The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24
The Farmer and His Tobacco.
Of THO es.DIanatch.


ssir.--1 have Just road with much
surprise and regret letter III your
Sundays Issue Of February 18th, signed
-. ]. Allen. In which he attempts to
show tho farmers Of Virginia that
they arc losing money by selling their
tobacco through the associations. This
Ia the first lottor OF this kind that
I have seen from any "snnnll dealer"
in Virginia. Just to think that Mr..
Allen, born and reared on tho farm,
who saw on opportunity to buy his
brother farmers tobacco at low prices
and grow rich ut his expense, has now
seen ut, after twenty years Of pilng
UP gold, to strike blow OF their
efforts to better their condtionl Now.
Mr.. Allen, remember that thou, in this
while the poverty-strlcken farmer. who
has been producing your wealth. has
eked out bare living. Tho state
ments made in your letter would hnve
sounded better had they enanated
from any other source than n Small
dealer" IN tobacco No doubt Mr.. Allen
has spont slecpless nights as he, with
his prophetic eye. could foresoo Ills
business going from him, and his heart
sank within him to fool that, sooner
or later his magnificent stone factory
would become tho haunt Of the night
hawk, and 1.-THE owl would sing his
watch-song in Its towers" want to
remind him, in the first place, that
the statements made by him were un-
truc--not Intentionally 30, but from
Ignorance Had no been member
of our association he might have
known better. want to- say further
that some Of tho tobacco that was
sold through our channel had been
priced by Mr.. Allen at i've cents per
pound, and tho farmer refused to sell
to tho 'fllbcral buyer" and put It In
the prizing-house; and on ono hogs
head alone, after paying Ill charges.
made clear prof of about $40. No
Of his side. He then would buy more
0 ga tobacco at from to cents.
Mr.. Editor. the reports for the past
threo years on all grades Of Virginia
| dnrk tobacco haven't been but one
donar in advance OF tho lug price that
Mr.. Allens calculation made net to
I, farmer-viz., $500. would like to
know why Mr.. Allen secs ut to at
tack the farmers association. Ii 1t
| because he SO loves the farmer that.
In their infancy as I'M organization,
he. with his piles OF gold. would crush
them by using your valued columns?
GO to-" Mr.. Allen; this but strength
ems the feeble knees and lifts up the
hands that hang down." anu makes us
moro determined to throw of tho yoke
OF bondage, and place the price on our
labor N the same proportion that other
lnborcrs arc doing. When we fall to
do this. Mr.. Allen will then rejoice,
as another harvest will be open to
| him There arc other dealers In a
small way''l1n tobacco In this State,
| but not one has seen fit to lit his
hand against tho poverty stricken to-
bacco grower 7 want to say to the
! farmers that are taking MIR. Allen into
i their confidence, beware lest he set
\ a snare for you. and bctray you with
"a kiss, and be sure to give him the
fright information.
! n conclusion, Mr.. Editor, wish to
say that this is not a fight of dollars
and cents, but OF right against might.
The officers are not paid for their
work; they are working for tho prn-
ciple4end Justice Of the cause, and are
not weary Of the fray.
I am sorry to have been called on TO
answer this erroneous report and
/, comment ON the association that
/ have tho honor to represent In this
4 State: but tho duty that owe to
myself and the cause demands II. ME-.
\ Allen paid the association good prices
| for what tobacco he bought from us.
/. and we arc ready TO soil him more
when he runs short. In making his
estimate the next time, l trust he
me.y begin right
Now, Mr.. Editor, I leave Mr. Allen
to tho tender mercies OF pardonins
God and the lashings Of q guilty con-
science. to bring to his remembrance
the hard struggles he had while a
i farmer in Cumberland county. He VIII
d know that the farmers of this genera
ton are not SO easily excited or mis-
lied by "cxtravagant statements. We
4 are no experts In the tobacco business
\ (save expert growers for the dealers
! prof,t). and I am sorry to know thai
/. should we make q mistake in pricing
l our tobacco too high, Mr.. Aller
would be "tickled to death AZ out
4 downfall Stand by your guns, fellow,
/ farmers. and remember that eterna
i Vi glance is the price OF liberty.
u. T. BONDURANT.