The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-15
Morrisville, N. c., Jan. 10, 1908.

MOrrsVille, n. c., Jan. 10, 1908.
Capt. j. r. Hutchings, Danville, Va
NV Dear Sir:-I suppose you see from
the newspapers that there is an effort
being made to organize the farmers
knowing your long experience as ware
houseman and having patronized you a
great deal in the past, feel that l may
ask your views on the subject There
seems so far not any plan suggested and
nothing tangible to start on except to
preach organization. Do you think or
ganization could accomplish anything
unless it developed some plan by which
the planters tobacco could be controlled
and sold through one organization? l
realize that time is short, and if you do
not object l would be glad to have your
general view of the situation for publ
cation.
Your farmer friend.
w. b. UPCHURCH.
CAPT. HUTCHING'S ANSWER.
Danville, Va, Jan. IA. 1903.
Mr.. VIM. b. Upchurch, Morrisville,
NV Dear Sir:-Your recent favor re-
ceived and carefully noted I was glad
to hear from you and to see that you
are still interested in matters pertaining
to your great fraternity, namely, the
farmers of this country. Yes, sir,
have been reading of the proceedings re-
Gently going on to organize the farmers.
OF course having been fed by their pat
ronage for 26 years in the warehouse
business, would naturally make me feel
an interest in such matters, especially
if could see where l might return some
compensation for a liberal patronage be-
slowed on me. l do not see as yet where
/ could do any good: as at present it is
as you say: they seem cropping IN the
dark to catch on to something to pull
them out of the wilderness, without any
thing definite to act upon.
This might be considered a dangerous
subject for warehouseman to handle
as by some narrow minded men, every
effort at organization on the part of the
farmers is viewed as fight against the
so-called tobacco trust. warehouse
man stands between the farmer and all
buyers, both Independents and trust, and
in giving my views, l feel that l can
handle the subject without prejudice
and in a manner just to both sides. So
it is with a feeling of this kind that
/ submit you a few ideas along the line
requested.
/ stand on organization just where
stood three years ago when the farmers
attempted to Misunderstanding or
ganization as a good thing for the farm
ers and the only medium through which
permanent relief may be assured on the
other hand, insisting that in any and all
ton, there should not be any attempt or
threats or any intimations of any dis
elimination against any buyer whatso-
ever, Independent or trust. There should
be no attempt in the least towards boy
cotting any firm or brands of tobacco of
either Independents or trust, but feed all
out OF the same spoon, treating all alike,
raising the impartial banner: Justice to
ALL" and the aims of the organization
/ solely for the benefit of the farmer.
The organization should have for its
object to control the output of crops,
and to control and sell through a COM
/ pact organization all the farmers tobac-
co in certain parts of irginia, North
Carolina and South Carolina and Ten
nessee. l do not think that an organiza-
ton could do any possible good unless it
did control the output of tobacco and
the selling of the same
l do think that a plan through which
to sell could be established / have
given it some study and see no good
reason why it could not be done without
prejudice to the trade.
OF course, the farmer would want a
profit on his labor Prices of the last
crop could easily establish that. The
manufacturers of the country on seeing
an organization facing them l am sure,
would not object to paying living prices
and would simply add three to five cents
advance on to the consumer and would
doubtless be glad to see the farmer in
shape to control the output of the crop
and also demand moderate profit on his
labor. | know all fair-minded men would
! not object to it in the least
The section proposed to organize is not
too large. The Alliance and Grange both
took in too much scope and too much
politics. If you undertake to run politics
into your organization, it will be bust
ed" to 90 with.
I think if there ever was time on
earth that had come for any purpose,
that time has very largely arrived for
the organization of the tobacco farmer
The harvest is ripe right now. The farm
ers of the West are now organizing very
fast. The Fruit Growers Association has