The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-21
EVIL DONE DY TOBACCO.
Far Exceeds That Done by the Trust,
Says Mr.. Fleming.

To the Editor: As much is being said
about the tobacco trust, il would like
to say Il word i'll your paper which has
so large circulation. | know you may
fear to publish my thoughts, because
it may not be popular to do so. bur
being satisfactorily satistied-that my
view of the matter is correct, l can but
make the effort to place it before the
public for consideration.
What the tobacco trust is doing is
well known That it has utterly impov-
erished whole sections is we'll knowE;
that it works men and women, boys
and girls and consumes the stock end
finally the farm of many tobacco
raiser is also known. In new fields
fields we see sometimes proht
given the raiser of tobacco until
he builds his barns and pack houses,
prices then full and he works for years
losing every year, hoping that prices
will be better. but they are not to re
better for him. Finally all lis first
profits are gone; then he begins to mort
gage and at last, after working himself
land family, living hard and earring
his children without education, he Is
sold out of house and no ne: then he
Sees he has spent all 10 enrich the to-
bacco trust. An awful picture, hut
bad as it is, it is not the worst.
/ have worked many day on Il
tobacco farm and in a tObacco crop. My
father was Il tobacco raiser. | have
many kindred and friends who are Gu
gagged in raising tobacco, 50 | can say
nothing against the tobacco raiser.
Where the tobacco trust has blighted
one home. i'll my judgment, bacco Las
blighted many. 1t has destroyed and
is destroying many lives. X is manning
and rendering unfit for usefulness more
people than the wars of tine we. I'D,
Filthy, poisonous plant. What benefit
to the world that it should be raised
| would suggest to the tobacco growers
association to discuss at their next meet
ing the question, rs tobacco Il curse
to mankind?' If the use of tobacco Is
hurtful to mankind, may it rot be- thar
a kind Providence is bringing good out
of evil, by using th0 tobacco trust to
destroy the profits of tobacco raising that
its growth may cease i'll this fair land
of ours. If the tobacco trrst by IN
poverishing whole sections, breaking up
homes and causing the young To grow
UP i'll ignorance and putting the profits
of tens of thousands Of workers into
the Golfers of few, can awaken th1
people and let them see the ruin and
death and decentralization tina. tobac' .
is bringing upon SO many % the human
family, Notwithstanding it's long list Of
evils, | would hail the tobacco trust
as blessing rather tlian a curse to
man. In my opinion the opium Of the
Chinaman, the wliskey Of the American
and other poisonous substances used by
other people are not to be compared
to the ruin wrought upon the human
family by this poisonous, seductive
plant-tobacco.
If the Tobacco Growers Associations
instead Of devising means TO make the
cultivation of this poisonous weed prof
liable. would consider the evil tobacco
is doing and devise means by which
to prevent its growth. it would deserve
the thanks of mankind and | believe N
benign Providence would smile upon
their labors and bless their effort.
J. II. FLEMING. >
Raleigh, Jan. II, 1900