The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-30
AND He ADVISES REFORM
THINKS THAT ONCE \ YEAR rs
ENOUGH.
OPPOSED 70. 1osAcco WAREHOUSES
Wants Storage Warehouses Built In The Coln-
try and Managed by Farmers Says
The Warehouse cha,gvs are
~ Now to, High.

Yesterdays mail brought to Commits
sioner of Agriculture Patterson the fol-
ibwing unique letter from Mr.. w. G.
Swann. of Pelham, y. G.
Accompanying the letter was a note
to the Commissioner saying ''the en-
closed communication l desire you to
publish in the Bulletin if you can. 1t
ought to come out right now, while the
question that gave rise to the thoughts
is fresh and the plans still in incubation.
want the farmers to have it. and quick.
If you can get it in some other journal
quicker. publish there also. and send me
copy of paper. please"
Mr.. Swans communication is as fol-
lows
There is rumor that all the ware
houses for selling loose leaf tobacco in
a certain city will now be syndicated.
This brings the tobacco farmer face to
face with very serious problem. If
this is done in one town, of course all
will follow, and that means the leaf deal
er, the SPECTATOR. and the pinhooker
will be driven off the market by the
combine, so the trusts can take it at their
own price. The warehouse system now
is detrimental to the farmer. Some one
has, said it was equal to forced sale.
IF warehouses had never been, and
farmers could sell their tobacco at the
barn, what an immense saving to the
farmer! Look at the immense expense
of the warehouse-rent, force, drummers,
etc. Farmers pay every cent of that
direct. If farmer could see his charges
for ten years-what he has paid to get
some one to sell him Quit would scare
him.
1.-THE remedy is to build. in the coun-
try, storage warehouses where farmers
can store their tobacco and sell in bulk.
And if no buyer seeks it, stem it, put il
up in natural leaf and put it on the mar
ket. They should have no one in these
storage warehouses but bona fide farm
ers. those who live on the farm, and act
ually raise tobacco. Have no salaried
managers, no dividends, no accumula-
tions-just actual expenses to be tolled
for handling. Plenty of money can yet be
had for advances to those who need
money badly, on such collateral.
let the farmers spend their social
hours there, planning their own business,
rather than in town helping the fnan-
ciers. In fact, no farmer ought even to
have any business in town, and never go
except say once a sightseeing. Let
him have his friends and all sociality in
the country. No farmer lives over three
miles from a store and often there are
two that close, maybe six. These
merchants could and would be glad to
supply his wants in goods at cheaper
rate than the town merchant can afford
to save his life. Stay away from the
town entirely and exactly.
The country mansion used to be the
place of culture, literature, art and So
ciability: it would soon be so again. The
farmer would again be king instead of
the beggar, as now. Build good roads by
light taxation; keep fine stock and be
the men sought after instead OF Stunned
and to some extent laughing stock, as
now. Farming is one of the most honor
able callings in the world Why let our
hands. feet and tongues be tied, as now?
Let the sharks prey upon those that
waste too much time in town, listen
ing or talking about things that can't
benefit them. it they perchance know
anything about them. Build homes
great big. magnificent homes. Be
proud Of them. entertain like prince,
but stay there. in thought and deed.
Commune much with nature. and ma
lures god, and the farmer and farmers
boy and girl, too. will again be some
body"