The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-06-10
THURSDAY. JUNE 1897
FIGHT THE INCREASE

ihf1 i i IL lNthEIi'0I--
The following editorial which APP
peared in the Winston Tobacco J0ny-
naIo May 3Ist, is being sent out by
the committee recently appointed by
the Tobacco Board of Trade Of that
to fight the city proposed increase OF
the tobacco tax, and every one inter
es,ed in the question should read the
article carefully and go to work
upon the line suggested:
We particularly urge the tobacco
growers 10 action, because they can
render valuable assistance, and as their
interests no less than those of the
manufacturers are endangered, they
should unhesitatingly do all that lies
in their power for their own protection.
An Scent tax means, beyond any
doubt, lower prices for the mmon
grades of tobacco, which constitute the
major part of the crop, and winch are
already selling far too low. Any man
or paper that tells the planters that a
higher tax will bring with II higher
prices TOR leaf misleads them, either in
tentlonally for political ends or through
ignorance.
Among the readers OF the Southern
I0bact0 /onynai are number OF to-
bacco planters, prominent and Intin-
entail men in their various sections OF
the country, and we ask them to take
the lead in this matter. We ask them
to get up petitions or write to their
representatives IN the Federal halls OF
legislation, and get their nelghbors TO
write; and let their position relative to
the proposed increased tax be known,
and known at once. Their opposition
will have a good effect, and will well
supplement- the work that IS being
done by the manufacturers and others
connected with our threatened indus
try.
An account of the meeting Wednes-
day of the manufacturers at Washing
ton, together with a hearing given
their delegation by the Senate Com
mittee, appears on another page, and
it will be noticed that the committee
evinced special desire to learn up IN
whom the burden of higher tax rate
would fall. The spokesman OF the
delegation SAID truly that the addition
al two cents would ultimately be borne
principally by the grower VIVA; I'M
preston this statement made l; Nil
be further observed has not been DIS
closed. Probably, coming from What
might be thought wholly Interested
source, it did not carry the weight ii
should The planters need be heard
from, and that promptly. Let them
speak out in unmlslakablr language.
They have right to ask, if not de
mand, that the already mcagrc re
turns for their labor and investments
be not further cut down 10y leg .sla
tive enaCtments, and TO require OF
those whom they have sent to Con-
gress 10 stand staunChly by them, II
respective OF party politics or anything
else.
The situation at Washington, SO far
as we can gather, is this:
The Senate finance committee IS de
termlned upon increasing the internal
revenue tax rates Oh manufactured to-
bacco, snuff and cigarettes, holding
and no other reasons are glven-that
the Government must have more rev
enue, and that tobacco the world over
is recognized as an article TO bear
heavy taxation. The fact that this is
tobacco producing country, with the
greatest OF tobacco manufacturing en-
terprises; that growers and manufactu-
rers would be greatly injured by higher
taxes, and that the proposed rates
would likely reduce tine consumption
and therefore not yield any more reve
nue. than under the present rates, are
bllndly ignored. Nothing may be ex-
peCted from this committee.
The Democrats and Popullsts in the
Senate are solid against the proposed
tobacco schedule, and they are able to
prevent its passage if two republican
Senators will stand by them. The
new republican Senator from Ken
lucky, Mr.. Deboe, will be true to his
State and its principal agricultural pro-
duct.
What will Senator Prtchard, Of
North Carolina, do? 1t depends upon
him. He has declared that he will
oppose higher taxes on tobacco in
caucus, but has not committed himself
to vote against his party's measure in
the Senate. Will he sacrifice his peo-
pie to his partnership? Or will he,
like the California Republican Senators
who defeated the proposition to put
fruit on the free list, show that his first
allegiance is to the Interests of North
Carolina?
Senator PrChard should not be left
in any doubt as 10 sentiment of the
people in this matter Write TO him,
Send petitions TO him, manufacturers,
growers, leaf dealers and warehouse
men!
Whenever there is a stoppage of the bowel
IaI Oh I,.,t