The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-14
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER IA. 1907.
The woods nrc the true temple
nfter all. for there the thoughts
nrc free 10 mount higher even than
{. the clouis.-Cooper.
TOBACCO PLANTERS OFT
GASIXEf

GAMER
The recent victory of the tobacco
growers organization in Kentucky
has provoked no end Of discussion, and
many views pro and con have been
expressed. No one is bold enough to
deny the right of the farmers to or
ganize for their own protection. the
point OF debate being whether or not
II is for the benefit Of the planters of
Virginia to combine, pool their tobacco
and hold II for a fixed price.
This branch of modern organization
was begun several years ago In what
Is known as the dark shipping" Sec
tions OF Kentucky and Tennessee, nn1
our information is that 1t has proven
In the main to be successful in those
sections. The planters In the com.
bine have their tobacco put up joint
~, and what they cannot sell at home
they dispose OF by sample elsewhere.
or 1t may be trat the tobacco is
shipped to market in bulk and sold
through a commission merchant. or
direct to the factories.
The situation Is somewhat different
In Virginia The farmers OF the States
their tobacco is much more easily as
sorted. In Virginia however, the to-
hacco growing industry is represented
in the main by small producers. some
OF whom are negroes til,ing rented
lands. That makes joint operation
more difficult and we learn that In
nany cases the crops of several farm
ers in the orge IMITATION must be packed
I'm the same hogshead. the weight OF
each being kept in the account ard
distribution OF the proceeds made, ac-
cording TO the several interests. after
sale is effected.
There are other conditions to be
considered. In the first place. most OF
the dark tobacco grown in Virginia
is marketed in foreign countries. and
each country requires its stock to be
put up In different way. For example
tobacco intended for England must
he stemmed and packed In dry con.
iition. and the stems must be re.
moved while the tobacco is green. To.
bacco going to the continent calls 70.
different weights. different quantit,
OF moisture, VARYING lengths, and sc
on. Full knowledge of the demands OF
the various markets, the state Of trade
and the like is necessary to Intelligent
handling of the crop as 1t comes from
the field. and every farmers organiza
ton should have mana ger, who pos
sesses such knowledge and who will
prepare the tobacco accordingly 70,
market The farmers must also Sc.
to II that their manager is an homes
man, and not schemer who is work
ing them for his own profit
In fixing the price the organlzatio,
should also have care, The pric.
must not be set at figure so nigh a
to scare off buyers. for even though
the price be finally obtained, If tin
tobacco Is held for long the shrink
age. insurance. carrying charges
etC., 6le likely 10 oNeTDdldnCes the gain
Nor must the farmers organizatio,
manage in such a way as to drive th
small, independent manufacturers on
of business. for that would be direc.l
in the interest of the trust, and
calamity to the farmers. The Times
Dispatch also thinks that 1t would b
against the Interest of the planter {
eliminate the riddenan. The ware
housemen OF Virginia have workc
faithfully for the farmers, have ad
vanced them money and looked afte
their welfare generally. Few OF the,
have made more than a scant llvin,
and the service they have rendered ha
certainly been worth TO the farme,
every cent they have paid for 1t.
We have endeavored in these r,
marks 10 present both sides of IL
case fairly, and TO give the tobaet
planters of Virginia few practic
hints for their profit The upshot
the matter is that farmers organ
cation intelligent!y and conserva, tive
managed will be helpful and proatabI
but managed otherwise 1t will do Il
tobacco planter more harm than good
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WARNING TO LIQUOR DEALERS.
The Dabney ordinance for the reg
IA