Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-16
TO TOBACCO GROWERS
From the Secretary of the To-.
bacco Growers Association.
The Necessity for Organization stroa ely
Set Forth No just Cause for the Pres
ent Low Prices "A Strong Appeal.

VIII be held in Raleigh October 24th.
during the week of the State Fair.
Inc call of the president Tor the meet
ing was published in the Virginian-
Pilot OF the 18th instant
In an address to the tobacco growers
OIL North Carolina, setting forth pres
ent conditions and the objects of the
association, MIR. j. Is. Parker. the sec
rotary. says:
me necessity of an organization of
the tobacco growers of the State was
discussed at some of the agricultural
meetings during the State Fair in Ra-
ieish' October, 1899. From this a call
was issued by Mr.. j. Bryan Grimes.
VINO had been chosen president of the
temporary association, for a tobacco
growers convention to meet in the cit,,
OF Raleigh December 6. 1899. and an
9.her convention was held at raleigh
January I. 1900.
me convention in January was we'll
attended by growers. warehouse,nen
and others interested in tobacco from
TINS State and Virginia. AT this meet
ing permanent organization was eff
iected. and the North Carolina Tohac
co HroWers Association sprang into
not rival, but an ally to the other
farmers organizations in the State.
Inc TOBACCO growers were ably rem
resented, and the personnel of the CON
Nention was strong. The grievances of
the tobacco growers were set before
the convention. and with singular
unanimity 1t was agreed that they
could be remedied. The concensus of
opinion was: THAT there are no in
nuences set in motion by man that can
not be met and remcdied by men" The
present low prices of tobacco and their
causes were discussed 1t was shown
mat while the acreage had materially
increased during the last decade that
the consumption also of tobacco had
Kept apace with the increase. and, in
fact, If such thing We're possible. that
the next few years would see the con-
sumption outstrip the increase in Yield
New territory has been invaded and
North Carolina bright tobacco is no
longer stranger in the Orient. nor
in the islands OF the Pacific ocean,
While South Africa and other new ter
ritory are asking for our golden leaf
With the increased demand and the
limited area that grows bright tobac-
co, the growers could see no just cause
for the present low prices. In fact,
could see no cause at all except such
as has been brought about by the
American Tobacco Company.
1t Is alleged that this company gets
as much per pound. or 1.000 for its
products now as 1t did ten years ago,
when they paid two or three times as
much for thu raw material as they now
pay. This has been made possible with
them by organization and controlling
the situation. They saw the necessity
OF controlling the output of manufact-
ured tobacco. as we'll as the raw ma
terial. To this effect they have pur-
chased or otherwise silenced nearly all
strong competition. BY this means
they have taken buyers Off the ware
house floors, as we'll as the sellers of
manufactured tobacco from out OF the
markets. In this way they have
shown us the power and effectiveness
of organization.
BY organization. such as the Tobacco
Growers Association is working for.
the tobacco growers can maintain their
position, their respect. their manhood.
Without 1t, in a few years with present
tendencies. they Will have lost much
that our forefatherS held dear-inde-
pendcnce. The picture is not bright. to
be sure. but it would be folly for us 10
spread veil over its hideousness
thereby hiding the truth and deceiviug
ourselves.
The association asks the support of
the tobacco growers in the bright to-
bacco belt. 1t wants your support
Can 1t have it? The strongest appeal
that could possibly make to you would
pale beside the appeal that comes TO
you from your own home, from those
who are dependent upon you for the
comforts and advantages that an in
dustrious life In n civilized country en-
titles them to. Neither would 1t strike
YOU with the force that your disap-
pointed hopes do, when on the ware
house floor your tobacco is knocked off
to the only bidder for that grade of to-
Dacco at a price that barely covers the
cost of cultivation, and often fails to
do that well. You are asked to give
your influence to the association and
help restore the tobacco growers to the
same prosperous condition that they oc-
cupied ten years ago when they were
reckoned among the most fortunate
farmers in the State. Will not this an
peal from the farmers for the restora-
ton OF the prosperity that marked the
tobacco grower, find Il responsive chord
in your heart? 70 say that nothing can
be accomplished is To surrender with
out eifort an unconditional surrender.
The plan is TO organize every town
ship and county in the bright tobacco
district. and to get every tobacco grow
or IN the territory an active, enthusi-
astic member. In territory that has
been partially organized. we ask that
thorough organization be pushed to
completion. In counties where there
has been no organization. we ask that
the tobacco growers call convention
and organize under the plan adopted
by the State Association. Put organ
iZers in the field and cease not I'M
til every township is Thoroughly or
saniZed. Is the task stupendous? Nol
as large as one may think. for ther..
VIII be willing helpers to encourage
the organizers. But there must be
I'm u Ill
movements. Now is the time to do ef-
fective work. AS soon as an organiza-
ton Is effected. notify the State secre.
tary giving names and postoflices of
the president md secretary. 1t has
been said that tobacco can so lower,
. irt, &c nd 10,