The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-07-13
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


That speculative craze of the wild
est nature is gaining foothold among
the tobacco trade of this state is becom-
ing each day more evident. The old
conservative buyers fairly stand aghast
at the proposition of buying tobacco
hardly rooted in the fields at prices far
in excess of those paid in Wisconsin for
some years past. They can see only
ultimate disaster if such methods are
PERSISTED in. If it were a month or six
weeks later and the crop was we'll on the
road toward maturity, there might be
some excuse for an early rush to the
fields. II we could be assured that
timely rains would fall during the grow
ing season; that hail and heavy storms
would spare this crop; that weather
most favorable to the curing would fol-
low; that ideal market conditions would
continue-th the speculative elements
in the proposition might in measure be
eliminated. But who now can set him
self up as prophet enough to foretell all
these things? If all reports are true,
there is nothing attractive enough in
the present condition of the growing
crop in the Vernon county section where
the chase is the warmest to warrant the
buying scramble now being enacted. If
this field buying ends in disaster as
many predict, it must eventually mean
double loss, not only in exhausting the
resources of the buyers, but the growers
will surely suffer in years to come. The
hope of fairly prosperous trade must
lie in the realm of saner business meth
DDS, and it is gratifying that the larger
operators recognize this fact.
~
With from one to two hundred buyers
riding the growing tobacco sections dur
ing the week the amount of tobacco
actually placed under contract is ex.
ceedingly small. Some judges place it
at 800 acres all told. The avowed incen-
tive of most of those riding up and down
the country highways is to keep track of
what the other fellows are doing, and at
the same time hold the expectations of
the growers up to such pitch that no
one following could make trade. It's
an old trick, but justified by those who
do not care to see the market started so
early in the season. But it is trying on
horsefesh and pretty expensive as we'll.
Such a proceeding must be intensely
amusing to the farming community, for
only small portion of the tobacco grow
ers care to dispose of their crops at this
stage of the game for they recognize full
we'll that unless their tobacco comes
through the season in proper condition
they could not deliver it under the con-
tract. 1t must be a mighty attractive
offer that is made them that will inf1u-
ence their determination to wait until
they have produced something to sell
before tying themselves up to the terms
of the usual tobacco contract.
~
And now comes the Society of Equity
with protest against contracting tObac-
co in the fields, indicating that the grow
ers themselves are not pleased with the
way the speculative germ is working,
and advising that saner business meth
DDS prevail. Here is circular being is
sued to it's members:
Members of the American Society of
Equity: Your attention is called to the
fact that at the Dane county convention
held at Cambridge in April, 1906, resolu
tions were adopted by that body and
confirmed by the State convention, held
at Baraboo on the 22nd ard 23rd of May,
advising farmers not to sell or give op-
tions on their tobacco in the field Or on
the poles but to hold it until it is strip
ped and put in bundle, thereby avoiding
all risk and chance for trouble on the
part of growers and buyers.
J. G. HANSON, President,