The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-08-13
THE TOBACCO TRUST Is \ HOG.

The Atlanta Iourr.i thinks I to-
bacco trust would probably BE- willing
70 compromise the case with the
government right now for about tween
- Millions and a promise not 10 do -
any more" TIA would BE- getting Or
light, but the Journal don't know tho
tobacco trust It's desires are modest
All II wants IS the earth with = baToe3
wire fence around It. Tobacco
trust IS n hos and wishes al the
swill-
Everybody knows thai the to-
bacco crop IS short this year. BE-
fore the markets opcned in Eastern
North Carolina those best posted pre-
dicted that prices would so 20 twelve
cents on the opening sales Accord
ing 10 the workings % supply and de-
mand. an average u twelve cents a
pound would have been low water
mark. But the trust Gecreed that the
armers should get only seven or eight
cents a pound for their tobacco. ana
that Is all that IS being paid Tor bright
tobacco in the Eastern markets. n
Wilson Times. published in the biggest
bright leaf tobacco market In North
Carolina thus writes editorially OF the
condition:
The Ioiicy OF those who fix prices
for tobacco seens TO be TO make them
Unfortunately low at the OF
the season. and after the bulk OF the
crop is out Of the farmers hands TO
advance values. evidently for a three
fold namely. 10 take adVah-
tage Of the necessities of those VINO
must sell early in the season 70 secure
- the fnh,Nrn at the lowest D0SSlnlG
average and later increase their
profits on tobacco bought earlier IN
the season and at the same time en-
courage the pitching Of another crop
sufficient to supply the necessities OF
the trade.
rs this right. humane or just. and Is
this the way for business men TO Sc
cure the sympathy and cooperation OF
the m who work In the neat ana
cold who sit long nights In their weary
vigil watching their barn while cur
ing their crops.
The present prices of tobacco, an
average of some seven cents per
pound, will scarcely pay the expense
of housing at present prices or
labor, TO say nothing OF the cost or
fertilizing and cultivation, while on the
other hand reports are plentiful that
the demand for the manufactured pro
duct IS good at full prices. ana the
manufacturers are hard.S able TO keep
up with their orders. OF course there
are those who Will pretend TO give an
excuse for these low prices on the
basis of a large crop and the rear
that If high prices are paid now the
weight Of the crop may later disclose
thai prices are too high, and the
trade is feeling its way until the true
size Of the crop is disclosed, etc. but
there is no foundation for these opin-
ions in theory or IN 1act, WINE tne
trade can easily learn with q little in
v~estigation.
The drst surmise there is a large
crop because prices were inflated dur
Ing the latter part OF last season, IS
father to the desire and q creature of
their own creation. There probably
was a desire on the part of the farm
crs to Increase their acreage, but lack
of plants prevented, and the unusual
cold weather retarded the plant when
is curing light.
"Conservative farmers who have
been making from 500 to 1000 pounds
to the acre do not expect more thafi
600 pounds, and we believe this aver
age will not be exceeded.
"On the present basis of labor n
cost of living, and demand for the
manufactured product the trade can
easily afford to pay an averge or ten
cents per pound for the crop. Unless
his is done this crop Will not leave
n dollar of profit for the producer. and
in the meantime until the trade de-
cideS to pay a fair price for the weed,
we advise the farmers to finish curing
and grading and wait until such time
the trade realizes 1t cant tax the
crop at Il price below production.
THE farmers Of this country are its
and therefore there 1s no
good reason why they should continue
To he heWers of wood and drawers of
water for gigantic trusts that say to
every one with whom they nave COM
dealers, you must pay tribute
to our greed and avarice.