The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-28
FARMERS TO VOTE
ON TOBACCO POOL
Basis of Ballots Will Be Acreage
Owned by Each
Grower.
HARMONY F0RECA;s
Reported That s22 100000 Has
Been Offered for Pool
OF 1909.
HARMONY FoREcA'sT
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l


Lexington, Ky, August 27-Ever
farmer in Kentucky who raises a crop
OF white Burly tobacco this season
and agrees tentatively to pool 1t, Will
vote November / on whether or not
there shall be pool. and each farm
err will vote in proportion to the num-
Der of acres he owns. If the amount
reported pooled at that time seems
large enough to the farmers to war
rant declaring it pool, such VIII be-
yond doubt be done, and the soltci-
tors, who are now In the field secur-
ing the pledges Of the farmers, arc
working desperately to secure as large
a percentage as possible, in order that
1t be considered worth the while this
fall to declare 1t pool.
The question of whether this method
should be adopted, or a pooling con-
tract, containing Is per cent. clause,
should be used, was the paramount
issue that brought about the intense
and bitter political campaign for rep
resentation from the Seventh, or old
Ashland, District during tho early
summer.
The advocate of the 10 per cent.
clause j. Campbell Cantrill. for one
term representative in Congress. won
the Democratic nomination, which is
normally the same as winning the
election, but there are strong indi-
cations that he will be defeated this
fall by the members of the Buriey
Society pool and their friends. This
issue brought about the crisis which
resulted in Cantrll's denunciation by
the hurley Society and the putting of
a candidate in the field against him.
This candidate, state Senator Claude
M Thomas, was defeated. but the Bur
lev Society persisted in Its purpose
of securing pool If possible, and
the voting by acreage plan was
evolved Cantrill has always peen re-
garded as the friend of the Burnley
Society before this campaign, but the
sentiment of the entire district rs
gradually turning against him, ana the
break with the Burley board promises
to be his undoing.
Among the farmers themselves there
Is mo real opposition to the pool.
though the serious charges against
President Lebus and other officials Ut
the Burley Society have been frequent
but improved.
The farmers who refuse to join the
pool are in almost all instances what
are known as bumpers, that Is those
who seek to get the benefit of the
high prices, brOUBHl dooul Wy 'ho pooi'
vet do not wish to have their tobacco
tied UP where they cannot get the
money for 1t any time they wish. The
bankers of Lexington have offered te
advance cents q pound on all tobacco
pooled, in order that the farmers who
must have the money may get II, ant
still keep their tobacco in the pool
Eight cents is more than the average
price of tobacco before the pooling
began.
/ The indications are that pool vii
be declared. as the sentiment In favo
of 1t is steadily increasing, and a
large amount of the tobacco has al
[ ready BEEN pooled The farmers seen
to realize that the fight 1t to tho
death between them and the trust. ant
are determined to win.
1t Is persistently reported here that
a representative of the Burley Society
Is in the East negotiating with the
American Tobacco Company for the
sale Of the entire 120.0o0,O0O pounds
in the pool of 1909 worth approximate
f ly s22,000,00 and President Lebus has
already announced that an offer of Is
cents for thcsentire amount has been
received, on condition that an option
be given on the 1910 pool, but refuses
to state who has made the offer.
There is only about so per cent, of a
crop this season, on account of UNI
favorable weather, The general in
dications are thatiGespite the bite,
factional fight ON the Burley board
by Cantrill. the farmers will forge,
factional lines, and unite in the pool.