The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-22
AN Appeal to the Farmers.

Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Ss Slr,-Last fall when the tobacco mar
high. and the warehousemen gave as a
reason for the advanced price short crop
IN the West and In Virginia. II After most
ofathe crop had been sold, or put into the
association suddenly prices on fine leaf
tobacco dropped, and the ssanleo people
gave. as q reason for the decline in sprlce
the tremendous crop. Of fine lea tobacco
made 1 IL 1900 The does
planted In the dark-tobacco section Of
Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, but
rather decrease IN these three States
drerent parts Of this state do do not ,ts re.
port an extra heavy crop from any sec
ton. The Western crop is not Weighing
as e!7 they, expeeted butthe reports from
for tho decline I'M price Fof. hno Virginia
leaf tobacco, but 81 is certainly}$to the,
interest Of the buyers Of this grade Of
since a large quantity Sof this type Of to-
bacco Is in he association. What Is tho
prospect tor the 1906 crop? 4 Up to this
planted in this state than for years, on
account Of dry weather and scarcity Of
plants. The unfayorable seasons. the ex-
fceptional scarcity OF labor. resulting
and the building Of the Underwater Rail.
road. extending through the entire length
OF the dark tobacco -sectiopNof this State
will very much shorten the crop Z here'I
published on June 9th, says that less to-,
bacco has been planted In Kentucky and
Tennessee up to date than for years. + on
account OF the dry weather. ,TheI;bigh
the acreage planted In tobacco In, North
and South Carolina. The 1906 crop bids
fair to be the shortest for years. and 4
the tobacco growers Of this country will
n 1ion hoH
each other. pledge the 1905 crop to be
sold through the association. put fair
and equitable price on their tobacco, and
be is'e crowned o. ned With Success. q great many
good tobacco growers who did not put last
years crop in the association have prom
ised to pledge the 1906 crop. We need
In selling tho 1905 crop. It does seem
to me that any farmer who has any man.
hood In him. and who has seen the Efforts
and sacrifices some members OF the To-
bacco-GroWers' Association. have made,
and are still making, would not hesitate
to pledge the. 1906 crop, and do all IN his
power to mako this undertaking q sue
cess, III
We not only need the help and cooper.
alton OF all the Intelligent farmers. but
we need the helm and asslsta nee. OF the
experienced warehousemen. II TINS
viii wi, have have to employ experienced tobacco
men to handle It's tobacco and men who
know the tobacco trade to grade and sell
1t, It Is not the object of the assoc!a-
ton TO take the tobacco out OF the hands
OF experienced men or out OF Its regular
channel except In the mode or way o.
selling. To put tobacco, or any product
on an open market and sell with Just q
pretense OF competition, ls farce. and
every honest warehouseman knows y,
and ought to admit II. Under the pres.
ent system OF selling tobacco there is
not salesman In the State that can
add one dollar to the average price ot
tobacco sold on his floor; and the farmer
who makes It, or the man who sells y,
has no more voice In the average price
at which tobacco is sold than the mule
that ploughed It. in discussing
this matter recently with a prominent
warehouseman OF Petersburg, Va, he ad-
mitted that the above statement was
true, hut said the reason the. warehouse
people were 80 retlcent and slow 70 take
hold OF the, association was that they
had never had any proposition from tho
leaders OF the association Its'does seem
to me that the time has como when the
Intelligent, wa rehouse managers, who love
the farmers SO much.d and sympathize
with them 30 deeply, ought not To- wait
for a formal invitation, but manifest their
cove by cordial cooperation and as
sistance and quit discouraging the mem
bers OF the association BY telling them
that they, can never sell their tobacco,