Chapter 410: The Tobacco King's Help
In the past few days, Sheffield has tried every means to make Alice Roosevelt believe that this is just a friendly match, far from the point of tearing the relationship apart, and the conflict is limited to the scope of big companies and the federal government. There is no personal grudge between the two sides, but there is a deviation in their ideas.
This time, Alice Roosevelt wanted to rush back to the White House, but Sheffield did not try to keep her. He sent her directly to the train station and asked his bodyguard to get on the train with her. As usual, they returned along the same route after arriving in Washington.
The affectionate feelings only go so far. The slave owners who put themselves in other people's shoes must also be responsible for their own careers. It is okay not to bear grudges, but it is impossible to let the Ministry of Justice achieve its goals. These are two different things and they do not interfere with each other.
After firing a round of cannonballs into the void, Pat, the chief lawyer of United Cereal Company, did not take any extra actions. Instead, he went directly to Austin and applied to register United Cereal Company in Texas.
"I never thought I would get a call from the tobacco tycoon. This is so surprising." Sheffield said while holding James Duke's phone. "I don't know if there is anything you can teach me, or if you are not going to take 75% of the domestic market share and have the idea of becoming a rich man."
"The Department of Justice has come to your door, and you're still in the mood to joke?" James Duke's voice was not without a hint of sarcasm. "Let me guess, are you preparing materials and preparing to defend yourself now? Is there anything I can help you with? We are all Dixie people. As long as you and I sign an agreement and do not maliciously reduce the price alliance of competition, I can fully support you in challenging the Department of Justice."
"What do you mean? You want to form a tobacco cartel with me?" Sheffield hesitated for a moment. With the current market share, it seemed that he was at a disadvantage. However, price war was indeed the most hated form of competition by slave owners. James Duke's initiative to speak up was already an expression of the greatest goodwill.
"Okay, do you want to send someone over, or should I send someone over?" Sheffield wiped the wedding ring on his finger and asked in a very relaxed tone.
"For such a big event, of course it would be most solemn to meet in person. How about New Orleans or St. Louis?" James Duke responded very enthusiastically, "How about it? I know you don't like the places of the Yankees, so let's choose our own city of Dixie."
"Then New Orleans!" Sheffield agreed straightforwardly. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two hung up the phone.
"What is this tobacco tycoon going to do?" When Annie saw her husband hang up the phone, she began to guess the other party's intention.
"You'll know when we meet!" Sheffield said nonchalantly, "United Grain Company of America was established to replace the trust. Even if I win the lawsuit against the Department of Justice, I will still establish this company. It's the same if I lose. Winning or losing can't change my mind. Times have changed, and we must pursue more advanced business models. Of course, it's better to win. Anne, you gather all the large farmers with more than 200,000 acres of land on the trust list, and the small farmers with more than 20,000 acres of land. As for the smaller ones, let the people who come here represent them. I'll meet with James Duke first."
The subpoena from the Ministry of Justice had no significant effect on the slave owners. If there was any effect, its biggest effect was to make Sheffield feel the necessity of transformation. It could not simply use monopoly to negotiate prices, but could go a step further, such as transforming into a grain trader.
One hundred years later, the world's agricultural hegemony is controlled by the four major international grain traders, three of which are from the United States and one from France. The four major international grain traders are four multinational companies: ADM, Bunge, Cargill in the United States and Louis Dreyfus in France. According to the first letters of their English names, people abbreviate them as "ABCD".
The four major grain traders are multinational grain traders with a history of more than 100 years. Currently, 80% of the world's grain trading volume is monopolized by these four grain traders. "Only they can set the price."
The four grain traders have already completed the absolute control over upstream raw materials, futures, midstream production and processing, brands, and downstream market channels and supplies. Three of the four grain traders are American companies, which best reflects the agricultural hegemony of the United States of America. However, now the four grain traders have disappeared. Even if their predecessors have appeared, they cannot be compared with the United Company. There is no need for them to appear. Sheffield feels that he can do this alone.
"In fact, the federal government hates trusts. I hate them too. For example, the edible oil trust is not in my hands." Sheffield said to Anne righteously, "If the federal government can let me go, our interests will be the same. I can acquire the edible oil trust, the honey trust and other companies, and develop them all under the United Cereal Company of America. Isn't that good? The trust problem that the federal government is worried about will no longer exist."
"That's great." The mistress, who had been severely brainwashed by the slave owner, agreed without thinking.
"From the seeds to the people's dining tables, this is much better than the trust. This is what people eat, only I decide. The original trust was too crude. From this point of view, the chain supermarket is an indispensable terminal, which can save us a lot of energy to complete this task." After a long time, Annie put down her pen and rubbed her sore wrist and said, "Is that all?"
"Is that all for now? Maybe some parts will need to be supplemented later." The King of Talkativeness only then remembered to sympathize with Annie, and it was time to lust after her body.
Because the trust involved too many members, Sheffield had the opportunity to meet James Duke, the tobacco tycoon, because his father, Washington Duke, was a tobacco tycoon.
It was the first time that Sheffield had seen another Dixie tycoon, and most importantly, he was so rich. The only businessman with such assets he was familiar with was Rockefeller Jr. When the tobacco tycoon from Oak Manor came to visit, Natalia directed the servants to run around.
James Duke took the initiative to express his willingness to help. After a while of rambling, Sheffield still heard the root cause, which was simply that he was guilty.
Only the tobacco king himself knows whether the use of monopoly involves unfair competition. Anyway, when Sheffield reached out to the tobacco industry, he felt that this industry was quite complicated.
James Duke has not received any help from the Ministry of Justice yet, but that does not mean he will not receive any help in the future. The tobacco tycoon's plan is similar to the Rockefeller family's attitude towards Northern Securities Company. He actively chooses the place of battle. Northern Securities Company is not the most important industry for the Rockefeller family.
Choosing the railway system to fight at least would keep the main oil industry unaffected. Sheffield asked calmly, "Mr. James, are you trying to push me out to face the fire of the Ministry of Justice?"
"You can't say that, Mr. William. We are all Dixie people. It is true that your company has received the favor of the Ministry of Justice, and I am the one who took the initiative to offer help." James Duke shook his head and said, "This is all for the unity among Dixie people. United Company is an asset-intensive company, and my company mainly relies on cash crops. We should not fight. There are not many Dixie people who can get assets like ours."
Sheffield's eyelids fluttered. How come he had never noticed that James Duke had done anything to take care of the Dixies before? It seemed that he had no inclination towards the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Now it was the unity of the Dixies?
"Even if the case goes to the Supreme Court, I can still help." James Duke hesitated and said mysteriously, "And unlike Northern Securities Company, we businessmen who rely on land output may not have more assets than the Yankees, but we have more stakeholders, at least more people."
Sheffield stretched out his hand directly in front of James Duke and said, "You brought it directly, right? Take it out. The tobacco companies on both sides will never use contracts that reduce prices to compete."
"Mr. William is truly the pride of us Dixies. With such a decisive character, you should be able to develop your career to such a large scale." James Duke sighed, as if he deserved to make money.
Sheffield also had a direct understanding of the tobacco king for the first time, as he was still so talkative at such an old age.
After carefully putting the contract into his pocket, James Duke regained his serious expression and said, "As long as this case ends up in the Supreme Court, I will definitely help. I have a good relationship with two judges."
"I just don't know how confident I am. I believe Morgan is thinking about the same question." Sheffield said without comment.
"This is different. The excessive railroad system is indeed very easy to be disliked by people, but food is different. Farmers work so hard, why should they be attacked?" James Duke said, "This is also different among the nine justices. In fact, even in the case of Northern Securities, neither Roosevelt nor Morgan is sure to win. Recently, Roosevelt has brought people to the Midwest to give speeches and win the support of farmers in the Midwest. If he attacks farmers at this time, who will support him? In fact, if you and Morgan received the subpoena at the same time, there may be different results."
"It depends on who can protect whom, isn't that what you mean?" Sheffield thought about it and it seemed to be what he meant. The reason the Department of Justice used to deal with Northern Securities was that the railroad giants had overwhelmed the farmers. If they dismantled the trusts that benefited many farmers, there would indeed be problems.
(End of this chapter)
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