The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-14

THE TORACCo TRADE-ELIGIBILITY TO
MEMBERsHlr.-We cheerfully give place to
the following communication on the ellgl-
bility to membership in the Tobacco Asso-
citation of Richmond: =.
"Messrs. Editors,-The undersigned,
committee of the Tobacco Association of the
city of Richmond, publish on behalf of the
Association the appended resolution for the
information Of all interested. 1t shows
that any person of good character engaged
IN the sale on purchase Of tobacco, no mat
ter whence coming, may become member
Of the Association by subscribing to just
such conditions, and no others, as obtain in
the case of persons resident in Richmond.
In other words, the tobacco trade here is
perfectly free, and without limitations other
than those which reasonable consultation
of the interests of buyers and sellers alike
and the provision Of proper guarantees OF
that freedom require to be prescribed.
at may be proper to observe that at the
inception of this organization, IN accord
ance with the example set by trade unions
in the principal cities of the country with
out exception, and without injurious effect,
it was determined to limit membership to
residents of this city. But this rule was
never enforced, and buyers from all sec
tons of the country, attracted hither by the
quality of Virginia tobacco and the variety
of the selections offered in this the best mar
ket of the country, were allowed to bid as
freely as those who lived here. Notwlth-
standing the exclusion of this privilege,
however, ninety-nine hundredths of the
tobacco bought for account of parties out
side of the city was purchased by brokers
resident here and this must always inevl-
tably be the case, because business men
elsewhere will not leave their pursuits upon
the doubtful mission of saving the COM
mission of a broker with thrice the know
ledge of the market that they could possibly
have.
every recently an inconsiderable num-
Der of persons here demanded rigid inter-
probation of the rule Of membership, and
succeeded, in defiance Of the custom that
had prevailed, in their views. To meet this
movement a committee was appointed by
the association charged with the duty of
generally revising the regulations govern
ing it. During the sessions of this commit
tee, and even after it had determined
to report the annexed rule, (of which
due notice was given to any buyer from
abroad who presented himself,) a cry
was raised, and repeated as far as
the limited circulation of certain pro-
vincial newspapers could effect it, of 'close
corporation of combinations to lower
the price Of tobacco Nothing could well
have been more senseless nothing could
so thoroughly have illustrated either the
ignorance or malignity Of those who raised
it, than this cry. The only purpose land
very mistaken one it was) entertained by
the very few who desired to exclude nom
residents was to protect those who, under
the operation of high rents and an enor-
nous city taxation, were doing business as
brokers. But this purpose, as we have be-
fore remarked, was not concurred II by the
mass of the Association; and 1t Is but just
at this point to remark that when the reso-
luton hereto appended was proposed to the
Association by its committee, the buyer
class, with almost entire unanimity, and IS
cordially and enthusiastically, aided in its
passage as the seller class, who we're its
natural and inevitable supporters.
st In conclusion, we only desire to say
that we can afford to laugh at the efforts of
those who, for any purpose, would endeavor
to stab the trade of Richmond in tobacco.
The experience Of such parties, as well as
our own, has conclusively established the
fact that Richmond is rapidly concen-
trating within herself the whole tobacco
trade of the State, and for the reason-the
strength of which no amount Of malignant
representation can impair-that she is the
natural outlet and best market of the State.
"PEYToN WISE,
"JAAEs A. ScoTT,
CIVILIAN s. ARCHER,
ssCommittee''
6 R,le Cd That any person of GOOD cha