The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-27
Tobacco Chat.

dent to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Tobacco Chat.
Col G. L. Webb has been requested
by Harper Bros. of New York, to write
an article on the cultivation of tobacco in
North Carolina. Col. Webb has written
the article and has sent it together
with a number of photographs of to-
bacco scenes to the publishers The ar
ticle will offer in the big Southern edi-
ton of Harpers Weekly, which is to APP
pear in July, 1903.
Col. John w. Cunningham, president
of the North Carolina Tobacco Grow
ers' Association, writes the Southern To-
bacco Journal that meeting of tobacco
farmers will be held in Winston some
time early in 1908. Efforts are being made
by the association TO organize county as
scciations.
The total sales to date on the Wilson
market amount to 1861, 527 pounds
against 12,693,9S2 for the same period
last oCdSOH, dloO an lhNASeto VI nv
per cent 1t is noticeable from the SUI
pervisor's report that the decrease in
prices have been steady for the last
three months. The average price paid
on the Wilson market for December was
a fraction over nine cents. For NoVem
Der the average price was II 9-100 cents
per pound, and for October nearly 1919
cents per pound The average price
for the season is eleven and half cents.
Wilson News.
The meeting of those interested in
bright leaf tobacco, which took place at
Rocky Mount Friday was one of great
interest to the farmers and independent
tobacconsts in Eastern Caolina. The re-
cent decline of thirty three and one third
per cent. in the price paid for the raw
material by the trusts after their con-
solidation calls for some action on the
part of farmers and independent men for
their own preservation. The sentiment
for organization at that meeting was
unanimous and will doubtless result in
great good to the farmers, but another
very important question presented itself,
one which every farmer should consider
we'll for his own protection; that is he
should not increase his tobacco acreage
next year in the face of the present de-
clining price, but should rather pay more
attention to food crops and diversified
farming. The farmers have made money
on tobacco this year, it is true, but the
indications now are not such as to lead
one to believe the prices ruling in the
early part of this season will prevail
0Cir no
and cutting down the acreage in fact,
where advisable, will be advised by the
State Tobacco Growers Association, an
organization that is certainty working
in tine interest of the tobacco farmers
Kinston Free Press.
The Washington Progress prints the
following communication under the head
line Strike the Nail on the Head"
after attending the Tobacco Growers
Association l find that the farmers are
in favor of organization, but did not
state any plan how they should organize
After consideration L think L have the
right plan. Let the farmers and the mer-
chants form union to use no more to-
bacco in any form from the American
Tobacco Company unless they will come
to some terms with the tobacco growers
of North Carolina, and if they will not
do that let the farmers build their own
factories and take care OF their own
tobacco. They can do this if they will,
and that is the only way to break up
combines and trusts. We do not need
any legislation in that direction; the pow
er is in the people and not in the legis-
lative halls. Let alone the warehouse
men and save the charges for yourselves.
Let the man who wants to buy tobacco
come to your pack-house and buy your
tobacco. The farmers should and ought
to take care of themselves, and that is
the way to do it. Now, farmers and
merchants, let's form a union and break
down these trusts.
H. c. CHERRY.
p S.-Let it have the name Of the
Farmers. Laborers and Merchants Union.
The American and Imperial Tobacco
Companies have combined and reduced
the price of manufactured tobacco from
25 to 80 per cent. This is ruinous to the
tobacco growers This is an international
monopoly and if at all can only be regu-
lated by international agreement. That
agreement can never be obtained. As it
now stands the tobacco farmers, buyers
Except the trust buyers), and the ware
housemen are at the mercy of this robber
which already has its iron hand upon their
throats. Something must be done. War
has been declared by the monopoly. Let
the tobacco growers meet the invader by
thorough organization. Form mo-
nopoly, trust, or whatever it may be
termed to defend the farmers and others
interested against the invader. 1t can
be done, it must be done. North Caro-
lima, Virginia, East Tennessee and South
Carolina grow all the bright tobacco. 1t
is said that North Carolina grows seven
ty-five per cent of all the worlds sup
ply of bright tobacco. Then if this be
true. with proper organization the farm
ers can turn the tables upon the trust and
ride it with an iron hand. Aided by
other home capital, if necessary, they