voluble talkers. Over 6 million pounds of plug came out 

 of Kentucky's plants in 1880, and nearly 31.5 million 

 cigars were rolled out of 107 "factories." The term "fac- 

 tory" frequently meant a single residence room in which 

 one man operated. 



Manufacturers of chewing tobacco in tlie United 

 States, with thousands of brands to offer — over 12,000 

 were listed in the heyday of eating tobaccos — engaged 

 in a "plug war." This began in the middle 1890's about 

 two decades before the decline of the popular chew. 

 Tlie battle occasionally took tlie form of pushing "loss 

 leaders" in efforts to capture a bigger share of the vola- 

 tile consumer market. 



The contest was not confined to the broad arena of 

 sales outlets. With so many brands available, it spilled 

 o\er into tlie field of nomenclature. The common method 

 of brand labeling was represented by a bright-colored, 

 pronged tin tag pressed into the plug, on which the 

 maker's name or s>'mbol was stamped. The tag meant 

 a discount to the purchaser, for he could turn it in for 

 cash or for prizes. During the "war" it seemed logical 

 that chewing tobaccos of Kentucky manufacture were 

 a\'ailable under such brand names as War Club, Police 

 Club, Buzzard, and the like. 



Other factories of the Bluegrass State around the turn 

 of the century were offering chewing tobaccos labeled 

 Boss of All Twist, Free Lunch, Tlic Earth for 5 cents. 

 Pigs Eye, Real Think, Dudes Delight, and Tough and 

 Sweet. Brand names of smoking tobacco included Cock 

 of the Cock, Dagger, Good Enough, Daily Bread and 

 Befoe de War. The last also served for a cheroot, a plug, 

 and a snuff. It should be said, to the credit of the promo- 

 tion men who concocted these appellations, that the\' 

 were original thinkers — not plagiarists. Using another's 

 brand name was then a common practice. 



47 



