The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-12-25
LEAF DEALERS BANQUET.
GAINESVILLE Association of Leaf Dealers In
vltes the Trade to a Spread and
Talk Shop.
Tobacco Exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition.

vile Leaf Tobacco association TO the
second annual banquet, held at the
Grand Hotel of that city on Thursday,
Dec. II, was accepted by more than 60
members of the trade about the state,
and like it's predecessor proved pleas
buet, which was served from 1:30 o'clock
on, was seven course affair and was
fanltless both as regards cooking and
the service, rejecting good deal of
credit upon mine host Sweeney. While
the social feature of the banquet largely
predominated there were questions
brought out by the after dinner speeches
of interest to every branch of the tobac-
CO business.
After the last course had been fin-
ished and the cigars passed, Mr.. Sanford
Soverhill, president of the association,
gave short address of welcome to the
visiting leaf dealers and introduced Geo.
H. Rumrill as tcastmaster. The speaker
told the assembly that men who invest
millions of dollars in their business
ought to have many things of common
interest, which was indeed trite state
ment The question of making an ex-
hibit of Wisconsin tobacco at the St.
Louis fair he believed was one of those
points which had been assigned to A. L.
Fisher, in the absence of ex-Gov. Hoard.
who had been expected to address the
gathering on that subject Mr.. Fisher
said he thought it was highly desirable
that Wisconsin's great producer should
be given an important showing at the
| exhibition, but from all he could learn
| the money necessary to make the dis
| play would have to come from the deal
ers. He suggested that fund be raised
| and some competent person engaged to
| take charge of the samples and exhibit
and talk Wisconsin tobacco throughout
! the exposition. The suggestion met
| with general endorsement. Ms.L. B.
Carle said he was much in favori&ksthe
| project and thought dealers would be
very willing to not only furnish SAMPLES
but contribute to the expense of show
| ing them. Mr.. Strauss thought the
state owed to itself that proper ex-
hibit be made and the dealers should en-
courage the movement The result of
the discussion was the appointment of a
committee consisting of f. S. Baines, O.
| G. Lee and VIM. Mcintosh to solicit
funds and act in conjunction with the
state association of growers and dealers
| in the same movement.
Tobacco Insurance" was topic as
signed to Mr.. O. G. Lee of Stoughton
| e., ,hoo Iusc oil
keep we'll protected by insurance as a
| ures showing over 5000 paid out an
| sin for insurance protection. While he
thought the tobacco rates high, the
remedy lay largely in improving the
| risks. If we could build warehouges
with solid walls, metal roofs, being care
full about exposures, and keep clean
buildings, we might be entitled to better
rates. There is some talk about mutual
companies but he was not prepared to
recommend them, though the amount
| paid out in ten years above the losses in
Cured would make fund large enough
to put such company on sound fnan-
cial basis. F. S. Baines and Samuel
Grundy advocated the mutual plan of
insurance and committee was selected,
composed of Messrs. Baines, Child and
Lee, to investigate the matter.
The question of "How much should be
advanced on tobacco contracts" brought
| out variety of opinions from dealers
expressing themselves, though it was
agreed that advances should be kept
within reasonable grounds.
Mr.. n. P. Strause of Madison had
carefully prepared paper on Unity
Among Leaf Tobacco Men," in which he
paid high compliment to the James,
vile association for jnaugurating good
example. He dwelt upon the social side
of the gatherings of this character and
thought much good might result to both
grower and packer through associations
to promote fraternal spirit.
The toastmaster announced that he
had received the following original poem,
said to have been written by an Oxford
grower, named John S. Sprinklesome:
For those little drops of water
And those little grains of sand,
That find their way in our filler stock,
You should not make stand.
You should be more liberal.
Remembering all the while,
That such thing is proper
Now that watered stocks the style
Now when you pack those filters
In cases bright and new,
EOu ought TO feel quite thankful
That they only cost you two
And should those little microbes come
This property to share,
Show them your filler cases
And bid them crawl in there
And say, Pretty little microbes
Make yourselves at home,
But keep inside those filler cases
And let the rest alone
And when you come to sample
And should find little must,
You should not be discouraged
You might sell out to the Trust.
Or. if you should fail in this,
You have another chance;
They make the best security
To put up at the banks.
Or for every case of filters
You might print 10000 shares,
And send them down to Wall Street
Amongst the Bulls and Bears.
And when the deal is finished,
And your paper stock is sold,
You'll find your filler goods
Are worth their weight in gold.
Oh, could you but remember
Tbat If iS