The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1909-09-03
Answer to Tobacco GrewerS.

nate a plural insignia an answer TO
all Tobacco Growers viii be IN order.
As an organizer of the Dark Tobac-
co Growers Association, and being a
director Of the corporation now IN
tact and known as the FarmViile Prz-
ing House Association; who saw fit to
rent the Randolph Warehouse for a
term of three years or more, l feel
called upon to answer the allegations
contained in the letter referred TO
above. In the first place beg to
say that the statements contained In
their letter for the most part are true
and to the point ! contend that the
sys EN- OF public auction has proved
very disastrous to the farmers in the
past ten years, and that was one of
the prime causes that brought into
existence The Dark Tobacco Associa-
ton. Not on account OF public auc-
ton" but lack OF competition on said
sale
When Capitalization of power in
the tobacco world had destroyed COM
petition and placed all orders in the
hands of favored few 1t was then
the farmers cried out to be delivered
from this system and adopted the
prizing system instead as the means
to an end, to-wit: that the farmers
might furnish their own competition
by holding their product, until the
price was secured. 1t was under
these conditions that the writer and
others denounced the public ware
house sale, as detrimental to the farm
ers interest. Prices soon negan 10
rise. and Tugs and leaf went roaring
skyward until money flowed into
the pockets of the tobacco growers,
who took advantage Of the high mark
ct regardless Of the fact that a tobacco
war was being waged between few
true and tried Association men on the
one hand and the combined tobacco
trade on the other 1t was at this
critical period that we looked to the
Tobacco Growers" for help, but
alas they joined hands with their enc
mics and furnished munitions OF war
TO break the solid ranks and destroy
the indomitable courage OF the Asso-
citation members.
Time passed slowly and two crops
were priced into hogsheads, without
making sales. II was then that the
Ex-Committee of the Association, see
inc that a majority of the farmer held
aloof while we, being bled TO death in
the trenches adopted what Is termed
the private loo sale hoping to bring
some relief in this way The farmers
who patronizod this system seemed
pleased at inst or until the tr de find
inc that we had LETT our FIRST and SAT-
est plan put prices down and down
until leaf was sold at lug prices, and
luos brought printing Irices. In our
efforts to protect our patrous we rent
ed a factory at a costly price and Sc
cured what orders we could by rails
mo a fund necessary TO c nduct our
business and for two years we nave
labored hard to induce the farmers to
organize for their mutual protection.
We made strenuous efforts to induce
Tobacco Growers" every where to
buy some of our stock but to little
avail.
They looked to see results. When
the directors OF the Prizing House
Association approached with a propo-
sition to lease the Randolph Ware
house for the coming season, they
were loathe to venture, as they were
onposed to the system. As the most
nopular warehouse in town had been
offered them and the majority Of the
farmers still found their way thither
il was deemed best to rent same, hop
ing in this way to unity the farmers
interest. In other words we became
Jew that we might gain some.
As to the profits derived from our
venture, am frank to confess, as a
director and stakeholder, that | am
ready and willing to divide all profits
and what stock | have to any loyal
Tobacco Grower" who desires same,
and IN this voice the sentiment OF all
the stockholders.
II was not our intention from the
beginning to make any profit out OF
our business save six per cent. per
annum, and as evidence Of same /
would refer you to our charter to find
a clause forbidding a larger per cent
of profit than six per cent per an
mum.
Up to the present time we have not