The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1910-06-22
Per Cent Clause Would Bind
Grower Hand and Foot.
In Communication, Executive Committee of Bur
ley Tobacco Society, Shows How Such q
Provision Would Work Destruction of the
Nlovement.--Opnion of Lawyers Given in
Letter.

In communication to members, the
Executive Committee of the Burley
Tobacco Society explains why no per
cent clause was inserted in the contract
for the 1910 pool, and why such clause
could not be embodied. Accompanying
this communication is a letter from Col
John r. Allen, written March ), in
which is stated the opinion of Attorneys
for the Society. The letters follow
Dear Sir
Some persons who desire the ruin and
destruction of the Burnley Tobacco So
ciety and who in accomplishing their
purpose deliver the Tobacco growers
bound hand and foot into the power Of
the Tobacco Trust, are through news
papers and on the stump demanding
that 70 per cent clause be inserted in
the pledge.
Since there may be honest men who
honestly believe that such clause
should be in the pledge, we take this
means of telling you why those who
have your interests at heart and whom
you have chosen TO protect your proper
ty did not insert in the 1910 pledge rs
per cent clause.
The first pledge contained a per cent
clause, and we learned by experience
that there is danger in such clause.
When we took legal steps against men
who broke their pledge some lawyers
who could make the worse cause appear
the better would take the ground that
we did not have the required per cent.
In community where officers of the
law and public sentiment were in the
favor of pooling, the virdict would be
for the Society. In communities where
the officers of the law and the public
sentiment were against pooling, the
verdict would be for the man who
broke his pledge. In this way the loss
of the pooled tobacco worked hardship
on the honest members. Seeing the
difficulty that it made, our lawyers adj
vised us not to put per cent clause in
subsequent contracts.
We include in this circular letter
from Col. John Il. Allen giving his
opinion on this subject. I
The General Assembly has passed all
the laws necessary to protect our Socie-
ty if we use common sense and the light
of experience. But to put per cent
clause in the 1910 pledge would open
gap though which contract breakers
could escape.
A per cent clause in the contract
would only make mark for the Trust
to shoot at. IL we inserted 70 per cent
clause the Trust would have only to
buy up at 26 per cent and thus make
any pool impossible. Having bought
the smallest fraction over one-fourth OF
the crop at good prices the Trust would
be able TO control the remainder of the
crop for anything it was pleased to pay.
The way to get rs per cent pledged is
to go after it and not waste time and
energy in wrangle about technicallity
that would seriously weaken the pool.
The only reason that we have not 10 per
cent or So per cent in the 1909 pool is
that selfish or short-sighted men claim
ing to be the growers friends made war
US during the last pooling season and on
confused and misled the people. Don't
be misled this time.
Extending the time Of declaring the
pool 10 November LIST gives two boards
the opportunity to pass on it. The old
board has the right TO declare the pool
off prior to October LIST, if in their judg-
ment they deem it best. The new board.
elected about October lst and represent
log The win Of these who have jup,
slested them, will hays the fight 10 as.