The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-09-01
PROMINENTFARMEROF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Gives His Views on the CUES
ton Of Pooling the
1909 Crop.

The following was written by we'll
known Montgomery county farmer.
who has in recent years been a grower
of much tobacco, and has been sent to
us with request for publication:
The question OF pooling this years
crop OF tobacco IS now the topic of
the grower. There is certainly one
question to be decided and that is
will It be the best thing TO pool? Was
the 1907 pool success? Did you make
money by going into It? II so, why not
reap the benefits won by that long
hard fight? The writer had his 1907
crop in the pool 1t was a medium one
and under ordinary conditions we
would have been pleased with cents.
This tobacco was delivered at the ware
house In Winchester in July, 1908. We
have so far received $12.66 per hundred
and will likely get from = 10 cents
more in the final distribution.
ITO great majority of us farmers,
the salaries paid the officials of this
Burley Society seem excessive, but
when we think Of what they have done
to accomplish what the business world
thought was impossible means a good
deal. They not only sold our tobacco
at a big price, but now give us a plan
that settles the tobacco growing on a
paying basis. We can, If the present
pool Is a success, sell our tobacco at
a good price for the rest OF our lives.
Yes, and our children will also get
the benefts when we are gone
mo Just man can deny that the pool
ing OF the 1906 and 1907 crops, not only
sold the pooled tobacco at a big price,
but the independents. who did not bear
their proportion Of the burdens, re-
ceived fully as much benefit as his
neighbor who did the work. We have
nothing TO say OF our brother farmer
who received the benefit without bear
ing the burdens. Ilo also must answer
he was right or wrong. If
he has that high manhood. that this
great state of ours has the reputation
Of endowing to her sons, his answer
will satisfy all.
The 10 per cent clause seems 10
worry some. To our minds that is one
Of the best things in the contract. No
one but the different county boards
know what II means to do business
without capital. How much worry
and trouble 1t would have saved
during 1907 and 1908 If there had
been money in the treasury to
advance to the needy grower
who was in sore distress for the
necessities of life. Does any sensible
man for one moment doubt that this
will not be better dividend bearing
stock than any bank stock in the coun-
ry? Who are our officials in the execu-
i've board? They are tobacco gorwers
and farmers from the various coun-
les In the Burley district If you doubt
heir honesty and business capacity, |
you can easily satisfy yourself by ask f.
ng at their homes how these men
stand. Can any grower, whether rich
,r poor. say that he cannot afford to
axe a 10 per cent interest in the Bur
ey pool. when by so doing he gets !
rom five to eight cents more for his |
obacco per pound? Some say we can !
lot afford to hold our tobacco for a |
'ear or more. Don't you know that If
IS or so per cent of the 1909 crop is !
pooled that more than half Of it will be |
AIKEN as soon as stripped? We have |
10 abuse for the American Tobacco |
company. They are a business con-
,ern and it is likely we would do as
hey have done if placed In their posi-
ion. But does any farmer doubt for
me moment that this great tobacco
company would not prefer to buy In
5000 hogsheads lots? 1t would not
My be cheaper and much more salts
actory, for when the tobacco is CON-