Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1904-08-05
CONCENTRATION
AS rleans Of Relief From the Di-
Iemma Tobacco Growers Now
Find Themselves In.

In church, state, railroads, 6nan
ces and business affairs of every
nature, there is one idea that is so
prevalent that we not only see it,
but feel it, and almost breathe It,.
1t both ramifies and penetrates.
Concentration is new disease
which if We are not trying to catch,
we should be, for it is the essence
of success today. Extreme concen
trated force must of course be met
by counter force, though often of
a very different character. The
force of mans brain has turned Nj.
agara, writing sea OF water,
peacefully into channels of greater
usefulness, where it plays an i'm
portant part ia the economy of our
every day lives. Concentration of
thought and action is becoming
more powerful year by year, until
it almost seems that it is all-power-
tul, and yet this is not true. In the
light OF past progress there is no
concentration Of force, or power,
whether physical, intellectual or f.
nancial, that will not become a
greater force. This concentrated
force is not necessarily trespass
upon the equitable rights of others,
but unfortunately, when placed in
the hand of fallible man it usually
becomes so, and therefore TIE ne.
cessity for a common force. The
tobacco growers have felt the hand
of oppression and ruin laid heavily
upon them. They have encountered
a concentrated force that is spread
ing despair and desolation in its
wake. There is no means of van
gushing an enemy more effectually
than by making him fully respect
you, and from this, lasting and de.
sirable relations have grown
Concentrated thought and concen-
trated action upon the part of the
tobacco growers can easily accom-
plish that end which they desire, a
better price for their tobacco. Men
of every other vocation organize,
and organize advantageously, GER
talnly growers can, and they must
inevitably. 10 days gone by there
we're organizations among farmers,
such as the Grange, Wheel, Farm
ers' Alliance, etc. These organiza-
tons were cumbersome, unwieldly,
containing membership in many
states, having many salaried off
GERS, and last but not least, having
politics, the monetary system of the
country, and divers other things
injected into them, until they died
LOT their own weight. In this tobac-
co district, however, there should
be an association with but one end
in view, the better price OF tobacco,
and make that an entirely local
matter, affecting only about thir-
teen counties in Tennessee and
Kentucky. 1t rs the easiest and
simplest relief procurable, and
can be accomplished without gum
shot of abuse, or the hosting of the
sword of vituperation. 1t is cas-
Ter of accomplishment than the hold
ing OF an ordinary county election.
1t can be accomplished without a
violation of the law, or without an
infringement upon the inaienable
rights of others. We have already
neglected this matter too long.
When a thing is inevitable, when
we easily see the necessity for con-
centrated thought and action, it is
best to do it promptly. We have
not lost an inch of ground, or a sen
timent of patriotism by the delay.
Such an organization can be as
easily effected now as at any time
IN the past, but we have sacrificed
our tobacco unnecessarily for sew
eral years. The press, that indis-
pensable alley to every movement of
Importance, is heartily with the
grower, the sentiment of the world
is overwhelmingly with him. The
opportunity is at hand right now.
There are preliminary organiza-
tons, with intelligent, progressive
men at their heads, to do the bid
ding Of the growers. The farmer
is somewhat like the young lion, he
has not learned his strength, he
has not fully appreciated the
strength of organization. Another