Gold Dust Twins

Rumbling rumors of a gigantic tobacco merger terminated this week in an announcement which seemed hardly likely to revolutionize the tobacco industry. The announcement proclaimed the formation of United Stores Corp. of Delaware, as a holding company for Tobacco Products Corp., United Cigar Stores Co., and Union Tobacco Co. Inasmuch as these three companies have long been affiliated the new company does not appear likely to disturb the tobacco status quo. But in place of George J. Whelan and Charles A. Whelan, dominant figures in the consolidating companies, the new holding company will be directed by George K. Morrow and Frederick K. Morrow, of Gold Dust Corp. Thus the transaction appeared largely a matter of the Whelan brothers moving out of, and the Gold Dust Twins moving into the tobacco business.