The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-01-03
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

EDITOR WISCONSIN TOBACCO REPORTER:
Having been reader of your valuable
paper for thirty-five years, as we'll as di-
rectly interested in agricultural pursuits,
especially the cultivation of tobacco, |
desire to ask space 10 this weeks issue
for retrospect of the year 1907 in the
tobacco transactions of our state AS
we look back, it discloses period, not
ably unsuccessful and disappointing,
distinguished all along the line by un-
healthy conditions. Even the most op
timlstic, with the facts and figures be-
fore him, cannot avoid conceding this to
be true. Its most emphatic demonstra-
tion came at the most convincing time
the end of the packing season when
the packers of the state balanced their
books and found that the 1906 packing
had cost them a fabulous figure. This
of course due to two facts. The first, at
which there can be no blinking. that the
competition between the trusts and in
dependent packers of the state boosted
prices of all grades beyond their COM
mercial value. The high price OF labor,
cases, insurance and other incidentals
left the packers with the entire output
of the 1906 crop on their hands at the
highest price ever placed upon Wis
consin product.)
*x*
To q casual observer the whole years
transaction would have seemed most en-
couraging and satisfactory to the grow
or, but alas, the reflection has demon
strated that all growers cannot stand
prosperity, as has been evinced by their
frantic efforts to destroy competition.
Long before the 1906 packing had gone
through the crucial process OF curing,
we find body of philanthropists assem-
bled in the name of Equity and Justice,
deliberating 20 cut out all middle men,
urging tobacco growers of our state to
pool their interests and hold the 1907
crop at prohibitive price, and sell di-
rect to manufacturers. On the heels OF
this movement the financial crisis caught
all the local packers of the state, as we'll
saaga tiga dealers, with elephants on
their shoulders. AS direct result, cap
italists are disposed to sit back and al
low the Society of Equity to run their
limit. The tobacco growers are in a
chaotic condition some are disposed to
drink in the hot air promulgated by the
organized effort, others realize that the
packers Of leaf tobacco have been their
best friends. Its a self-evident fact
that the dealers have done much to en-
courage growers to produce high quail
ity of cigar leaf tobacco. The Wiscon-
sin Tobacco Growers and Dealers Asso-
citation of our state have spent much
money and valuable time encouraging a
higher state of cultivation. AS direct
result our Wisconsin product has reach
ed high degree OF prosperity. Wisccn-
sin tobacco for five years has been a
quick seller at lucrative prices, both
grower and dealer receiving fair meas
ure of profit for the product.
***
The 1907 crop grew under adverse con-
ditions and has probably less degree Of
merit from a commercial standpoint
than any crop grown in the state for fif-
teen years. The idiotic effort of some to
induce Wisconsin tobacco growers to be-
lieve the 1907 crop worth more than the
1905 and 1906, and that the packers are
set of robbers and cutthroats, and have
not been paying farmers commensurate
values, is all rot. 1t has been suggested
that all Society of Equity patrons hang
a sign on their tobacco shed so that
passers-by may know who are affiliated
in the effort to eliminate and destroy the
avocations of the packers. This is a
good suggestion. 1t would enable deal
ers, when they start out next May to buy
tobacco to know where they could pull
in and receive hearty welcome without
being regarded as trespassing. Farmers
are not all fools. It is safe to predict a
large proportion of the best and most
prosperous growers will stand aloof to
the pooling project. Such growers will
exercise due diligence in preparing their
tobacco for the market, and patiently
wait the opportune time to dispose of
the same on their one plantation. Pack
ers will ultimately favor this class of
farmers, and place them in a position to
sit back and smile at the unfortunate
victims who have been coerced into the
sweating process
*.*
1t is sad commentator on the to-
bacco industry of our state to witness
such lack of appreciation on the part
of some of the growers. For the above
reasons the packing centers OF our state
will manifest little activity for the next
three months. 1t is to be hoped, how