The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-21

TRUST ENEMY Of FARMERS
A.. Cnrhin Points Out What He
Thinks IS a Way to Secure Better
Prices or Leaf Tobacco by Fair and
lawful Methods.

To the Editor: l have been engaged
in the tobacco business since 1880,
hence interested in your recent arti-
cles, on low prices for leaf on the
Eastern markets. In your issue Of the
oath Of August, you have an article
from the Danville, Va, Bee giving
an account of the annual meeting of
the Mutual Protective Association of
bright tobacco growers Of Virginia
and North Carolina, The feature of
this meeting vas an address by s. {.
Adams, vice-Dresident Of the ~associa-
ton. in which he stated it was not
the purpose Of the association to de-
pany, but to build it up, as they rec
ogniZed h method of the A. T. Co..
as being the best yet DEVISED for
handling the bac producers pro-
duct. He concludes this remarkable
address by saying. if the farmers will
stick together they can force the A.
7. people to give them fair prices.
Note his words, I'VE a obtain fair
prices if we get in shape to force
them; think OF endorsing a corpora
ton to the exclusion of all others
when he admits it will require force
to obtain even fair prices. a you
imagine a more absurd proposition =?
:. is generally known this association
formed IN account Of the ruin
Gus prices paid for leaf tobacco by
the American Tobacco Company. TO
correct and combat this evil was the
purpose of the association. Up to
the present it has denounced through
Mr.. Adams and many others from
every rostrum in the bright tobacco
belt the American Company
in the strongest language. Sc bitter
houa fhpv haQn and 81 Intense the
feeling it has dominated politics. No
man could receive their support for
office unless he proclaimed openly
that he was in favor of destroying
the infamous tobacco trust. Now
this same association, speaking
a Tobacco Company are the best
friends the producer has, and we are
in favor Of dealing direct with the
trust. Why this change of sentiment =?
Why this sudden conversion to the
American Tobacco Company? Mr.,
Adams says the method of the Amer
lean Tobacco Company for handling
leaf tobacco the best yet devised
Surely he does not expect his state
ment to be taken seriously. Has Mr..
Adams no reason to offer for this
sudden and complete change, except
his belief that their method Of hand
lima the producers product, t best
yet devised. Fortunately there are
those living who remember other sys-
TENS, Il MI. Adams does also I'M
less he prefers to forget. I ask him
to allow his memory to run back over
the period 1873 to 1890, should hi2
memory be so poor he cannot recall
prices paid the producer during this
period he can refresh it by reference
TO the warehouse books Of that date
or by records Of e. purchases from
the books Of many people now living
in Danville. No one knows better
than Mr.. Adams that wrappers SOLD
during this period OF the warehouse
floors at auction, in Danville, Dur
ham, Winston and other markets for
$50, $50, $40 and SIS per hundred
much of it at a higher price; cutters
from $25 to $40, fancy lots often sell
ing for $50 and $50; filters from SIS
10 $50. These prices were obtained
IN the days Of honest and open COM
petition. before the advent Of Mr.
Adams good friend. The American
Tobacco Company" He says we,