Connecticut western news., 1889-04-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE TOBACCO CONTROvERsl

THE TOBACCO CONTROVERSY. A Farmers Experience and Opinion. Editor of Ne,cs
 There have appeared in THE NEWS several articles in relation to the tobac- co industry, and especially under date of March 13, in which Packer" would have your readers beleive that the poor, innocent buyers have been greatly inn posed upon and cheated by the shrewd and dishonest farmers. Now, it Is not fair to assume that every man is dis honest because he is buyer, or because he is producer, of tobacco. Let us look at the matter without prejudice and sec if we can place the fault where it belongs.
 "Packer" tells us that the trouble at time of delivery is caused by the early buying, before the tobacco is cured. Now, who is to blame for this practice :? Is it not always the honest buyer that starts out early with the intention of getting ahead of others in the same business If the buyer comes around and wants to buy and take the risk in curing, I suppose "Packer" would have the farmer tell him that he was not smart enough to buy at that time without getting cheated, and out of pure sympathy for the innocent fellow tell him to go back and be done up in 8 sugar bowl until the proper time for him to appear.
 Now, it makes no difference when the tobacco is bought if it has been honest ly handled and the buyer Is an honest man he will take it as agreed. A crop of tobacco never appears twice alike to the same man it changes every time the weather changes. "Packer" cannot deny but what some crops appear better when delivered at the warehouse than when purchased at the farm. But who ever heard of 8 buyer paying more than was agreed Tn such case, and why should he insist on paying less if it does not come up to his expectation :? It is very easy for him to say the tobac- co is damaged that there are fat stems, etc., for tobacco is always damaged by handling, and some buyers will find fat stems in any crop. So it is easy for the dishonest buyer to crawl out he has the money, and that gives the long end of the lever every time. But trouble of this kind is the exception and not the rule. I have always been treated fairly and honestly by the buyers of the Housatonic Valley, with but one or two exceptions. I speak from experience when say that if Eaton, of Kent, de- pends upon truth and veracity as part of his stock in trade, that his capital, in my opinion, is mighty limited. If de- sired, I can give the particulars of my experience with him. The buyer and the seller do not look at the goods from the same standpoint, and as thero are some very fine points to decide, there will always be more or less trouble at time of delivery. So the only safe way is for the farmer to sell to the buyer he knows will deal honestly with him, even if he has to contract for 8 less price. l suppose that the mention of an honest tobacco buyer will call forth much comment, but claim that there is occasionally such specimen.
 Of course the main part of Packers" prattle is beneath the notice of intelli- gent minds, and to others have noth- ing to say. The farmers as a rule are not dishonest they are not schooled in the shrewd, sharp practices that we see so much of among silk hat humanity. I object to their being put down dis honest as 8 class. VIM CANFIELD.
 Canaan Valley, Ct., March 25.