The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-02

10 the Editor: It has long been n
| custom 1T this season Of the year for
| the prudent business man TO squire up
| accounts, see what success has attend
| ed his efforts for the year Just drawing
| TO close, and what hope is held out
for the year which is about to be usher
| ed IN. The retrospect and outlook Of
the leaf tobacco dealer, or middle man.
as he has been dubbed by the American
| Tobacco Company, will make sad read
ing for many once happy families in our
| beloved State, as we'll as in sister States
| where tobacco was once the money crop
and the sustainer of life, education and
| refinement.
| To quote from the great and immortal
| Vance, l propose to show, if | can, 1.-The
| hole where the hog went in" and fol-
low him in his depredations until we find
| the hole where he came out. For many
| years previous to 1890 the farmers all
| over the States where bright tobacco is
grown could load up their wagons, drive
| to any place where there was a tobacco
| market, and before reaching it encounter
| a drummer from each warehouse. Some
| times these enthusiastic solicitors would
| fall out and fight numerically over
J whose warehouse should sell the load Of
| IN the warehouse than a dozen or more
private buyers, Familiarity known as
'pin-hoOkers,' would surround him
| eager to exact promise for first show
| at his leaf the next morning. and a
scrap between pin-hOOkers was more
more than likely to be the result of these
negotiations All through such perform
| anceS the farmer feels good, lays low
| and reslsts all temptations, for he knows
| there is competition. Finally his tobac-
| co is put on the warehouse floor, the
| old fashioned stage bugle rings ont clear
and loud giving notice that the hour for
| public sale has arrived, and quickly from
| out the scores Of well-kept and equipped
| factories the eager buyers rush to be on
| hand when the first pile is offered for
| sale. Many 4 time before the last pile
was reached have | seen Il lively tsticuM
pulled off as a result Of the sharp compe-
| tition which was everywhere apparent
| The farmer got Il pocket full Of money
| for his product, went to the store and
| bought something fine for the old woman
and the children and had plenty left to
settle his fertilizer bill and his other hon
| est debts. The leaf dealer got the to-
| bacco, packed it in hogsheads. added
| S1.25 to the cost for his commission
drew a sight draft through his bank for
| his money, and farmer, Wife and chill
| dren, leaf dealer, banker and all We're
satisfied, happy and prosperous.
| What Il pitiable contrast presents it
| self today. The farmer leaves home
with Il heavy heart He is met by no
| warehouse drummers. The eager face
of the pin-hooker is not seen around the
! warehouse. Most of the leaf factories
| are closed and the once active workers
| are seeking other fields of employment.
| The old fashioned bugle is abandoned
| and a cow bell is used to summon the
buyers The warehousemen, q few
scared independent buyers and the
American Tobacco CO. s buyers gather
around the product Of the poor farmers
year of hard labor. When the filters
and wrappers are. offered, the buyer for
the plug branch of the trust prices and
takes them; when smokers and cutters
are reached, the buyers for that depart
ment of the trust set the prices and take
the leaf and the farce auction is over
In November, 1890 the curtain drops
and behind its artistic folds the five
cigarette magnates of the world prepare
q grand financial drama for presentation
to the business world, the evils Of which
have scarcely been equalled in history.
times mllionaircs while working in the
sharpest competition, they combine their
interests and instead Of having four
buyers of leaf tobacco OH every market,
they take off three and leave one. In
stead Of having four statesmen on the
road, three are taken off and one is left,
or about in that proportion. Employees
begin to be discharged and actual want
begins to make itself felt III families
which before knew no need.
Under this plan the institution 50
fiourished and the promoters grew 50
fat that they began to yearn for larger
and graener pastures, SO the National To
bacco Coz plug tobacco factory at Louis
vile. Ky. was bought out and the plug
branch OF manufacturing was invaded.
Negotiations then began for the control
of the largest and most influential plug
factories in the world, but these had we'll
established brands and Il lucrative trade
and deaf ear was turned 10 all en-
treaties Then the forcing act com
menced. The American Tobacco CO. put
out Battle Axe" plug in competition
with the leading brands Of the indepen-
dent factories and set aside S3.O0O.O0 4
day to lose III pushing it to the front.
The consumer. being Indifferent TO any
and all makers Of plug so long as he
could get cheap tobacco, purchased only
battle Axe" and independent factories
commenced to lose trade. and finally
Were obliged to sell OFT to the Trust.
One after another was gobbied mp until
today the American Tobacco Company is
master Of the tobacco world. the farmers
and the middle men" are paying tribute /
right along. and the hole where the hog
came ont is nlaiuIV visible.
To make this article a little more com
plete it is necessary to 20 back q little
and bring out 4 few more historical
facts. Soon after this gigantic combine
was inaugurated the farmers held 4 |
"a