Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1888-02-17
The Convention of Tobacco Planters.

The Convention of Tobacco Planters.
1t is source Of much regret to US that
we feel compelled to take issue with our
senior on the question now uppermost in
the minds of our tobacco growers-that
of changing 6eprv-insnection law of
The State. But participator--
witness to the proceedings of the conve*-
ion held here on January 31st, we cannot
ct many of the statements made IN the
ard of Messrs. Davis and Cox, published
ast week, go unchallenged and their me-
hod OF defeating the action OF the conven-
ion go unprotected.
That convention, as is we'll known, was
called for the express purpose OF consider
ing change in the inspection law ana
some definite action to guide
our law makers as to the wishes OF our
farmers on the question. Notice OF the
meeting was published in the county pa
pers. and all had the same opportunity of
knowing the time, place and object Tor
which it was called, and if one shade O.
sentiment was the stronger in the meeting
it must be assumed that that sentiment is
stronger in the couney, for if the opposi-
ton had desired no change to be made In
the law they would assuredly have attend
ed the meeting and entered their protest
accord ingly. To say that no accurate In
formation as to the character and extent
of the meeting could be obtained, is seri-
ously questioning our reportorial ability.
to say the least; for in the issue of the
TIMES following the meeting we gave .
detailed account of its proceedings and
stated that large number OF the leading
tobacco planters of the county were IN at
tendance As to the resolutions being
adopted by ciUa coce vote and therefore
mo certain evidence afforded of how many
opposed and how many favored them" II
may be only necessary to state, what We
have already said, that when the negative
vote was called for by the chai. not sin
gle voice responded in an opposing vote
This was sufficient to convince US that ever
those who opposed the spirit Of the reso-
lutions lent silent acquiescence TO thell
adoption, and the impression left on oul
mind was that the convention concur:ee
unanimously ON the question.
We have previously disclaimed any IN
tention of discussing the merits OF the IN
spection laws, for which from occupation
and lack of consideration we feel total.
disqualified, though we have thought tha
it would be unwise to 60 to the extrem
length in the matter of change advocated
by some of our farmers. Yet, granting
that the construction placed 10y Messrs
Davis and Cox on the resolution adopted
by the Democratic convention was the cor
rect one, and OF the honesty of Mr.. Cox Il
the matter we are firmly convinced, TO
from a long business intercourse with bin
we know that a high minded sense OF hon
esty forms no small part of his COMPOSE
tion still four months after the adoptio
of the first resolution larger body of fal
= mers and Democrats again asse"'i'io- @1
lin no uncertain way and without hesits
tion adopt plain and usequivocai res'
luton setting forth their wishes on u
same subject. So granting that the con
struction on which the campaign ws
fought and won be correct and that II vi
thoroughly understood by all Democrat
are not mems minds liable to change an
who can say but that the action OF the la
convention is direct and convincing pro
that their minds had changed on II
nuestion and that the action OF tn
convention voices their true wishes al
feelings in the matter.
So at least it strikes US, and we cam
see how our delegation in the law maxi
body OF the State can fail to recognize
sentiment and carry out the wishes as
pressed by large and intelligent body
the public whom they have been elec
to represent. 1t is puerile to assert I
because the leadership in the convent
was all on one side that therefore the re
lut1ons were adopted; for any man "
an honest feeling at heart that his best
terests were being jeopardized by the ad
ton of certain line of policy and wo
nuietly allow such action to pass with
protest. cannot Justly claim any Iecognl'
at the hands others to preseve these In
ests to him. To US but one course Sc
omen and that is to obey the public "
as expressed at fair and impartial
lie gathering where all had equal voic
the free and untrammeled expresslo
their wishes, and where, moreover, all
even urged to give expression to their
timents for the benefit of the body.
One thing, at any rate, we feel
Messrs. Davis and Cox ought to do,
that is so eliminate from any petit
that may be sent them the names OF
who participated in the late CONVEX
and who may now favor the view as
pressed in their card unless we max
exception of DR.. P. W. Hawkins, WI
all the number asserted to be present
opposed to the resolutions, alone bao
courage to express his disapprovaI.
others present must be accepted as CO..
ring in the resolutions as adopted
their names should not in justice be
sidered in any counter movement te
feat their object.
Aprepos petitions, suppose those
favor the total repeal of the compr
feature should get petition conta
the names of three hundred subst
planters, would our delegation let 1t
against the two hundred asked for.
would only be just. They would
have to ask for more names susts