The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-18
TOBACCO GROWERS HOT
ON THE TRAIL OF TRUST
Continued from Third Page

cially in relation to production, con-
sumption, local cooperative factories,
markets, etc. We also wish to ascer-
tain as accurately as possible the acreage
for the various counties represented.
yield per acre, proportion of crop mar
keted, class of tobacco raised. prices.
etc, and in regard TO this last data /
would suggest that the county delegates
prepare a tabulated report for the Sec
rotary of the convention. We would
also like to hear from the various dele
CATIONS as to any plans that they may
have to offer to this convention. RENE
dial of present distressed conditions.
| trust our deliberations will be calm,
conservative and business-like without
prejudice or passion and befit III dignity
and counsel the great work upon which
we are about to engage. In admitting
that prices are too low and continually
diminishing, it is our first duty to seek
the cause: that satisfactorily determined.
find remedy, or attempt to make one.
We are informed that the markets are
continually expanding and developing
and that the price of manufactured to-
bacco is rising. The governments
statistics show us that since 1890 there
has been a decline of about twenty per
cent in production and a decline of about
forty-three per cent in total value. The
large crop of 1890 averaged over eight
CENTS Ger pound, while the small crop
Of 1896 brought only six cents per pound
and / believe the average for 1889 will
be considerably lower. The question
naturally arises, why the price of the
raw article should decrease, as the price
of the manufactured product increases!
The margin between the raw material
and the manufactured article should
not be so great as to forbid profit TO the
grower. The profits from the former
should not be in inverse ratio TO the
profits of the latter. Is this unnatural
condition. caused. as is so frequently as
serted, by 4 combination of capital,
manipulating the markets in defiance of
the great natural and economic law of
supply and demand? There should be
some equity in the sharing of profits.
1t is our purpose to encourage all legiti
mate investment of capital and we hope
all interested in the tobacco business
will take up this matter in a spirit of
mutual interest and discuss actual con-
ditions, aiding us in an honest investiga-
ton and in securing a thorough under
standing of present depressed condi-
tions. Let us learn the truth and fear
lessly face it, Harmonious working
together of all tobacco interests, mutual
ly dependent, should secure beneficent
results TO both producer and manufac
turer; making certain increased legiti
mate profits to the producer with no
diminution of profit to the manufacturer
That man is an enemy to the farmer
who attempts to unjustly array him
against capitalists, and we would not be
put in q position of being antagonistic
to any legitimate corporation, as that
is now the recognized mode of CONNER
cial progression, and has added billions
to the industrial wealth Of this country.
where timid individual capital would
never have ventured. We want or
ganized capital to come into our terri
tory and assist in developing our lat
ent resources and manufacturing our
raw material. Give capital absolute pro-
lection, but let it understand that it
comes to foster. not destroy. When
Il corporation becomes oppressive, the
people especially the agricultural people
collectively, are able to control and re-
strain it, Cooperation of capital is a
vital force and is necessary in handling
all great enterprises. Cooperation of
sary and inteligently and aggressvely
combined can secure protective legisla
ton and industrial emancipation Co
operation can control the acreage and
enable us to profitably market our crop.
Cooperation cam build us local factories
and enable us to share in the profits
of the manufacturers, giving us home
markets for our tobacco as well as 9th
f.l1rt l. c,f1 Tod
truism that purely agricultural products
will continue to decline; and we know
that the products of the farm while of
enormous value in the aggregate. now
yield very little profit to the tiller of the
soil; the thousands of pine grown fields
in North Carolina eloquently tell the
tale of depressed agriculture. What of
the future? VIII the American farmer
whose hardy manhood and rugged in
dividuality won and preserved our lib
critics and made this great Republic, re-
main independent, or will the value of
the products of his labor be still fur
Their reduced and he sink to the level
of the peasants OF Europe, or the poems
of the Orient? VIII he be forced to
compete with the products of the half
breeds of the Antilles and the millions
of Monaghan coolies we have recently
purchased in the far East? But let us
consider the evils from which we al
ready suffer. 1T is often fiippantly as
serted that the key of agricultural pros
perity is in the diversifcation of crops,
and the raising of home supplies. This
is true, intelligent husbandry, mans
ability to feed his family, his stock, his
farm, will assure him independence if
he is free from debt and had the pre-
vision to anticipate the great shrinkage
of values that have come upon us; but
even then there must be IL margin of
profit to educate his family and secure
for them some of the comforts of life.
and when agriculture ceases to be suffi-
GENTLY remunerative for this, there is
something radically wrong with the eco
nomic conditions prevailing. In the
midst of the greatest volume of trade
and the highest commercial prosperity
the world has ever known, why should
the farmer and especially the tobacco
farmer be growing poorer? We are
willing that capital should draw in
crease from labor's productions, but
the laborer is worthy of his hire and
we are not receiving just compensation
H. -