The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-21
First Lettersof WarnlngSent
to Growers in Pied
mont Section.
DIRE THREATS MADE
UNLESS CROP is POOLED
Notices Posted on Dark, Rainy
Night, aud Recipients Are
Concerned-Association
Putting Forth All FL
forts to Prevent
Lawlessness.
.tspeclal to The Times-Dispalch. ]

AWHILE, VA. March 9O.--A
condition of affairs similar
to the deeds OF the night
riders. which have terrorized
Kentucky. Is threatened In
Pittsylvania and adjoining counties.
which constitute the heart OF the
bright tobacco-growing districts OF
Virginia and siorth Carolina, and
which Is known as the Piedmont sec-
ton. The farmers OF this section have
been engaged for some time in war
against the tobacco trust. and their
grievances are practically the same as
tobacco growers in Kentucky, but so
far they have restrained themselves
from any act of violence. and the lead
ers have urged that the members Of
the farmers associations wage their
warfare according to the laws of the
land For the past several days, how
ever, reports have reached the city
of numerous threats being made
county who have refused to affiliate
with the Tobacco Growers Association,
which is in reality farmers union.
The letters received by the farmers
who are outside of the regular organi-
cation have carried with them threats,
and the people are anxiously waiting
to sec IL they will be executed.
Contain Dire Threats.
W. D. Neal. w. N. Terry. B. L.
Terry. j. w. Fitzgerald and ]. j. Mot
ley, all large tobacco raisers, have
received letters threatening to
dig UP their plant beds and deal with
them roughly unless they stored to.
bacco IN the dry prizery. The notices
were placed on the barn of Mr.. B. l..
Terry and on mail boxes of the others.
lat tn IT, Nfnt a
burn his barn, and Mr.. Motley made
some inquiries as to the writing of the
notices. and was notified Ii he made
any attempt to locate the writer he
would regret 1t. The notices We're dis
trlbuted on very dark and rainy night
and no trace of the messenger could
be made.
The recipients of the notices feel
somewhat concerned over them, but
hope nothing serious will result. These
farmers live in the leading tobacco
section of the county and have been
very successful at receiving good
them are inclined to the prlzery sys-
| tenn and will in all probability store
| part of their crop.
A Barn II Burned.
The large packing barn. containing
several curings of tobacco. several
vehicles and other valuable property,
| on the Belle Grove farm, In Plttsyl-
vania county, was burned ono night
this week. entailing a loss of severa
| hundred dollars. How the fire origi-
mated is unknown, and when discovered
| it was beyond control and nothing OF
| the contents could be saved. Whether
| any insurance was carried on the Duild.
! ing could not be learned.
/ fHn AS0n
The Bright Tobacco Growers Protec-
tive Association, which was organized
some years ago. has been growing In
strength and has been waginS sys-
tematic fight against the tobacco trust
| The association hopes to accomplish
| the results amied at by doing away
with the method Of selling tobacco al
public auction, on the warehouse floors
claiming that the American Tobacco
ICompanr is practically the only bidder
and fixes its own prices by pooling its
tobacco and holding it until price,
which .hey deem reasonable can be Sc
cured. 1t will be readily seen that II
the large majority of farmers continue
to sell on the warehouse floors, 1T viii
have tendency to hurt the plans OF
the situation. 4 general meeting OF
the ASSOCIATION was held In Danville
| Tuesday, at which time funds were
raised Tor continuance of the fight
land to perfect better organization. Sew
eral OF the speakers referred to the
1 deeds of the night riders In Kentucky
and while deploring the lawlessness
the sentiment was that the Bluegrass:
i farmers had been driven to violence b!
conditions which had become intoler