The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-01-19
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

The proceeds which the tobacco grow
ers of this state are receiving this year
from the sale of their crops are averag-
ing larger than year ago. Outside the
hail sections the crop is netting the
growers about hundred dollars an acre
and there is surely good round profit
in the business to farmers at these tlg-
ures. The yield is doubtless trltie less
than year ago and yet some crops of
Havana seed crowded close to a ton to
the acre and when this occurs the pro-
ceeds are nearer $3.50 an acre than SlOO.
Under this showing there will be no
doubt but larger acreage will be
planted next season. The writer has
long since given up as hopeless task
the idea of attempting to influence grow
ers against overproductlon. The price
is the only regulator of acreage that we
know of, AS long as tobacco sells at
such figures as has been paid for the '90
and '99 crops just so long will the
acreage in this state keep on increasing.
Nothing but poor crops or low prices
will prevent it. Wisconsin farmers can
produce tobacco cheaper than any cigar
leaf state and overproduction effects our
growers the least of any. Ours will be
the last to reduce acreage when such
time comes and it surely will, as the
market conditions now stand.
Xxx
We Judge it is not altogether lovely
| delivering the high priced New England
leaf this year from the following taken
from an eastern exchange:
"There is considerable complaint
| among growers that packers are inclined
to insist on docking liberal amount
when deliveries are made. Some have
| even thrown up the verbal contract en-
| tigeiy when no forfeit money was paid
| down Some who put up little money
] to bind what then appeared to be
! shrewd bargain are beginning to squeal
| and want the price lowered few cents.
| It is very nice gsme to drive over the
| country on a bright summer day, with
nice turnout, and when everything ap-
{ pears rosy and contract for tobacco. 1t
| all appears as though big bargain had
been struck and that the packer was
sure to make good thing. Now that
occasional crops show some dark colors
| from the cure, because of changes for
| which nature is alone responsible, it is
| seal play ON the part of the packers to
| wlnch and try to either shirk, beg off Or
| cut prices IN the contract. There is just
| as much reason that packers should
share in fnctuating valuations, caused
! by changes of nature, when crops are
| bought while growing in the field, as to
shift the burden entirely on the grower.
| The grower should insist on the contract
price and with no doclzage. If any grow
,ers are losers, they should remember
The Homestead's advice, given each
summer, to demand $10O forfeit money,
| if the crop is sold while growing
This, comes naturally from buying to-
.bacco while standing in the fields. The
practice is indefensible from any business
pointof view. The proper time to buy
tobaeco is after it is cured when it's
merits can be seen, when both the buyer
and seller know just where they stand.
The annual meeting of the N. E. To
bacco Growers Association held last
week at Hartford, Ct, adopted strong
resolutions against free trade with our
new insular possessions, which will
doubtless meet the approval of tobacco
growers everywhere. They are as fol-
lows:
WHEREAS, q condition now exists so serious
as to threaten the very eXiStance of the leaf
tobacco interest of this country by the abSOrp
ton of large competing islands in leaf and
sugar products;
WHEREAS, it is now seriously proposed to
open up at once free trade with the island of
Porto Rico; and
WHEREAS, whatever claim may be made as
to our future intentions and relations with
Cuba and the Philippines we regard the ad-
mission now of Porto Rico integral part
of the United States in the light of a dangerous
precedent. the sure forerunner of ultimate
disaster and ruin to the leaf tobacco and cigar
interests of this country therefore
RESOLVED, that we enter protest against the
proposed absorption of Porto Rico as an in
tegral part of the United States, and, as we
believe, that any legislation by congress rela-
tive to the government of these islands brings
them under the civil Jurisdiction of the United
States and the people therefore thus become
citizens of the United States with all the rights
inherent in citizenship, including those of free
migration and free trade with the other parts
of the United States: therefore
RESOLVED, that we reaffirm and indOrse the
letter addressed to the Connecticut delegation
by the board of directors last summer, and
urge in addition that as we deny the right of
citizenship to all other people earth until
after probationary period of residence here |
of tive years; therefore
RESOLVED, that the Islands should remain |
under the military jurisdiction of the United |
States for period of at least five years, was
the case in New Mexico and other annexed |
territory: and further
RESOLVED, that in the meantime steps should |
be taken to secure the adoption of a consti- |
tutiOnai amendment providing for colonial |
system and civil government of all insular |
possessions, separate and distinct from the /
United States.
RESOLVED, that the widespread alarm ap- |
parent among not only the leaf tobacco and
cigar interests, but all others that vii be in
jured by free trade in competing products of |
these islands, should and we earnestly hope
will be sufficient warning to honorable mem
bers of congress to proceed slowly in matters
of legislation involving as it may, not only the
happiness and prosperity of thousands of |
American citizens, but the possible ruin of
large American industries, the building up and
preservation of which has been the chief con-
Germ and greatest value of legislation in the
past.
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