The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-03-09
Success Not Dependent On This Years
Sale.

Sale.
Editor Hcrdld.-As some OF the
friends of the Tobacco Growers AS
ISOLATION are of the opinion that its
existence depends absolutely upon
the sale Of present holdings, and be-
lieving this unfair to the Association,
| take the opportunity Of stating my
views TO the contrary.
They tell us, "if you fail this time
it's your last chance etc, and is really
expressive Of greater confidence in the
undertaking than could reasonably
be expected at this stage, for don't
think any rational man expects the
Association to carry out fully its pur-
pose in one year For several reasons,
the life Of the Association is assured
for more than one, two or even three
years. If the effort last year TO sell
tobacco at the barn was failure, and
admitted to be so by the originators
Of the scheme, why didn't the Asso-
citation 90 to the wall then? Why
didn't the higher prices on the open
market during the first Of the season
keep tobacco out Of the Association ?
All such temporary checks to the pro-
gress Of the movement are only more
vivid OBJECT lessons of the power of
the trust and monopOlies to grind and
make beast Of burden Of the grower,
and will simply add fuel to the flames
already lighted. The situation OF the to-
bacco growers is desperate. Hell born
in the lap Of poverty, rocked in the era
die Of adversely, and it is a struggle
from first to last. He is driven by ne
cessity to organization and naturally
anticipates trouble in the present con-
flict. In the face of the advanced
prices Of labor, Of the extra cost Of fer
tilizers, Of the many changed condi-
tons he is forced to meet, it is claimed
that tobacco is selling for good prices,
when il is in reality hardly above the
cost Of production. Furthermore, he
is not only entitled to "good price"
but what belongs to nina fair and
legitimate profit, and nothing short
Of this should ever satisfy him. If
he willingly barriers away the fruit of
his toll for a mere pittance, he is trail
tor to humanity and to civilization.
Were it possible for the trusts and |
monopolies TO kill the organization |
and eventually get control Of all the
farms, they should likely have to deal
with labor organization which could |
easily strike for higher wages and pro-
duce a situation very serious indeed.
The world must have tobacco for con-
sumption, and aside from that the
immense revenues derived from this
source by European governments
makes it indispensable to their finan-
ces.
In view of this, il is absurd to think
that the effort Of the growers to share
in the wealth he produces would be re-
laxed for an instant.
a trip through Southsde Virginia
will convince the most conservative
that something ought to be done. The
average farm probably changes hands
every ten years, and a great number
Of them once year, and if this con-
.inues much longer there will be no
VIrgnan in Virginia. Our country
Is said to be 80 years behind the times.
This splendid climate, this land Of
clear streams and pure water, Ofhealth,
with all the advantages Of classical
,ducation is not appreciated by the
and never will be until our
fields are made more attractive, until
,ur farms are made rich and produc-
i've. Our cities and towns will con-
inue togrow slow Farmville, perhaps
Is old as Chicago, will remain its pres
mt size unless something is done to
elieve the poverty Of the country }
which gives them birth.
1t is not probable that one man or
et Of men will be able to stop the :
present movement, which is nothing
ess than a great economic reform and
destined TO live its own life. The 9
armer is only following suit in this
and busy age Of centraliza- I
ion and consolidation.