The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-11-29
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES



But small fraction of the crop was
removed from the curing sheds during
the casing spell last week, and it is ap-
parently mark of good Judgment that
more was not taken down. There seems
to be a considerable portion of heavy
stems in the late harvested crops which
ought to remain hanging in the sheds
until we'll towards spring. 1t stripped
now there is little hope that growers
could ever care for them in way that
would cure out the wet stems, but it al
lowed to hang will eventually cure out
and make merchantable leaf There is
really no reason for hurrying the strip
ping this early in the season as long as
the chances for sale and delivery of the
crop are so remote.
*x*
The strenuous opposition developed in
last congress to Secretary Taft's prOpO-
sition for free trade with the Philippines
must have had some impression upon
that gentleman, for in his utterances,.
official and otherwise, during his recent
stay in the Philippines, Secretary Taft
took good care not to renew his former
pledge for absolute free trade in tobacco
and Cigars with the island. He spoke OF
tariff concessions, duty reductions and
the like, but the promise of free trade
was stunned. A burnt child breads fire
and our Secretary of War has more than
burned his fingers in his free trade can
vass. Besides it would be rather more
than awkward issue for candidate OF
Presidentia aspirations.
***
The u. S. Tobacco Journal diagnoses
the present financial situation as case
of ''the penalty of too much prosperity
which it alleges follows reckless advances
in the prices of commodities of all kinds.
Everything grown or manufactured has
been inflated far beyond reason or ex-
pectation and reaction was certain to
follow. Itwas like riding before fall.
But to further quote: "But nothing
human is vouchsafed eternal permanen-
cy. The constitution of the strongest
body is liable to break down, or get out
of gear at least il excesses are INDUCED
in for any length of time. And so it is
also with the body economic. Not only
our High Finance, but likewise also our
trade and commerce have for the past
few years lived too fast, swallowed more
than they could properly digest and
their spoiled stomach is paying now the
penalty of too high prosperity. Our
leaf trade and cigar industry are natur-
ally infected not only by the general
nausea OF indigestion, but by their own
:-dulgences in the excesses OF too high
prices and too large and too extended
credits. The United States Tobacco
Journal issued note Of warning in it's
first issue of the current year when the
trade prosperity was at it's height, but
we were taken severely to task for utter
ing a tone of discord in what appeared
the most serene era of harmonious in
hation. We were convinced then that
packers in contracting for domestic filler
and binder leaf in the fields at 15c we're
acting both contrary to sound judgment
and with a levlty accountable only by an
irresistible instinct of immoral gambl-
ing and that the inflated prices will have
to burst like bubble with disastrous
results. The denouement has come later
than expected, but it was unavoidable.
It is upon us now and we have to face it
with SOLDERING sense of self restraint.
A crisis in the economic life OF nation
can as little pass into immediate recov-
cry as the crisis in dangerously sick
patient. Recovery requires time and
patience, and above ALL careful nursing.
If the trade will bear this period of trial
patiently and with an indomitable will
| to mend, it will emerge from it stronger
than ever
~
A dispatch from Cincinnati indicates
| that crisis is nearing in the hurley
| market, one that means everything to
| the pooling project of the Society of
Equity. It is reported that the plant
ers, through their pool officials, have
| given the American Tobacco Company
| an ultimatum that nothing of the 1907
crop shall be sold until that of 1906 is
| out of the way. The pool controls about
| 62,OOO,0OO pounds of the hurley of 1906,
| 100000 pounds of which is in storage
| in Cincinnati and Louisville and the
rest vet to come forth from the country.
| The crop Of 1907 is reliably estimated at
E176.OOO,OOO pounds. Reports have it
| that the pool officers are desperate and
are willing to play their last card in the
| legislature of Kentucky in order to ac
| complish their purpose. The financial
crisis may bring on the collapse Of the
Burley Trust as much of their backing
| came from banks in the country districts
where money is reported to be fairly
scarce. That they may meet with calls
| from the bankers is a phase which is be-
ing daily feared by the friends of the
| pool. If they can weather the financial
storm then they will go to the legislature
| and attempt to bar the American To
bacco Company from the blue grass re-
gions as being corporation formed for
| the purpose of smothering competition.
| It is said that its officials have been in
! conference with tobacco officers with a
view of selling last years crop at an
| agreed figure These efforts are not
likely to meet with success as the mar
ket will call for decreased output
should existing conditions continue for
even a short period Already some of
| the new crop has appeared in the Louis
/ vile and local markets. The growers
/ pool hopes to induce each grower not to
plant any tobacco next year, in that
manner gaining control of the situation.
| Such campaign is one that will be
hard to bring to successful issue. In
/ the event of the Equity Society's pool
i being a failure it will bring untold losses