The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-04-03

one mans influence; the farmers OF Gne
country united in a definite purpose
can make their il fuenCe felt from one
end to the other of this broad land, and
compel the payment of such a scale Of
prices for their products as will give
them their full share Of the good things
Of life and enable them to maintain
their families in comfort and educate
their children.
The plan outlined below is put for
ward as solution of the difficulties
which now beset the tobacco grower
It does not attempt to go much into
details, as these are matters which
must be agreed upon and fixed by rep
resentatives chosen for that purpose,
and it is wholly within the province of
such representatives to change any
feature of the plan, as in their judg
ment may seem best.
When the farmers of the bright to
Oacco section have perfected their per =
manent organizations and have agreed
to combine with those who have come
forward and volunteered to furnish
the money for the purpose of controll-
ing, handling and dealing in tobacco
grown in this section, it is proposed
that large board, composed OF as
many tobacco growers from all over
the tobacco raising districts as the
farmers themselves see flt to appoint
to repree ent them, shall meet board
of equal number appointed by the par =
ties who are to furnish the necessary
capital. It will be the duty Of this
j0int beard to mutually agree upon all
the details Of the plans for organiEa
sion and management Of the company
to be formed; to prepare an agreement
to be signed by individual growers
which binds them to sell their product
to the company for the ensuing five
years, and to fix the price the com
psny is to pay during the business of
the first year On each grade Of tobacco,
which price shall not be lees than Is
per cent. more than the average price
paid for corresponding grades during
the las: five years \
The plan contemplates that 80 per
cent. Of the tobacco growers of the
''bright belt" of North and South Caro-
lima, Virginia and eastern Tennessee,
or enough Of such growers as will con
troll 80 peE cent of the tobacco raised
in these districts, shall pledge them
selves to sell all Of their crop during
the next FIVE years to a company to be
formed by and composed of tobacco
growers, leaf dealers, Warehousemen,
manufacturers and others. The com
pany shall be sufficiently strong Ansn
cially to buy up, and hold if necessary,
the entire crop Of tobacco grown in the
district referred to during the next five
years; and il deemed best for the in
tarests of all concerned, to lease, buy
CT erect, equip and operate factories,
warehouses and plants for the curing,
storage or manufacture Of tobacco in
any or all of its various forms.
1t is proposed that the grower shall
take stock in the company to the
amount of Is per cent. of the value of
his crop, or more il he sees fit. He is
to have the privilege of paying for his
stock either in cash or tobacco at his
option. Whether his stock is paid for
in cash or tobacco, it will stand on the
identical footing with all other stock
and will participate in all profits,
whether arising from sales or manu-
facture
The business Of the company shall be
managed by a board of directors, q
majority of whom shall be growers.
For the purpose of fixing prices on
the different grades of tobacco, a board
or committee, consisting of as many
growers from all over the tobacco rails
ing districts as the growers holding
stock in the company see f1t to appoint
to represent them, shall meet q like
board appointed by the stock holders
who furnish the capital This joint
board shall meet annually and fix the
price TO be paid during the ensuing
year for each grade Of tobacco. Il lie
confidently expected that each year
will bring an increased price. but the
prices of the different grades for the
fret years business shall not be less
than 10 per cent more than the aver
age price of corresponding grades dur
ing the past five years.
It will be the policy to arrange with
war ehousemen, leaf dealers, manufac,
turers and others having facilities for
handling. curing and working tobacco
on the different markets to handle,
cnra and care for tobacco owned BY