Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-12-14


tobacco is grown. met Tuesday. the
9th, instant. at the Maryland Agri-
cultural, College Park, and formed
the Maryland Tobacco Growers As
sociation. The association decided
to incorporate with capital stock
of $50, 10000 as a start, and de-
clared it's aims and desires in a set
of resolutions which put the move
merit in official and definite shape.
Officers were elected as follows:
President-William A. Walker,
Mount Airy.
Secretary-Franklin Weems. Of
West River, Anne Arundel county.
Treasurer-John FL. Drury, Cha
ney, Calvert county.
Mr.. Walker, the president, is what
is known as an "up-country" grow
er. He moved to Frederick county,
Mount Airy, 10 years ago and took
up place on which there were but
six cleared acres. He has had great
success with fine yellow tobacco,
fire cured. as contrasted with the
sun-cured crop grown by the South
ern people.
Mr.. Weems, the secretary, has a
large farm at West River and anoth-
er near Marlboro He is secretary
Of the Patuxent Planters Club, Of
which DR.. Richard S. Hill is presi-
dent. and has offices at 225 Colorado
Building, Washington. Mr.. Weems
is an 1ctive worker and has already
done much in shaping affairs for the
new organization. He personally
directs his farms and has no ten
ants.
Mr.. John III. Drury lives at Che
ney. Calvert county, and has always
lived on his own farm. He stands
high as practical farmer and is one
OF the comparatively few who have
really made money on his own farm.
He is regarded as one of the best
handlers OF tobacco in the State.
This is his first public Office. He
has always kept out OF politics.
AS will be seen from the resolu-
tons which follow, the aim is to reg
ulate the tobacco industry for the
benefit OF the grower. For the last
three years there has been no profit
in tobacco for the grower. The mon
ely which has been made, the grow
ers declare, has been got by the
agents who sell. This is the prin-
cipal cause Of complaint, and the as
ISOLATION will endeavor itself to sell
what its members grow. As has
been before pointed out. the associ-
alton has an object lesson of other
associations OF growers, including
the cotton men, farmers selling as
sociations and exchanges.
AS a principal aim, besides that
of trying TO sell to the French Gov
eminent, which buys 10000 hogs
heads OF tobacco year, direct, the
new organization will also try to i'm
prove the local or domestic markets.
A short talk by Mr.. Patterson, of
the experiment station, was cheered.
He pointed out that much money!
could be made by a study of the
wants of small buyers, and that the
effort to put up goods in the shape
he desired could be made with com.
paratively little labor and would
bring good results.
The indication Of the leasing of a
warehouse in which the crop may be
inspected and held free for members
Is that the association will begin
next year to market for itself. The
borrowing and lending OF money is
another indication of the intended
scope of the movement. The ten
antry system in force in Southern
Maryland makes this necessary. and
money will be loaned to the men who
are farming as tenants. This will
relieve many growers of the need of
money advanced by tobacco commits.
sion men, who practically own the
crop before it sprouts.
Following arethe resolutions adop-
ted:
Resolved, That the present condi-
ton OF the market for Maryland to-
bacco is such that it must change
for the better or the growing of to-
bacco be discontinued, either volun-
tarily or involuntarily, by our plant
erS.
ResOIred, That the board of direc-
tors shall appoint a committee on
sales OF tobacco, to consist of six
planters. Said committee shall
secure accurate reports on the crop
for 1905 as to its quantity and quail
ty and shall make public announce
ment thereof, with its opinion OF
what should be the market value OF
the different types of the crop. This
committee shall inform itself of the
prices realized for said types by the
planters and IT. in itS ind 0uaar. A.