Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-18
g. II. s. PLAN EXAMINED.
How He Proposes to Take Care Of Poor
men starve Cropers and Wage Earn
ers, Kill of Home Spectators and
Fatten Foreign Monopolies.

Squire Slaughter's plan that no
farmer "shall allow planted or
raised upon there farms for the year
1889, nor for any one year thereafter
for five years, more than ten acres in
tobacco regardless Of the size of the
farm" would require the surrender
of all the rights of planting what
they please,' that blessed free liberty
which he has labored twenty years to
preserve in his method or organiza-
ton and cooperation to achieve in
dependence over Speculation rings"
and then what would become of those
poor cropers and wage earners that
troubles him so much to provide for
The proposition is like that of plant
ing half crop, or any at all simply
absurd and can't in no way be regula-
ted or controlled. Farmers will
plant as much or little as they please,
or plant none at all as their best in
terest dictates. There is no law but
common law, which is public senti
ment, to control their action. If it
was possible to carry out his idea of
ten acres or a half crop, the planting
itself would destroy the object sought
to be gained by the policy, in depress-
ing the value of the present large
crop. There is already two half
crops of old tobacco on the market
with one and half crops in the
barn, without value. The object of
the cessatian policy is to give value
to the new crops which is in the
hands of the farmer, and he, not the
Spectator is to be benefited by it.
Now if the farmer will take the adj
vice of Squire Slaughter, the Reggie
buyers and stemmers, and plant half
crop, or ten acres to the farm, or any
at all, the news would fly on light
ming wings to Europe, and all the
world could not convince the sharp
| SlS tilttl IL was nov a. luii NlOp' IhC
policy would fail to inspire any
confidence or speculation, and it
is speculation that gives life to the
market. Cessation is the only uni
form practical policy that will in
spire confidence and speculation, and
this idea appeals to the common rea-
son of every man as best calculated
to advance prices, just as trust COM
binations advance the price of their
goods 100 per cent. Taking the '73
crop and the effects of the drought Of
IA as precedent.
According to Brother Slaughter's
plan this years % acres, and next
years ten at 5 cents, would bring
81, 800, and under the cessation poll
cy, p acres at 10 cents would bring
$25,0 900. The cessation rOlicy is bet
ter than a drought which people
sometimes pray for, and justifies a
ejaculation of at least $40 per hundred
for the present crop. Now if the
large crop in hand can be made to
nett the planter 10 cents by cessation,
would it not be better than 5 cents
now and cents for half crop next
year? Or, say the average is Is acres
to the farm this year, and ten next,
would not the pr sent % acres at 10I
cents bring more money than it
would at cents and ten acres next
year at cents
The idea that poor men with small
farms can't live without raising to-
bacco, is ridiculous. They can't eat
tobacco and can't raise enough at SO
to keep them in provisions; but they
can raise corn and hogs for Il living
and get two years prices for the pres
ent crop. Now which is the
sensible thing for farmers to do,
to take care of themselves, affording
| Incidental protection to have specu-
lators who paid them well for last
years crop, or go on with the produc-
ton at starvation prices for the BEN
eft of grinding money monopoly
choose between the two.
If farmers will promptly organize
on the cessation policy, the trade will
also organize and advance more
money on tobacco than it would bring
if sold now. If stemmers are bound
to have tobacco now, let them pay
the price and the rise. Try them
on this plan. If they have no faith
in the policy, the rise wont hurt
them. A buyer in Robertson county
is offering and cents and the rise,
and he favors cessation. Let the
GAINESVILLE stemmers who oppose
cessation do the same and they will
get all they want.
NJ. V. INGRAM.