The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-09-22

of flood, drouth, hail early frost, rust,
etc. are the chief factors in determin.
ing the cost of leaf tobacco. One man
can raise not more than four or FIVE
acres and that represents his years
work and therefore his years earn
ings. To estimate profits by acres Is
further misleading as to price per
pound, because the yield per acre varies
greatly-from 500 to $500 pounds per
acre-nor Is the light yield inferior in
quality to the heavy yield.
Warranted Conclusion.
My reason for thinking that Mr..
Clay's tobacco III the 1907 pool was
below average is that I Understood
Mr.. Clay I'm his published statement to
say that his tobacco sold for $3.50
per hundred graded on a basis of Sl7
per hundred for an average crop. If
| read Mr.. Clay's statement correctly
my conclusion was not "far-fetched'
or "bascloss.'
Instance of Alleged Misquoting.
Mr.. Clay alleges that The mistakes
and bad calculations I'm my article are
too numerous TO correct and then
cites an instance I'm which | quoted
from his figures. In his address as it
appears in The Lexington Herald, Aug
10, 1909. appears this sentence: Now
in regard 10 our pooled tobacco after
making the proper reductions 1t
amounts 10 only S1SI50 per acre, or
about 1913 cents per pound, to be 10
creased by any part Of the reserve
that may bc paid 1913 cents per
pound is $1,000 per hundred This in
creased by the 10 per cent reserve
equals $1199 and upon these figures |
based certain calculations showing
that at Mr.. Clay's own figures the pool
had been a great success to the aver
age man.
This is the only instance Mr.. Clay
gives of incorrect quoting on my part,
If a mistake is not my mistake. |
quoted figures as they were printed.
Depends Upon Facts and Principles.
For my own part | have always, do
now and always shall depend upon
facts and principles in the advocacy
of this cause. ! leave a ''despotic, vim
dictive spirit, Misrepresentation and
fury of attack to the other side with
such phrases as gross misrcpresenta-
ton" reckless fanaticism' fake
stories of malicious or idle persons
"far-fctched," "baseless," outrageous
distortion Of facts" mental alteration
lmpunlty Not Sought.
Mr. Clay complains Of the long i'm
punity with which | have spoken Of
men and things without denial or re-
futation." This impunity has not been
of my seeking I have coUrted sue
cessful denial and rcfutation. 1t has
not been forthcoming to this good
day.
Truth the Only Des'deratum.
I regret exceedingly that Mr. Clay
allowed himself to he diesuaded from
publishing the article written by him
i'm February. 1905 Courage as we'll as
caution is needed when great issues
are at stake. At that time ! was filed
with wonder that some one who felt
justified i'm holding to the other side
did not speak out and I made repeated
efforts to draw ont such expression.
If ! know myself ! value the truth
above every other consideration. To
me II is the world order. the system
that will i'm the end prevail. / want
10 be with the final majority even II
at tines | must be with a minority.
Mr.. Gifts Letter.
Mr. Cliff Of Mason county never
wrote a line i'm response 10 anything |
ever wrote. When Mr. Gift published
his article Feb II. 1908. | doubt If he
had read a line I ever wrote or wheth-
er he knew that | was writing. since
for four months | succeeded I'm keep.
ing my identity concealed. My reply
to Mr.. Gift was first published in a
Maysville paper March .. ! think il
was sometime about March 20 or p
that Mr. Gifts tobacco plants dis
appeared and various rumors are ahoat
as tO the means Of their disappear
ance. One rumor has it that there is
no evidence that foreign foot was on
Mr.. Cltt's place at the time his plluD
beds were destroyed Mr.. Clay's f..
fort to connect my writing with Mr..
Gifts iii.iortune is inueed lar.
fetched.
Has Mr.. clay read Mr.. GIFTS let.
ter? Did he find in 30 one valid argyll
mcut against the Burloy Tobacco So
cioty? Has not time proven Mr.. Gift
TO be i'm error in his positions In
his closing sentence Mr. Gift urges
tobacco growers not 10 enter into
fight with q monoycd trust Then
what shall the great body Of people do
with regard to trusts? Is there no
remedy hut TO wear their yoke? Per
ish the thought.
Argument Against Pool Offset.
There may be convincing arguments
against pooling, but the only man who
has appeared on the rosuum or in the
public prints agains, pooling has not
one argument that would
stand the test OF examination. His
main proposition is that The pool was
not justified because prevailing prices
were good enough. His statement that
he has received satisfactory prices for
his tobacco is admitted but is Offset by
the testimony Of thousands that they
have not received such prices
Mr.. Clay's Second Point.
MI Gays next point is that the pool
did not pay. The figures given above
show hat it not only doubled but even
.rebled and quadrupled the profits on
leaf tobacco. The increase in land
values is incontrovertible evidence of
the increase in the profits OF tobacco
raising.
Profits BY The Pool
Mr.. Clay sold 1907 tobacco 10 an in
dependent buyer February /, 1908, for