The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-11

TO the effect that "the great tobacco trust
is oeerilow.:sss in benefit to tho farmers
in q way that they would not have pc
leyed possible six years ago. our OF
scrvation is that The Times is not y
PAPER that goes OF igalf-cocked. II IS
conservative cautious fair and has rea-z
sons for the faith that is in it. We sus-
pect that 1t based that statement upon
facts ;tsccrtaincd by observation. ms
impression is confirmed by ooscTFatloii
here. Tobacco is bringing good prices,
better than have prevailed for years. III
the trust las driven off all competitors, as
the Pilot practically alleges. 1t has been
benevolent and liberal enough to pay
better prices than usually prevailed Eefore
IL got into the market, competition or no
connection. Our news items from Mar
tinsyile, as they appear in TINS morn
iug's Register, contain the statement that
tobacco which, two years ago. would
NOT have brought more than 81, IS now
selling at from Sc to IS. These facts seem
10 rs TO DISPOSE. in general terms, OF the
categorical questions propounded TO us ny
the yirgin!an-PiIot. Like the lily In the
amber. the impressions which prompted
our contemporary questions are not SO
remarkable: but the circumstance that IS
marvellous about them is how the dickens
they got there.
We are not surprised to find this con-
so-vativc view Of the questions in the
columns Of our Danvillo contemporary,
although no city was originally more
opposed TO the so-called Tobacco Trust
than the city of Danville. and for GOOD
reason, for the trust struck Danville
severe blow and practically revolutionlzcd
its tobacco industry. But sentiment III
Danyillc has largely changed because con-
ditions have changed. and Danvillo is
now adjusting itself and its varied in
dustrles to these new conditions Dan
vile is still doing a large tobacco bust
ness. although it is very much more con-
centrated. There arc fewer tobacco fac
tories and fewer leaf tobacco dealers, be-
cause the Tobacco Trust has largely abb
sorbed the business and driven the indi-
yidual dealer out of the trade. But there
is a. dcmanI in Danvillc for every pound
of tobacco that is brought in from the
country, and the American Tobacco Com
pany and the Continental are giving en-
ploymcnt 10 large numbers Of people, and
Danyillc men who were formerly in the
tobacco business arc now turning their
attention TO other branches of industry.
Many OF these men who formerly took
gloomy Wow OF the situation do not hest
tate now to say that the Tobacco Trust
has been q blessing in disguise, and OK
press the conviction that Danvillc is in
a better condition generally than ever
before in its history. with the future full
Of bright promise.
As for tho tobacco planters, they have
the comfort of knowing that tho Tobacco
Trust is more dependent upon them than
they upon the trust. What would the
trust do without the tobacco planter?
II is absurd to say that the trust can so
into the producing business and grow its
own raw material. 1t must depend upon
the farmer for its supplies of raw to-
bacco, and it must pay a reasonable price
for this product, else the farmer will quit
growing tobacco. The farmer can live
without the trust, but it is apparent that
the trust cannot live without the farmer.
All this goes to prove the contention Of
The Times for years that this great prob
lem of combination which has been giving
the people so much concern will sooner
or later solve itself according to the well
established laws of trade.