The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-03-13
TTE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgcrton. Wisconsin.
Arbitration of Tobacco Disputes.

LEE OF STOUGHTON.
Considering the amount of business IN
leaf tobacco in this state, and the num-
Der of deals and contracts made in con-
tracing for a crop of tobacco, reallzlng
approximately three and one-h half million
dollars in virtually five counties of the
state, namely Dane, Rock, Columbia,
Vernon and Crawford, end the amount of
each of these contracts being probably
in the aggregate this year S4OO, making
about nine or ten thousand contracts;
and as majority Of these contracts were
made when the tobacco was hanging IN
sheds, and many when part Of the crop
was yet in the fields, it is not surprising
that doing business this way, and prob
ably. by $50 different tobacco buyers,
that there should not arise some differ
ences of opinion and misunderstanding,
when the crop shall be put upon scales,
weighed and paid for, whether the crop
is put up according to instructions and
in accord with the terms of the contract,
and vet [ ha We heard of no serious cases,
and [ know of no disputes which have
been appealed to the courts for adjust
ment this year. While many of the to-
bacco buyers may fail to do what seems
at the time to be fair and just, | claim for
the tobacco buyers, residents Of this
state, to be as honorable and square,
under the circumstances, in their deal
ings as any other business men.
AS proof of this assertion [ will men
tion the fact that the years when the to-
bacco crop of the state is sound and
clean from all damage, so that it is very
easy for the farmers to clean the crop
without much effort, there is hardly any
trouble in delivering the crop.
Tobacco sellers should commence to
realize and understand that the tobacco
buyer can only look out for his own in
terest and not, that of the other party
THAT is the seller, as many think he
should. Ii the seller makes bad deal,
many blame the buyer for it. [ would
rather buy crop of tobacco from good
business farmer than to deal with an
ignoramus. The price of tobacco is not
so much the contention in making con-
tract, if the crop is very good, but it is
when the crop is medium, when it is diff
ficult for the buyer and seller to har-
monize.
If Professor Henry would teach the
farmers boys to understand the value of
tobacco, as we'll as butter, a revolution
in tobacco buying could be effected, SO
that a crop worth 4 cents could be
bought for that price, and crop worth
10 cents could not be bought for less
than that price.
arbitration, generally speaking, are those
oe licV0o;fiop Of
ty rights It is claimed that references
between husband and wife have been
among the happenings in arbitration and
those adjustments have been held valid.
Whe an agreement to refer disputed
matter to arbitration has been effected,
each Of the disputants furnishes the ar
bitrator with statement of his case,
brief, and on the day appointed the par
ties may appear in person or by lawyer,
and furnish proof of their claim or con-
tention. When this is completed the ar
bitrator may give his award. This can
be done in a'verbal manner, though it is
much better to do so in writing.
Now [ will state that an arbitration
board could be named by this organiza-
ton, who by the consent of both parties
could convene when called upon, at the
time and place agreed upon by the par
ties in dispute.
The board should hear testimony and
examine property, agreements or con-
tracts in dispute. This board should
consist of three persons, one tobacco
grower, one tobacco dealer, and the third
man Of some other business. The
award of this commission should be
final, there should be no appeal from
the findings of this board.
This, it seems to me, is the short road
to settle differences in tobacco deals, as
we'll as other transactions, instead of-re--
sorting to the courts, which are gener-
ally so expensive and which produce and
increase bad feeling.
Whether arbitration would be practic-
able and useful in the. tobacco business,
there may be some doubt with many:
but future tests would demonstrate, to
some extent at least, the result of it's
workings. If there was such board in
existence I think it would do this if
nothing more: I think it would help to
make more intelligent and careful con-
tracts.
Here is one of the greatest causes to
disputes in the tobacco deals. Many to-
bacco farmers are so anxious to dispose
of their crop that they sign any kind of
contract, and in many cases do not
even read them. The contract will gen.
orally say "all damaged tobacco excluded
from this sale"
There is also in this connection much
fault with some of the tobacco buyers
Many methods are resorted to to induce
the ignorant to sign these contracts.
Some say it is only receipt for the ad-
vance money, and it is necessary to have
your signature, and many other schemes,
and fair and square understanding of
the contract is avoided. 1t is generally
those who understand the contracts the
least, and those who never fulfill them,
who sign them the freest. [ expect as
long as we continue the practice of buy
ing and selling tobacco in the fields and
on the poles before it is ready for the
market we will always have more or less
trouble in delivering tobacco, and in the
settlement of tobacco deals.
If it were possible, | would rather
form combination or a compact, even
if you called it trust, for the purpose of
the practice of buying and
selling tobacco before it is ready for mar