The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-11-02
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


"A 4NCW AOIh tfodC PoROA PaoiiohOS -
blacklist of congressman from tobacco
growing states who are willing to sacri-
flee the tobacco growing interests OF this
country by opening the tariff doors to
Philippine tobacco, and urges the defeat
OF these men. It believes that it the
congressional elections should return the
Philippine free traders in full force, the
Payne bill is sure to be resurrected In
the senate and passed with flying colors.
1t therefore behooves the trade to down
with their votes on November all those
congressional candidates who by their
votes on the Payne bill have favored to
replace the American cigar industry
with that of Manila in the American
market. The writer has not much con-
fidence that this campaign of opposition
will be effective DOW that the nomina-
tions are made. Therefore the better
plan, it strikes US, would be to convince
the congressman elect the justice of the
argument now raised by the trade. To-
day Wisconsin's tobacco is selling at 10
and l6 cents a pound. Let us not forget
that between 1892 and 1896 the farmers
were getting and cents pound for
It, There was no money in it at the lat
ter price, and many farmers gave up its
cultivation. Now that it is once more
the most valuable crop the country
grows, let US keep it in that position.
Had the cheap stuff from the Philip
pines come in at one fourth of the pres
ent duty and without the payment Of
any duty at all after 1909, does any man
believe we could maintain our present
high prices for our tobacco? These are
things to remember. These are some of
the facts that ought to influence fair
minded congressman.
Xxx
Judge Allread, of Darke county, Ohio,
has just rendered a decision which
should be of decided interest to the
packers and farmers generally. Every
year, when prices have had a tendency
to huctuate, there have been numbers of
cases where the party to whom the con-
tract had become undesirable was inclin-
ed to hedge. Early contracts are good
deal of gamble and it is not pleasant
TO be caught at the wrong end. The
farmer naturally hates to hold by pre-
vious promise to have to take nine cents
for his goods when he sees the same
grade Of tobacco brinsing twelve and
thirteen cents all around him. Likewise
the packer or dealer is not fond OF pay
ing an agreed fancy price after the mar
ket happens to have slumped. ln such
q case he might rather lose the advance
money be may have given the farmer.
Judge Allread's decision has to do with
4 crop sale made by Isaac n. Burns OF
New Weston, Ohio, to the Hoffman To
bacco Co., of Marietta, Pa, the contract,
or paper in evidence, was signed Septem-
Der 2, 1905, and the tobacco was to be
delivered at New Weston in March of
the present year. The agreement read:
September 2, 1905.
have this day sold to the Hoffman
Leaf Tobacco Co.. my entire crop of seed
leaf tobacco at cents per pound for
wrappers. cents per pound for filters,
trash. and pay for cases each. |
agree to deliver the tobacco to them into
Weston in a sound or meachantable con-
dition in March. Isaac N. Burns
It seems Burns failed to deliver the
goods and the buyers at once brought
suit for damages. Counsel for the de-
fendant urged that the contract was not
reciprocal because it did not bond the
plaintiff to take or pay for the tobacco
on delivery. Judge Allread, however,
ruled that the contract was valid &C
knowledgement of the sale and agree
ment to make the delivery. The de-
fendant agreed to deliver the tobacco IN
March without stating the year. IL
think" says the Judge, "the rule is fairly
we'll settled that contract of that kind
would be construed to be the succeeding
March, not any March, and with that
read into the contract it would be def
mite" It does not state in the publish
ed account of the case whether the
agreement as quoted bore the signature
of the Hoffman Tobacco Co. We assume
that it must have, else there was nothing
whatever official to show the tobacco
company as party to the deal. Ii such
a signature were unnecessary, any farm
er in the land might prepare form, Sc
lect responsible leaf house as the other
party, sign his name and realize on it.
On the other hand, the farmer should
see to it that his copy of the contract
holds the proper signature of the firm
with which he is dealing, unless he is
amply protected by an advance payment.
Of course when both parties are honest
and we'll meaning no trouble or dispute
is likely to occur; but If everyone were
honest there would be no need for law.
Unfortunately there have been farmers
who promised their crops at an early
date with the full intention of evading
the promise should circumstances rem
der it advantageous to do so. There are
some leaf buyers also, who take advant-
age of every trick and subterfuge to in
sure themselves the best of it, or to rid
themselves of bad deal. AS matter
of fact, greediness on one hand or the
other, is usually responsible for litiga-
ton.
*x*
The department of manufactures of the
census bureau has compiled the follow
ing interesting statistics of the tobacco
trade, involving every branch connected
with the manufacture OF tobacco with
the exception of that branch OF the in
dustry which is engaged in the stem
ming and. rehandling of leaf tobacco
The value of the combined output OF
cigars and cigarettes, smoking and chew
ing tobacco and snuff manufactured in
the United States in 1905 reached the
stupeudous sum of $685.. ,681, as com
pared with 1868, ,977, ,5l4 in 1900, gain of
S67, 7,14O,O67, or approximately % per cent
-, Gv,o H. nf QnG