Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-02-23
JOIN TOBACCO ASSOCIATION.

The proposed change of the man
ner by the tobacco growing portion
of the farmers Of Southern Mary
land in putting their crop upon the
market has materialized and there
seems to be every prospect of practi-
cal results therefrom. The first step
in the direction Of the tobacco grow
ers controlling their crop after its
being pnt upon the market was to
establish types under and by which
ii could be known and called and
sold, and then prices put upon the
same-snch prices as would yield TO
the growers a fair remuneration from
the industry, and this has been done
The grades used by the French gov
eminent, which buys more than one
third of the crop and really controls
the market, have been designated as
types A, b and G, and upon those
types minimum prices have been
fixed, which are II, s and Scents per
pound. A special committee from
the Tobacco Growers Association
and from the Union of Commission
Merchants engaged in the sale of this
product have in charge the fixing of
the types of the darker grades, and
this will soon be done. The types
having all been practically established,
the plan is to hold the crop off the
market until the first of May, when it
will be thoroughly conditioned and
fully worth the value placed upon it.
A circular letter to this effect has
been sent out by the Association to
every grower. 1t reads
Committees from the Maryland
Tobacco Commission Merchants
Union and the MARYLAND Tobacco
Growers Association met together on
Feb. l4th, and arranged for the
French grades of Maryland grown
tobacco as follows:
Glass A, II cents.
Glass B, 8 cents.
Glass G, 6 cents.
These to ! e the minimum selling
prices after May 1st next. Meantime
growers are advised to hold their
crops off the market and to strip,
handle and pack their tobacco with
the greatest care, in order that it may
eventually come into the market in
the best possible condition.
With this much accomplished the
outlook for good prices for the to-
-haeeo- crop this spring is most en-
eouraging, but then there is one more
thing to be done, and that thing is a
most important factor in the success
of the project. 1t is the banding and
holding together of all the tobacco
growers. The trouble has been the
buyers have controlled the market.
The plan now is to shift the situa-
tion-for the growers to control the
market. This can be done by the
growers holding together and de-
manding profitable prices. Such is
the meaning and purpose of the
Tobacco Growers Association, If
the tobacco growers will get together
and hold together the end in view
will surely be accomplished, and
every one who stands out and does
not join the Association is an enemy
to himself, his neighbors and his
friends. Unions of this sort all over
this country have accomplished great
results, and why cannot the tobacco
growers by the same plan do as well?
Are they of class less conscious Of
their own interest than their fellow
citizens engaged in other pursuits -?
No; they are not. We believe they
measure beyond the average citizen
in intelligence and have as full con-
ception of conditions as the people
engaged in other industries, and are
in an honorable way as ready and as
willing as the former to confederate
for their common good.
Sc, we advise that every farmer in
this County join the Association. Do
scat once. The names of the gentlemen
designated to receive applications will
be found in another column. The to-
bacco growers in the other counties
of this section are engaged in mad
rush to join the Association, and we
hope those of this County will not be
less anxious. 1t is this plan that will
get better prices, or nothing. If we
succeed we will have accomplished
great end; if we fail nothing is lost.
The plan is not an experiment tits
the practical contamination of safe,
solid business proposition.
The INDEPENDENT wishes it to be