The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-08
TOBACCO-GROWERS
SHOULD ORGANIZE
Views OF Banker-His Earnest
Advice to Raisers OF Dark
Weed.
SEVERAL OBJECT LESSONS
Blackstone Banker Urges Farm
SEVERAL OBJECT LESSONS
Banker Urges Farm.
ers OF Dark TobaccorBelt to =.
Combine for Protection.

BLACKSTONE. VA, September Il
The farmer VIII doubtless ask himself
why should one who is following the
pursuit OF banking interest himself in
the Dark Tobacco Growers Association
Of Virginia, as 1t appears to be tho
opinion Of some of our farmer friends,
that the only use that the banker has
for him Is to charge him the biggest
interest possible on his note and re-
joice in an opportunity to protest tho
same IL not paid the day 1t is due. Not
so. however, and II he will duly con-
slider, he will doubtless conclude that
the power which shall advance the in
terest OF the farmer likewise shall be
for the advancement of the interests of
the banker. the merchant. the miller,
the blacksmith, the undertaken and
about everybody: but IL the farmers
will not amalgamate themselves fof the
furtherance of their own interests. who
shall they rely upon to do 1t for them?
Some years ago when the writer was
bookkeeper in hardware store IN
Blackstone, Va, or perhaps a manu-
featuring plant, he owned small farm
not far from the town limits. on which
he then, and now, resides. during which
time the Dark Tobacco Growers Assoc
citation Of Virginia was organized. He
saw the importance OF organization,
and while he grew then no tobacco, ne
associated himself witt. the organiza-
ton for the purpose of lending IT What-
ever aid that might be in. his power.
| He has grown but one crop Of tobacco.
| that Of 1906, which Is now in the hands
| ne the association, and his 1909 cro2
| will also be turned over to 1t as soon
| as 1t can be housed and the leaves
| stripped from the stalks. and expects
to do likewise from'year TO, year duran
1 the life of the association. SO long as
| his product means collateral Value
with the banking people, for the ac-
| complishment of purpose which our
Farmers should have striven for ere
| this. This is the interest which have
! in your welfare as brother farmer.
.7The bankers interest being so close
i 1y allied with that of the, farmer, 1t
/ behooves every banking Institution IN
,Ethe State to encourage and Support TINS
/ great and important move the con-
/ ditions are such in the Dark Iopaccc
i Belt Of Virginia that nearly every
i line of business Is dependent to very
d great extent upon the prosperl.y "
i tho farmer. particularly the country
banking institutions, which. IN
:, measure, are but feeders for the larger
4 CITY banks, and we must therefore pf
II alive to the situation, as the banker
who In days, gone by, sat in his easy
chair and waited for DEVELOPMENTS C
make his business, must change M
methods, or else take a back seat, by
pressing developments, or else his IN
stitution will be on the wane.7 There
1 fore, as merchants. rs bankers and a.
everything else, we should amalga
]! mate ourselves with the farmers 70
1.-THE accomplishment of one commo'
!, good--that OF making the Dark TO
bacco Growers Association of Virgins
one Of the strongest organizations o
: modern times, and instead of beinl
: forcel to accept the small figure whic
i has been allotted to the tobacco pro
I. Queer before his crop has even bee
Q housed, we ourselves be In posltio
J, to say what price we shall receive
j, Then and not until then, shall we Sc
i the farmer With money in his poke
which to pay his store account:
81 his fertilizer accounts and all other &C
: counts and the vaults OF our bank
S overlooking with the money of8sth
\, farmers, whittier they have brought y
r for sate-keeping.
+ This Is day of organization. :,
S expressed. and supported by our Chic
Executive, Theodore Roosevelt, befol
al an assemblage Of Western farmer
nj during une of his Western tours, 70
g without Organization, We can con
-