The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-04-19
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


The following is a copy of the pledge
which the Society of Equity is asking
Wisconsin tobacco growers to sign:
I'VE, the undersigned, for and in con-
sideration of the benefits to be derived
from having our tobacco handled and
sold by the Wisconsin Growers Associa-
tioD, do hereby irrevocably pledge to the
said Association all of the tobacco we
may grow or control during the season
of 1907, and do constitute it our sole
agent for the purpose of receiving, grad
ing, handling and selling the same on
such terms as the Association may pre-
scribe in accordance with it's constitu-
tion and bylaws. We furthermore
adopt said constitution and bylaws as a
part of this contract and make this in
strument an application for membership
In said association
To layman the instrument looks very
much as if it were a binding agreement
and could be enforced. Growers, there
fore, should go into the arrangement
with their eyes open, knowing that after
signing the pledge they are legally held
to it's requirements and must abide by
it's terms. It is as binding a contract as
though they had contracted their crop
to dealer in advance of it's delivery. If
they do not intend to carry out their
part Of the agreement to turn over the
control of the sale of their tobacco to the
association they had better not sign, else
trouble is likely to ensue. Let there be
no Misunderstanding about this matter.
The writer has no disposition to attempt
to influence the growers against the
proposition, but We cannot refrain from
calling attention to point brought out
in communication from Mr.. Pomeroy,
published last week, when he said: "The
movement now on foot to withhold the
tobacco from the market until stripped
and in the bundle, if carried out, can
only prove detrimental to the interest of
the grower. With this plan the selling
must be done late in the winter, and
past experience proves that in about
nine years out of ten the market is in it's
worst condition at that season Of the
year"
***
EDITOR REPORTER: / notice In the
tobacco discussion column an article
from I'll. S. Pomeroy. [ can say, for one,
that [ endorse every word of it. He
wasn't afraid to sign his name to it.,
either. Why should not a farmer, when
he sells a crop of tobacco, have con-
tract that means straight bona fide
sale? When man comes to buy farm
er's hogs cattle or grain, he makes the
inspection, they agree on the price. Each
man acts in good faith, and when the
time Of delivery comes they are taken
without a murmur, whether the price
goes up Or down in the meantime. When
man comes to buy his tobacco; he has
the same chance of inspection as the
other. If he is foolish enough TO try to
buy the tobacco before it is ready for
the market by all means let him have it.,
but make him take whatever risk there
is, and compel him to draw the contract
accordipgly-or else let it alone. Ii this
point is insisted on and maintained by
organized effort on the part of growers,
it will put stop to premature buying of
tobacco and all the attendant evils that
SO many growers cry out against. Have
the contract read, "all the crop to be de-
livered and accepted at certain time,
in the bundle straight, " in a merchant
able condition, and insist ON reasonable
sum being paid down. Then let the
farmer see to it that his work is honor
ably done, according to contract, and
stand firm at time of delivery.
A. X. WALLIN.