The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-15
ACTION OF THE WINSTON To-
BACCO BOARD OF TRADE.
From the Southern Tobacco Journal May
3Ist, 1907.

We particularly urge the tobacco
growers to action, because they can
render valuable assistance, and az
their interests no less than those of the
manufacturers are endangered, they
should unhesitatingIy do all that lies in
their power for their own protection.
An cent tax means, beyond any
doubt, lower prices for the common
grades of tobacco, which constitute the
msjor part Of the crop, and which are
already selling far too low. Any man
or paper that tells the planters that q
higher tax will bring with it higher
prices for leaf, misleads them, either
Intentionally for political ends or
through ignorance.
Among the readers of The SoUtheEE
Tobacco Journal are number Of tO
bacco planters, prominent and infiu-
ential 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 neigh6dFs -Sss SEss.
write; and, let their position relative to
the proposed. increased tax be known.
and known at once. Their opposition
will have good effect, and will well
supplement the work that is being done
by the manufacturers and others cen
nected with our threatened industry.
An account of the meeting Wednes-
day of the manufacturers at Washing
ton, together with a hearing given
their delegation by the Senate commit,
tee, appears on another page, and it.
will be noticed that the committee
evinced special desire to learn upon
whom the burden of highter tax rate
would fall. The spokesman of the dele
cation said truly that the additional
two cents would ultimately be borne
rincipally by the grower. What ina-
preston this statement made, it will be
further observed, has not been dis
closed. Probably, coming from what
might be thought wholly interested
source, it did not carry the weight it
should. The planters need be heard
from, and that promptly. Let thena
speak out in unmistakable language
They have a right to ask, If not de-
mand, that the already meagre returns
for their labor and investments be not
further cut down by legislative enact
ments, and to require of those whom
they have sent to Congress to stand
staunchIy by them, irrespective Of
party politics or anything else.
The situation at Washington, so far
as we can gather, is this:
The Senate Finance Committee is
determined upon increasing the internal
re venue tax rates on manufactured to-
bacco, snuff and cigarettes, holding
and no other reasons are given-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 ig
a tobacco producing country, with the
greatest of tobacco manufacturing en-
terprises; that growers and menufao
turers would be greatly injured by
higher taxes, that the proposed rates
would likely reduce the consumption
and therefore not yield any more rev.
enue than under the present rates, are
blindly ignored. Nothing may be ex
pected from this committee.
The Democrats and Populists In the
Senate are solid against the proposed
tobacco schedule, and they are able to
prevent it's passage if two Republicans
Senators will stand by them. The new
Republican Senator from Kentucky,
Mr.. Deboe, will be true to his State and
it's principal agricultural product.
What will Senator Pritchard, Of
North Carolina, dot It depends upon
him. He has declared that he will op-
pose higher taxes on tobacco in caucus,
but has not committed himself to vote
against his party's measure in the SEN
ate. Will he sacrifice his people to his,
partisanship3 Or will he, like the,
California Republican Senators who
defeated the proposition to put fruit
on the free list, show that his first ale
glance is to the interests Of NORTH
Carolina9 y
Senator Pritchard should not be left
in any doubt as to sentiment Of the
people in this matter Write to him
Send petitions to him, manufacturers
growers, leaf dealers and warehouse
men!
More than half the yield Of anything
you cultivate depends upon the ehoEe
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