The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-07

4 Merchant Replies to "The Times" Edito
rial.

rial.
Editor Of The Times.
The editorial in Fridays issue in TIE 1fNEs.
headed "Anti-Monopoly Bill" has created
great surprise and just Indignation OF the COM
mission merchants of the city of Richmond
The writer shows entire ignorance of the sub
ject on which he writes. 80 far as relates TO
tobacco. / viii only answer those para
graphs of his article which. IN my judgment
reflect most on commission men.
"lst. The Virginia tObaccO-grower IS not IN
terested in the matter. OF all the tobacco
used by the American Tobacco Company onty
0DOuf > pr ccIf. OF ft fS 0rOTn in lrgtntd.
The remainder comes from North Carolina
and Kentucky. We have tnis fact from the
books OF the American Tobacco Company.
Mr. Wright can get them also If he will call
al that companys Office.
The Virginia farmer is of all men most
Interested The commission mereh hants have
from time immemorial furnished him
the means 70 make his crops and
By their energies and connection
have furnished him an outlet for them.
The purchases OF American Tobacco Com
pany at Richmond. Danyllle and other mar
kets of Virginia on the warehouse floor from
lcaretOUSemea and commission merchdnts
would indicate that the American Tobacco
Company must purchase largely over per
cent. Of their stock III Virginia.
I'D. The Virginia farmer is interested in
having the American Tobacco Company do
business here The only Virginia tobacco
used by the American Tobacco Company is a
light brown tobacco and tbs company con-
svnles ali u tbs tobacco grO'cn an IUgtntd.
When Allen d Ginter commenced making
cigarettes no light brown tobacco was raised
IN Virginia. They developed the growth OF
it and the American Tobacco Company, their
successor. continues it development lake
this industry away and the Virginia farmer
will have 10 market tor the tobacco which
they use.n
The Virginia famer can only sell the Amer
ican Tobacco Company or any other manu-
facturer on warehouse floor or by sample.
which requires that he pay the desplsed and
TO be killed" commission merchant COM
mission unless he should sell IN his barns.
and as vet the American Tobacco Company
have not ventured TO buy at tho barn dooi.
10 Is news 10 the trade that the American
Tobacco Company use light brown tobacco.
Suppose the writer must have intended 70
write bright yellow tobacco. as one so Wei
posted as he IS AS TO the wants OF
the American Tobacco Company must
know they use only fue-cured bright
Bright tobacco of the types used by the
American Tobacco Company have been used
since early in the fttles. which, owing TO
their mildness, have grown rapidly IN Iayor,
both in this county and England. The
same applies 10 Burley or against dark, heavy
tobacco. The consumer creates the demand,
the manufacturer takes advantage OF It,.
Statistics would prove that other manutac-
turers in America anG England use three
fourths Of the bright tobacco grown IN Nlr-
ginia. IL is however. true that III the class
of tobacco known as bright cutters. those SELL
ing above 20 ceDts are bought almost e1clus-
lively by the American Tobacco Company,
the five factories in this country having
united.
In regard to the most remarkable part OF
the editorial, the fourth clause, III which the
writer asks why the commission merchant
should not be killed entirely-being mere
burden on the producer-we have to say
Commission merchants as a class have not
been hurt by the American Tobacco Com
pany. There are more of them IN Virginia
and North Carolina now then ten 10 twenty
years ago. and every pound Of tobacco pur-
chased by the American Tobacco Company IN
virginia and North Carolina IS purchased
through them. If not purchased Of the Rich
mead commission merchant II IS bought on
warehouse floor through the warehouse
man who is in fact commission merchant.
Thus. the American Tobacco Company and
all other tobacco manufacturers, with all the
aids Of steam and electricity, are no nearer
the farmer in purchasing raw material than
they were fifty years since then u was pur-
chased through Richmond and Petersburg
commission merchants. now IL ls purchased
partly of Richmond merchants and partly
of commission men on the interior markets,
who still load the farmers products with an
other burden The millennium not having
arrived people are still sordid enough 10
charge for their services. The writer talks
as If the matter of purchasing, manufacturing
and selling was simply matter OF pressing d
button.
BY the policy advocated by the writer, the
Richmond tobacco warehouse men would be
relegated 10 the owl and the bat IN the twenty
odd 70 be vacated warehouses. Happy day
for the farmer when he will no longer need a
merchant to keep him informed as TO the
wants Of the manufacturer and prices, but
can keep his crops in his barn and wait for
the manufacturer 70 drop IN and purchase at
full value
Keenly approaching the services your paper
has rendered to all interested IN tobacco, 1t IS
with regret we feel called upon to resent the
improved and gratutOus assault made upon
us through your columns. MERCHANT.