Tobacco Documents Online

22. Richmond, Va. NEWS-LEADER December 20, 1967 ' Wiker aAccuses Srv~oking Critics Anti-cigarette forces have been publishing anti:smoking conclusions months before the publication of the data on which the charges are based, thus precluding effective rebut- tal, the president of American Tobacco Co, has charged. In the annual year-end re- view and outlook of his com- pany, Robert B. Walker re- peated the tobacco industry's contention that "no clinical or biological evidence has been produced which demonstrates how cigarettes relate to c4r.cer or any other disease in human beings." Walker said the practice of releasing anti-smoking charges early has been going on for the past 14 years. He said American Tobacco i willi have record sales and,> earnings in 1967 but the outlook for 1968 "is one of reserved op• timism in view of rising costs, continued harassment from the industry's critics and increas- ing taxes at the state and local levels. "We anticipate that the trend for filters will grow while the demand for nonfilter cigarettes will continue to decline." He predicted that the market for 104=millimeter cigarettes will continue to expand. Walker, who also is board chairman of American To- bacco, said' the company'S fil- ter volume has almost qua- ,drupled' since 1936 and that I Pall Mall Filter 100's leads the field in this category. He noted that several! Ameri: can Tobacco brands had low content ratings in recent tests for tar and nicotine content in cigarettes and indicated that the company intends to contin- I,ue to emphasize the low tar and nicotine content of its Carl- ton cigarette. /~ ROBERT B. WALKER