Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-30
The Menace to New England To-
baccO.
1charlestnn News and Observer.

charleston News ana OpselF0iJ
The menace to the New England to-
hacco-growers. involved in the policy
of annexation, says the Springfield ke-
rtiblican. has finally been recognized Dy
~enresentatiyes Of the threatened inter-
est and "a circular has been issued by
the officers OK the United States Tobacco
Growers Association to the tobacco farm
ers. in which the warning Is clearly
sounded" The circular says, as quoted
cit is not necessary to tell you thdL III
the settlement OF questions allSHls
ont of the late war with Spain. there are
involved issues Of the most vital lmpor-
tonce 10 the tobacco interests OF the
limited States, nor that in the threatened
annexation of tropical islands that are
fine largest producers Of cigar lear In the
world there turks a danger OF such mag
nitude as by comparison would dwarf
into insigniicance any possible threat OF
tariff reduction that could be made. Al
tbis moment we have not at hand the
cigar leaf product OF the Philippines, but
the stated fact that there are employed
&, Rfnando alone some 5000 people IN
the manufacture of cigars gives us some
idea of the large production OF rear To-
bocco there. Under normal conditions
cuba produces $4,000 bales, or ABOUT
GLIB 900 pounds, Of cigar tobacco an
nuaIly. Under the Constitution. anneHa-
ton of one or all these islands means
absolute free trade with them in leaf
tobocco and cigars. It means Manila
cigars at retail at ] or cents each.
The association, therefore, il is an
nounced. has resolved 10 keep at Wash
iugton during the entire next session or
the Fifty-fifth Congress at least one rep
resentatiye." which leads the Republican
10 remark: "But why should the tobac-
co-growers alone take this action? what
about all industries which may nave 10
meet the competition OF the cheap labor
Of the Orient in case the Philippines are
annexed? Under our Constitution all du-
ties and imports must be uniform
throughout the United States. To the
workers OF America, there IS not mat
ter of sentiment, but question or pusl-
ness"
We reprint so much OF the circular as
the Republican has quoted, with the sug-
gestive comments of that paper thereon
for the information OF the tobacco-sroW-
ers and other farmers in this part OF the
country who may be interested IN the
matter TO which II relates. We do not
know 10 what extent, If any the tobacco
growers of South Carolina are engaged
in the production OF cigar leaf or
whether they, or any Of them, are men,
hers Of the United States IoDacco-
Growers Association" There are
great many growers Of cigar tobacco II
Florida, however, and as they. TOO nave
been considerably disturbed In view o.
the possible or threatened competition Of
the Cuban and Philippine growers theS
cannot fail TO be somewhat encouraged
by the news of the attitude OF the grow
ers OF such tobacco in New England an'
other favored sections Of the country
IL is not to be doubted for moment ina
the interests OF the tobacco-groWers o
New England, New York, Pennsylyania
and Ohio will receive the fullest posslpi'
measure of consideration from any lie
publican Congress, and II only the ITO
rida tobacco and that grown In the more
Northern States were OF the same KIND
the Florida growers could dismiss al
their fears. and rest assured that thel
would be well cared for. The weak poin
I'm their case, however, Is that 'heir 10
bacoo is very different from that grown
in the Northern States, and that the IN
terests OF the northern Manufacturer
all demand tho freest practicable I'm
portation of the Cuban product In IN
circumstances, the Florida growers VII
do well OF course, 10 look sharply aite
their own interests, lest they be made %
suffer the hurtful experience or their Tel
low farmers, the growers OF nne cotton
in their own and the neishboring states
Possibly, too. there may be a helpiu
hint in the questions OF the Massachusetts
paper: ''why should the tobacco-grow
ers alone take this acton" for their pro
lection? ana "What about all industries