The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
Southern Tobacco Growers.

Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
5ir,-l am an old-fashioned Methodist
and feel like shouting when a good man
who has given his influence 10 the wrong
side Is converted and come. over 10 see
tne right. between the hot winds OF
August and the cool. bracing air OF De-
cember. The editor Of the Southern
Planter has undergone wonderful
change OF heart In the August issue
OF the Planter he was lameuting the
tact that a large tobacco dealer was
Trying TO sell some short leaf at seven
and half cents per pound TO some
mysterious manufacturer. who spoke in
an unknown tongue TO us. and lived in
far-of country. BY Interpretation hc
said the short leaf was enormously high.
that there was no more demand for Viz
klnia and hurley tobacco. Alas, alasi
Greece and China We're supplanting us
with Java. Sumatra. and Manila TO help.
ana this mysterious man makes this
threat, that n the situation is not changed
they VIII use very little more tobacco
iiom the United States, What situation?
W ny HE price must bee reduced. I viii
SIMPLY say IN this connection that the
situation has been changed by the e.
AoTts or the Tobacco Growers Associations
or the different States. and by them only:
anu tne prices have not been reduced.
either This man rejoiccs chat the sltua-
uon helps his home planters 20 not
know what part of the earth they plant
VIZ nAt expect they need help. judging
from his opinion OF prices.
The dealer Then berates the fact that
Europe is not dependent on us for to-
nacco' that the high prices will compel
them 70 change their brand. and then
1heF VIII Dc slow 10 change back 20 to-
n"'co from the United states. / wonder
'N America Is using all % our tobacco
at the advanced price. Export men are
Btill anxious f0r H. anyway
Inc editor then threatened us with
John Bull through his Canadian pos
sessions. but put his foot IN Il when he
tod how much more the Canadian planter
was getting Tor his tobacco than we
were. without knowing he was telling
lt. replied 90 this article and the
editor very kindly published my reply
IN the October number Of his paper I
asked him for the location Of the manu-
lacturer, and also said II the dealer would
let me know how much short lear he
had al seven and q half cents. that 1
could sell IL for him. also asked him
how much tho farmer got for the to-
hacco the dealer was Offering at seven
and "A half cents: but 10 none Of these
questions Ola Pee reply he was very
much AFRAID though. that we were going
% KIN tie goose that laid the golden esg
lie said The farmers need not sell their
tobacco az auction unless they choose 70
oo so, Tn uis he was mistaken Ger
tainly az regards this section. as en- pas
.
refuse 10 buy from the planter except on
the warehouse nOOr
Tn the December issue q the South
crn Planter, the editor publishes an ac-
count ~ meeting Of tobacco growers
az Bowling Green. In Caroline county.
How Ee found out about this meeting
do not know. For three years or more
tne tobacco growers of Virginia have
! been holding meetings and organizing. not
"a month has passed during this time out
meeting has been held In some section
OF the state. Yet the Southern Planter
knew nothing OF them. bot as soon as the
editor found out about that meeting az
Bowling Green. he not only published u.
but we find him right over the fence
on the farmers side. How he got over
DO not know. possibly he cravlcd
| through a hole. or took "a running start
| and cleared the fence az one bound Anv-
way. as soon as he did get over. he bc-
gan 70 yell sic 'em. TiEc." Note what
he says we strongly urge our readers
who grow sun-cured tobacco 20 tOin these
gentlemen ga trying 20 esta bllsh some
huSinessllke method OF marketing their
tobacco. and 20 quit the hit or-rrlss-
haphazard style Of dumping tobacco on
the market which has been la vogue all
ready twenty-five years too long He Is
converted as sure as YOU are born. and
| rs already beginning 20 preach the very
I identical doctrines we nave been preach
ing for "a numbr OF years and / do not
believe De IS near 50 uneasy about the
| health Of that goose as he was last
August. and mas "a better opinion 81 tie
! price OF the eggs. too. Why he viii re-
port some OF our sales in round lots
before long. and then you viii hear
him say BETSY. can't We XIII bears
| Brother Jackson. we extend TO you the
right hand Of fellowship. The newspa-
! pers Of the state paid very little at
tention to us al first later some Of them
began 20 0ristie UP and show their teeth.
but now most Of them arc beginning TO
wag their tail and look pleasing. a few
are on our side. II the press. our United
| States Senators and Congressman, the
business men and bankers OF the tobacco
I sections had given the tobacco growers
OF the South the same aid that was given
the cotton growers from this source, we
would have had the situation under con-
troll lOng assO. But with few exceptions,
singIe-handed and alone. we have had 20
make this night and We are going 10
win % SIRE as the night succeeds the
! day. because we have the principles OF
! eternal Justice on our side. We have
made up our minds that We have been
fooled and robbed long enough. and 10
adopt modern business principles-organi-
| cation and cooperation.
4. O. KERNS.