Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-01-09
THE TOBACCO war
An Acute Stage Has Been Reached
in the Fight Between Growers
and Alleged Trust.
WHAT TROUBLES ALL ABOUT
An Organization is Attempting 70
Force All Producers to join
In An Effort to Secure
Better Prices.

Better Prices.
Louisville, KY, Jan. 6.--The raid
on Russellville, KY, early Friday
morning by might riders" which re
suited in the destruction Of nearly
100000 worth Of property and the
wounding Of three persons; the re
fusal Saturday OF the tobacco growers
to accept the proposition OF the
American Tobacco company for the
purchase Of tobacco and the an
nounced intention Of the growers to
proceed against the American Tobacco
company in the courts, following Gov.
Wilson's statement that the lawless
element will be severely dealt with,
have brought to an acute stage a con.
dition which has existed in Kentucky
and Tennessee for two years. Con-
ferences the past two days at Frank
fort between representative OF the
American Tobacco company and the
tobacco growers has resulted only in
transferring the matter to the heads
Of the company in New York for con-
sideration. 4
The situation is the result Of a fight
of the growers Of tobacco against
the American tobacco company and
other purchasers and the complica-
lions are best explained by the fol-
lowing recounted sequence Of events
in chronological order:
First, the apparent passing Of the
leaf tobacco market In Kentucky apd
Tennessee into the control Of the
American Tobacco company with the
consequent elimination of nearly all
the middlemen or independent tobac-
CO buyers and re-handlers.
Second, the awakening of the farm
ers to the situation and the forma-
ton by them Of the American society
Of equity and two subsidiary organi-
cations, the Burley Eight colored
leaf Tobacco association, and the
Dark Tobacco association with the
purpose of producing and holding
their crops until they could obtain
what they claimed would be a fair
price from the American Tobacco
company and afflliated concerns:
Third, the failure of the attempt
by the Farmers societies to win over
a suficient majority of the growers
of tobacco to their pooling plan to
enable them to Immediately compel
the company to pay the price de-
manded.
Fourth, ostracism and petty perse-
cution directed against so-called lin
dependents farmers who were
unwilling or unable to pool and hold
their crops Of tobacco and who sold
to the trust"
Fifth, whipping of tobacco buyers
and farmers who sold their crops;
destruction. of beds Of young tobacco
plants; burning of tobacco barns con-
tanning the harvested crops Of indie
pendents; shooting into. homes and
the wounding of innocent persons
among them being women; the warn
ing of refractory independents to
leave the country.
Sixth, the elimination Of mob
spirit in bold attacks on Princeton,
Hopkinsville and Russellyille, towns
Of from 1000 to 10000 Inhabitants,
which raids resulted in the dynamit-
ing and burning Of tobacco ware
houses controlled by the American To
bacco company, the killing Of several
Of the raiders and the wounding of a
number Of citizens and the destruc-
ton Of property owned by innocent
neutrals because the. raiders refused
to allow the fire departments to work.
Over against the fundamental right
Of a man to dispose of his lawful
to whom he chooses, the
farmers who support the pooling
set up three contentious.
First, that the market for their prod
net is controlled by a trust and that
the only recourse left is for the farm
ers to form what is in effect trust
Of their own and fight their opponents
with their own weapons.
Second, the fight is a fight for ex.
Istence and If the societies are beaten
the growers of two states must be
for all time at the mercy Of com
bination which will tx the price. 1t
Is argued that the financial crushing
% the poolers who constitute the MI
lority would be a less misfortune than
he crushing Of the majority.
The pooling societies now have on
hand part Of the 1906 crop and all
Of their 1907 crop. Although they
claim to control over 50 per cent Of
he crop. the tobacco company sup
plemeuting It's purchases from the
arge independent" interest By push
ing its buying in other fields. has
apparently not felt any strong pinch
y yet this fact combined with the
,onsidsration that the company has
he longest purse has moved the 80
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