The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-10-14

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


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The buying movement has lapsed into
about as quiet methods as are often seen
through the early stages of lifting crop
IN this state. Even the sending out of
the buyers of the American Cigar Co.
into the field has failed to arouse much
competition in the market and the con-
tracing for the crop on the polls is pro-
ceeding in a most moderate manner.
From business standpoint this is
condition to be commended and in
marked contrast with the buying that
has sometimes taken place in this state,
when the hurry and hustle of cam
paign has led to many i'll advised trades
or ending in reputation of contracts.
But in the present situation there is not
much encouragement that the market is
ready to take over the crop at prices
that buyers are willing TO pay for selec-
tions. If, as has been asserted, there is
an apparent shortage of available binder
stock, there ought to be greater activity
IN the buying movement now that the
crop has cured out so that its character
can be pretty we'll determined OF
course there are many of the conserva-
tive buyers who prefer to wait until the
crop is ready for market before taking
the field, but the speculative element is
nowhere as prominent in the deal this
season as usual. It is noteworthy fact,
too, that the great bulk of the buvng so
far has been done by manufacturers
rather than by jobbers, which may be
another reason why packers prefer to
| maintain conservative attitude regard
ing the buying of tn ew crop.
x.
The most effective way, says the Z. S..
Tobacco journal, of interfering with
| Secretary Taft's plan to make the United
States free dumping ground for Phil
! ippine tobacco and cigars would seem to
get strong enough opposition pledged
| against it in Congress. And now is the
| time, if ever, to get such pledged oppo-
sition. Congressional nominations are
| either being made now or have been
made already. The candidates are run
ming on their party's faith, but this faith
will not prevent them from being pledg-
ed for or against specific object. A
candidate for Office wants to be elected
and few are SO scrupulous as to refuse
or antagoniZe votes needful for their
election by a too strict adherence to
| their party's tenets Particularly in the
case of Republican candidates an aban-
| donment of the protective system which
| is preached by Secretary Taft in favor of
the Philippines would be gross viola
ton of the party's strongest political
tenet and it should not therefore cause
! any great difficulty to receive from the
Republican Congressional candidates a
pledge that they will stand by their
| platform even against Secretary Taft.
Driven we'll nigh to desperation by
disastrous prices received for lest years
crop farmers in the dark tobacco dis
trict, composed of 25 counties in Tenne-
see and Kentucky, have organized for
protection against the encroachment of
the trust. A mass meeting was held in
Guthrie, KY, at which more than 5000
persons were present. 1t is said that
never before have planters in that sec
ton been so thoroughly aroused. Last
year tobacco produced in the dark belt
sold at distressing figures. Many good
crops changed hands at 3 to $40 per h.,
and some of the best posted tobacco
men in that section say the entire 1903
crop changed hands for less than sc per
ID. in the bundle. This is below the cost
of production. Planters believe they
are now in a position to prevent the
trust from utterly paralyzing the indus
try as another season or two such as
last year would have done An organ
ization known as the Gainesville Dark
Tobacco Planters association was form
ed, and will shortly be Incorporated.
Those at the head of the movement are
among the foremost tobacco producers
in the dark belt. A committee consist
ing of one person from each of the coun
ties in the district was appointed. Its
duty is to see that auxiliary organiZa-
tions are strengthened to the greatest
possible degree. The different districts
of each county are to select a member
of the board of directors of the associa-
ton, and this board names it's chairman
and vice-chairman. With the prelim-
mary work we'll in hand the tobacco
farmers of the dark belt will later evolve
plans for the disposal of the coming crop.
~
Word has been received that the cigar
manufacturers in Havana do not at all
approve of the action of the Treasury
Department in changing the form of the
customs stamp. Mr.. Quesada, the Cub
an Minister to the United States, made
some inquiries into the matter at the
Treasury Department. but finding that
action had already been decided upon,
and, quite possibly, believing that Cuba
had no diplomatic right to protest IN the
matter, he made no attempt to interfere
in the case. 1t is not believed here that
the Cuban government will take any