The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-22
Tobacco Questions.
CLOVER DEr6r, Va. March 10, 1882.

To the Editor OF The Dtspdfch:
1 nave been told by leading men that
expressed 10 You in my last letter the senti.
mcnts Of all the farmers I'm this portion q
the State, and probably all the tobacco
growers OF this broad land. Why was
/ Mr.. Jorgensen, member OF Congress OF
the Petersburg district, applanded last
night IN Washington when he reported 10
/ the Tobacco Convention that the Republi-
can caucus (congrcssionaD had resolved
that Ii was ineypedient 70 lcgislate az this
session i'm regard TO the tax on tobacco?
This Convention seemed TO have been a
coalition Of northern and southern manu-
facturers. They prefer IN entire abolition
OF the tobacco-tax TO the "free-leaf
bill.v Here they are, say fifty in all.
from Richmond, Petersburg, Danville,
Lyuchlurg. New York, Detroit, Cincin-
natl, &C., representing wealthy manufac-
turers who have grown powerful, rich. and
unmerciiul. They have the impudence to
30 10 Washington 10 tell our representa-
tives what they want done. We are not
consulted. We cannot afford 10 send dele
gates TO such Convention. We cannot
afford to give banquets, nor to stuff n eau
Gus with champagne and terrapin; but we
can stuff the balot-boxes with honest votes
at our next congressional election. Are
our representatives sent to Washington in
I The interest OF the few Lorillards. or the
/ interest OF many John Smiths? Can orr
| Tucker. Cabell, Wise. and Jorgensen At
tend such Tobacco Convention and not
enter their protest 70 any such plan They
must fight this tobacco-taX and 20 for the
/ free-leai hill, or they will not hon
estly represent their constituents. They
are representative men OF great intcli-
gence. They are honest and true. We do
not wish TO doubt. We will all know their
record on this "iree-leaf tobacco BILL"
They need not try TO hide their heads.
They must come ont for us or be counted
against us. The .obacco-panters are thor
oughly aroused, They arc hoping some
thing may be done for their relief ut this
session Of Congress-. We are depending
upon Our representatives. They need not
come home and say they did not know what
we wanted. They do know, and unless
/ they use every effort and give their atten-
| ticn to this matter they need not return
home expecting orr votes for another scS-
sion. We are glad TO see the UiSpqtch has
come ont broadly and firmly for our
relief. We know we can depend on
il. and we want YOU to notify our
representatives that zee want this ''free-
leaf bill" passed thi, session. and we
shall expect their help. They must not say
that the Tobacco Convention instructed
them to 90 against it. This Convention
docs not represent the planters. They do
not care for 0ur interest; they want to keep
us poor. We ask respectfully for relief. and
/ have right to appeal TO You and our re-
representatives. TO help us.
Let us continue to plant tobacco. Let us
be able to grow good tobacco, and let us
sall it to anybody who will pay us Tor it..
/ We do not wish to be any longer the ne
elected servants OF an ungratcful monopoly
protected by unwisc legislation.
Then Mr.. Seidler and the LOrillard- can
retire. and the manufacture OF tobacco will
/ be distributed all through tie country,
giving employment to our own people.
Yours truly, JoHN SMITH.