. We know
we cannot afford to stand still for a mo-
ment. I assure you we are not going to
stand still-we intend to move forward.
Election of Direclors
The following directors were elected:
Orpheus D. Baxalys, Alfred F. Bowdcn,
James J. Cunningham, A. Gordon Find-
lay, John G. Hager, Jr., Virgil D. Hagcr,
Hiram R. Hanmer, Robert K. Heimann,
A. LeRoy Jan.~on, Eugene F. Mooney,
John B. Sparrow, Silas E. Strickland,
George L. Turner, Robert B. Walker,
Joseph R. Waterhouse, George A. Wil-
kin.qon and William B. Young.
Action on Proposals
Proposal One to elect Lybrand, Ross
Bros. & Montgomery independent audi-
tors for the Company for 1964, recom-
mended by management, was adopted.
29,019,050 votes were east by the stock-
holders "For" and 41,608 "Against" thc
Proposal.
Proposal Two to amend the Certificate
of :Incorporation, recommended by man-
agement, was adopted. 451,609 shares of
preferred stock, being more than two-
thirds in interest of the preferred stock
out-standing, and 20,134,272 shares of
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Adele L. St~nton
common stock, being more than two-
thirds in interest of the common stock
outstanding, were voted "For" Proposal
Two. 1,696 shares of preferred stock and
90,076 shares of common stock were
voted "Against" the Proposal.
Proposal Three to provide for cumulative
voting, introduced by Lewis D. Gilbert,
John J. Gilbert and John Campbell
Henry, was defeated. 25,943,543 votes
were cast "Against" and 1,429,891 "For"
the Proposal, or 5.22~. of the stock voted.
Financial Reports
Mr. Batzer of the firm of Lybrand, Ross
Bros. & Montgomery read to the meet-
ing the report of the independent audi-
tors for the year 1963. The report stated
that, as in prior years, the accountants
had reviewed or tested accounting pro-
cedures and evaluated the systems of
internal control of the Company and its
subsidiaries and that, in their opinion,
the accounting procedures and systems
of internal control are, in all material
respects, adequate and appropriate to
the needs of the business. The report
described the procedures followed by the
accountant~ in substantiating accounts
receivable and inventories, indicating
that (a) tesL~ and reviews were made
as to cash collections recorded in cus-
tomers' accounts which showed that the
Company's customers are paying their
accounts substantially in accordance
with the credit terms granted by the
Company; and (b) inventories were
priced at costs determined by the aver-
aging of the transactions reflected by the
inventories in the accounts and the costs
were computed by procedures consistent
with those employed for man3' years, as
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approved by the United States Treasury
for tax purposes.
The Annual Report of the Company's
operations for the year ended Deeember
31, 1963, a copy of which had been mailed
to each stockholder of record, was pre-
sented to the meeting by the Secretary.
Discussion
Sherman M. Ancier, Philip Appelbaum,
John F. Astbury, Thomas V. Brosnahan,
Lewis D. Gilbert, Matilda Glickman,
Samuel Goldbladt, Albert Goldstein,
Joseph J. Hack, John Campbell Henry,
Edward J. Maguire, Dr. Samuel Mosko-
witz, Stella Phillips, Evelyn Springle,
Adele L. Stanton, Eleanor M. Summers,
Joseph W. Szczech, Arthur L. Valen-
tine, Dr. Frederic C, Willson and Paul
D. Wolfe participated in the di~ussion
with questions, comments and sugges-
tions.
In response to questions about the Com-
pany's auditing procedures, Mr. Walkcr
gave the following information to share-
holders. The Company's accounting rec-
ords permit management to make in-
formed decisions. Regarding recommen-
dations made by the independent public
auditors, Mr. Jansen, Executive Vice
President, recalled only one instance, in
over a period of almost thirty years, in
which independent public accountants
recommended a change in our account-
ing procedures. ]n that instance, the
recommendation was examined by man-
agement and the change was instituted
promptly.
16
As to inventory control, Mr. Walker
stated that the Company counts all of
its hogsheads of tobacco at least twice a
year and the independent auditors also
count a substantial portion of the total
inventory.
In a discu~ion on cumulative voting,
Mr. Gilbert stated why he favored it.
Mi~ Stanton spoke against cumulative
voting, while Miss Phillips favored it.
The following is a summary of other
subjects that were brought out in the
general discussion period.
As to directors, the Company's by-laws
provide for regular meetings of the di-
rectors on Tue,~iay of each week; the),
also meet informally each day at lunch-
con, and formal business is usually con-
ducted on the last Tuesday of each
month. Last year there were 16 meetings
of the Board at which formal business
was transacted and at least 9 members
of the Board, usually more, attended
each meeting. Two members of the Board
-John G. Hager, Jr., and Virgil D. Hager
-are brothers.
The Company does not reveal its adver-
tlsing expenditures because of competi-
tive reasons; however, advertising ex-
penses in 1963 were approximately 20%
higher than in 1962. The various media
used by the Company are carefully eval-
uated on a continuing basis. It would not
be useful for the Company to list its tele-
vision shows in the Annual Report be.
cause the television sea~n ends three
months after the Annual Report is i~ued
and new shows are purcha~d which be-
gin in the fall.
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PROTECTED BY MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION PROTECTIVE ORDER
Arthur L. Valentine
Dr. Samuel Moskowitz stated that the
Federal Trade Commission's attempt to
force cigarette manufacturers to label
their cigarettes as "harmful to health" is
unwarranted.
He emphasized that statistical correla-
tion is not proof of causal relationship
between cigarette smoking and lung
cancer, and said he was astounded that
the Surgeon General and his Advi~ry
Committee were taken in by such
studies. In the absence of laboratory or
other positive evidence, there may be no
relationship between smoking and lung
cancer, he said. Havirig used statistical
calculations in his own work, he realized
that one can pretty much determine
what one wants to prove in advance and
then go ahead and prove it with statistics.
Mr. Gilbert read to the meeting excerpts
from editorials appearing in the Abing-
don, Pennsylvania, Journal of January
Dr. Frederic C. Willson Paul D. Wol[e
23 and 30, 1964, which discussed throat
cancer and noted that man.u-heavy
smokers pass the age of 90 while many
nonsmokers contract throat cancer at
an early age.
The Corapany currently has eight lung
cancer lawsuits pending. One of them is
on appeal to the Supreme Court; lhe
other ~ven are in a pre-trial stage.
Brief di~ussions of Company products
di~losed that the Company packages it.~
filter cigarettes with the filters at the top
of the package becau~ consumer re-
search surveys indicate that this packing
is preferred by most filter smokers.
ROI.TAN is the nation's largest-selling
10¢ cigar and the Company is working to
improve the brand's distribution east of
the Mississippi. First shipments of new
ROI-TAN Little Cigars, with filters, were
made eight to ten days before the meet-
ing. Cigars are profitable to the Company.
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After close of meeting, stockholders rush to
stage to visit Mr. Walker and directors.
18
On leaf tobacco, the Company's inven-
tory was le~s at the end of 1963 than the
end of 1962 partly because the Burley
auction markets closed earlier last year
than usual. Currently, the Company's
leaf tobacco inventory is about the ~mc
or slightly below what it was this time
last year.
Other information given during the dis-
cussion period included: Federal and
other taxes on Company income, as
stated in the Annual Report, amount to
more than 52% because of the inclusion
of state and local taxes; the action at the
meeting on the charter amendment puts
the Company in a position to purcha~
shares of its own common stock and, if it
should decide to do so, purcha~s would
probably be made on the open market;
from the end of 1963 to the date of the
Annual Meeting, the market price of
the Company's common stock increa,~d
by 16%, compared with an average gain
of about 5% for other major tobacco com-
panies, and about 7% in the Dew Jones
Industrial averages; most of the income
received by the Company trom Gallahcr
Ltd. in 1963 was tax free bccau~ British
lax had already been collected on Galls-
her's income. One stockholder expres.scd
objection to use of animals in scientific
experimentation.
During the course of the meeting, and
at its close, several stockholders compli-
mented the Company on its recent prog.
ress and commended the Chairman for
an informative and pleasant meeting.
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y OUR COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS
which make your dividends possible...
Cigarettes
PALL MALL
LUCKY STRIKE
TAREYTON (with activated charcoal filter)
CARLTON
MONTCLAIR
HERBERT TAREYTON
Cigars
ROI-TAN
ANTONIO v CLEOPATRA
LA CORONA
BOCK v CA.
CABAlqAS
Smoking tobaccos
HALF AND HALF
BLUE BOAR
GENUINE "BULL" DURHAM
150 East 42nd Street, New York, N. ~'. 10017
PrJntcd |n U. S. A.
MNAT00415060
