Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-31
TO GRAND RAPIDS
FOR CONVENTION
Our Correspondent has Written
US an Account of the Potato
Tobacco Growers Convention

US an Account of the Potato
Tobacco Growers Convention
A, E. McAssey, of the town of
Grant attended the convention of the
potato and tobacco growers branch of
the a. 5. of e. which was held In
Baraboo Oh May %, %, and as this is a
subject that is interesting a number
of the farmers of this county at the
present time we give it in full.
Our correspondent says:
A short account of the convention
of the Wisconsin potato and tobacco
growers branch of the A. S. of E.
| which was held at Baraboo on Tues
day and Wednesday of last week may
be OF interest to many.
After arranging several committees
and other preliminary work we were
favored with several interesting
speeches, among which was one de-
livered by Mr.. Taylor of Indianapolis,
Indiana, 1.-THE head quarters of the
association,) He gave in detail an
account of the condition of the plan
ters in the eastern and southern states
both before and since the arranging
of the tobacco growers strike two
years ago, He spoke of their des-
titute condition in the past and the
nope less condition that only people
depending on single crop can come
to when the price Of that crop is con-
trolled by heagGhlesS trust; of the
long days work of women and children
with hope OF nothing better than to
barely exist from one year to another
without comforts, leisure on school
ing and now when the crop was
good the price was reduced so as to
bring the value of the good crop much
below that of short crop. He
turned to government statistics and
showed how d, 100000 10. crop sold
for $780, 600 less than a 10000, 900 lb
crop, virtually costing the growers
S3,Oo0,000 to give away 100000 lbs.
besides having it used as a club to
beat down the price of next years
crop.
He then told how the a. s of E.
organized the growers, got them to
pool their tobacco to be sold under
one management and set their price;
how through the aid of the society
the farmers were able to secure loans
on their tobacco in store amounting
to more than what they had previously
sold 1T for and compel the sale of
every pound of last years crop before
the new crop is placed on the market
and have raised the price from SO, ,25
per 100 lbs, to 1925 per 100 lbs. the
good effect of which is seen In both,
country and town among farmers and
merchants alike.
The tobacco growers of Wisconsin
passed resolutions to follow a similar
course in marketing their tobacco.
The potato growers will be next to
take the step to control marketing
and to that end committee of five
were elected to meet the growers
representatives from Michigan and
New York and other potato growing
states, in Chicago next month,
whether a strike is called en- this crop,
this year will depend on how well the
organization is perfected in other
states. 1t has been deemed unwise by
the committee Of the Wisconsin
growers to initiate such a step until
further organization is perfected in
this state, Every farmer should fall
in line and be ready TO act when the
call comes.
If anyone thinks that controlled
marketing will raise the price for
consumer let them ask the tobacco
users if they see any change in price
on that product since it has been
placed under control.
The question of where to hold the
next state convention was taken I'D /
and Grand Rapids was mentioned as
desirable point but the matter was
turned over to committee of which
S. P. Kump of Cambridge is secretary
and any one. interested in having the
convention held here will do we'll to
write Mr., Kump concering the
matter stating what inducements
can be offered. We expect between
two and three hundred delegates and
the convention will be called in
January.
There has also been mention of a
local union to be formed in Grand
Rapids as well as selecting this place
as most desirable for organizing a
county Union for Wood county. There
is also talk of local union being
formed at Vesper.
For printed matter concerning the
society address N. c Crowley, Baraboo,
Wis.
VIII the secretary of local unions In
Wood county kindly get an expression
from the members of their union
regarding the organization of al
county union to be held in Grand
Rapids and report same to G. w,
Hickman, secretary of local union at
Kellner, and chosen delegate to the
national convention to be held at
Indianapolis Ind.