The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-09-01


land (Ky) district;
81 ocupy the same position now
that | have from the beginning OF the
agitation for better prices for white
hurley tobacco. | entertain the same
sentiments as those expressed IN the
speeches delivered by me upon the
subject from 1908 down to last August
| am still opposed to all monopolles
and predatory trusts in general anu
the Aemrican Tobacco Company III
particular
"The growers organization that sue.
ceeded in pooling the 1906 and l9O'
crops, and in cutting out the 1908 crop
won the most magnificent victory ever
achieved by farmers over their op-
pressors. These results were accom-
plished on account of the unusually IN
telligent leadership of the growers
and by their great courage, ana III
many instances by their individual sac
riflces.
Some Friction Unavoidable.
"That the organization should cause
some friction was to have been expect
ed. In a few instances mistakes were
committed which no reasonable fore
sight could have prevented. The peo-
pie had been goaded TO desperation
by the oppression of the trusts, and
felt that they had become mere vas
sails to the feudal lords who presided
over the tobacco trusts. 1t was to be
expected that the fight would be car
ried on with energy and not without
some display of temper and irritation.
Having triumphed over such ire
mendous odds. and raised the price
of tobacco to a point where the grow
ers can obtain a legitimate return for
their toll and investment 1t would be
little short of crime if the organiza-
ton should be broken up or crippled,
either by internal dissension or a lack
of appreciation by the growers Of the
real condition that now confronts
them.
Some Too Optimistic.
1.-THE lion tanner may thrash the
king Of beasts into submission and
make him cover in the corner OF his
cage, but the moment his back Is
turned he will become victim of the
ferocity of his apparently subdued an
tagonist. The man that believes the
fight of the tobacco growers is now
permanently won is too optimistic TO
be practical, and little understands the
power of the trust or the real senti'
ments that guide those who control 1t
"Humiliated by defeat, it will en-
ploy every means that craft and in
genuity can suggest to regain the van.
tage ground that mas been lost, and re-
sumo the control of the situation. The
a. l. 70 q m.
tain a permanent organization headed
by practical men who have had eXpe-
rience and been successful In big busi'
ness enterprises.
One Pool Is Necessary.
should It be announced that there
is to be two separate and distinct
pools of the 1909 Burley crop. the Joy
Of the American Tobacco Company's
magnates would be unbounded One
pool Is absolutely necessary to secure
Anything like a fair return for the
tremendous crop of tobacco now being
grown, but two pools would be worse
than, no pool at all, for each
would be used as a buffer against the
other, and both would be destroyed
In turn by their powerful opponent.
"The present organization has the
benefit Of experience and is able to
avoid the mistakes and repair the
weaknesses in the organization that
we're incident to its 'incipiency. IL Is
now capable OF making more intelli'
gent and sagacious campaign than II
would be possible for any new organ.
Iization to make. Its energies should
! be directed vigorously and unrenlit
. frr 10. mil al tf,r,
on a permanent basis, fashioned along
Legitimate, modern business lines. I'm
less tnis is done the victory that has
! been won will be thrown away.
! Prophets Of EVIL Unavoidable.
There never has been a successful
! fight made by the people for liberty
and right that there were not Prop
| bets OF Evil VINO opposed it and pre-.
dicted ruin to those who engaged IN
lit. The Burley Tobacco Society has
been pursued by those prophets from
the beginning. Some of them honest
and misguided--some Of them ennis
saries and agents of this great an
| tagonlst. There are those who op'
posed every new movement, and pre-
dict ruin for every new enterprise.
"The Burley Tobacco Society has
had all of these drawbacks TO contend
with from the start, yet it has sue
ceeded in TRIPPING the price of tobacco
| to the growers. There may be some
objections TO some of the minor fe;p
/ lures Of the contract, and some of the
acts of the officers and agents of the
society The amount of money dis
| trbuted among certain politicians may
seem to have been excessive for the
amount of influence they possess.
Money Well Spent.
"But after all the money was well
spent All these minor objections pale
into utter insignificance when we come
to compare them with the great and
substantial results that have accrued
| to the tobacco growers by reasons OF
the White Burley Society. II mistakes
! have been made In the past there is
ample time to correct them. The as
ISOLATION is n great Democratic organ
! ization in which its members may par
ticipate In the election of those who
are to control the organization and It's
future policies.
Il regard Mr.. LeBus rs an exceed
ingly shrewd, vigorous and broad
gagged business man. He has verified
every prediction that | made of hin
in my speeches throughout the tobacco
district in 1906, when he first took hold
of the work. 1t is easy to crlticise and
find fault with leaders.
No General Ever Exempt.
mo general of a great army was