The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1910-01-07

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

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Enough of the new crop has been de-
livered to indicate that there are some
disappointments in store for the packers
which seem likely to be shared by the
growers as we'll when the tobacco that
looked so promising when purchased in
the field comes to be settled for at the
warehouse, A good many crops show
more or less shed burn and deductions
are demanded on that score. Where
this occurs careful asserting is neces-
sary which means additional expense to
the packer if the tobacco is cleaned
properly, besides there will be more or
less friction in arriving at basis for
settlement. There are other imperfec-
tions too that are not pleasing to meet,
such as unripe tobacco, heavy stems
and pole rot, that packers are likely to
balk at receiving at the contract price
agreed upon for sound leaf. 1t is not
unlikely that packers will insist on
holding back portion of the purchase
money on crops which do not come up
to contract specifications until they are
run over the tables and the amount of
imperfections determined. We have it
from some of the packers that having
agreed to pay good prices for tobacco
that comes up to the usual contract re-
quirements they have reason to expect
that only such tobacco as meets them
viii be taken at those figures, and it
the tobacco comes to them unsound or
not in. packing condition a reasonable
allowance should be made. 1t is an un-
fortunate condition for which the pur-
chasers can hardly be blamed. Just
what proportion of the crop will meet
up with these difficulties cannot yet be
told, but enough is already known to
show that receiving of the new crop
will not be most pleasing job this year.
# A dispatch from the southern tobacco
field brings the information that the
end of the tobacco troubles in Ken
tucky is in sight. Within few days
the heavy hand of Uncle Sam will fall
upon those who have caused these dis
turbances in the blue grass state. For
three months agents of the govern
ment have been at work in the tobacco
districts of Kentucky. Their move
ments have been conducted with the
utmost secrecy. In fact, very few of
Uncle Sam officials elsewhere ana in
Kentucky have been given any intima-
ton whatever as to the government S
inquiry and intentions. A legal inquiry
as to the rights of the federal govern
ment to interfere with the internal af
fairs of Kentucky was laid before and
received the endorsement Of the high
est authority. The department Of JUS
tice was instructed to proceed with the
utmost secrecy and celerity in pros
ecution that would result in. the COM
plete eradication of the trouble. This
department at once called into activity
it's bureau of investigation, the detec-
tive branch oe the department of JUS
tice, similar to the secret service, but
entirely separate from it. For many
weeks these unknown investigators
have been in the tobacco district. They
have secured confidential information
from the victims and have sent ennis
the offenders. Passwords and signs
have been made of the deliberations OF
these assemblies. The first move of
the government was to secure the cor
respondence and negotiations between
the tobacco trust and the representa-
tives of the producers. The chapter,
which closes with the truce or compact
between Burley society over the pro-
duction, the American Tobacco COM
pany and the Burley Tobacco society,
is complete. The control exercised by
the Burley society over the production
and price of tobacco will figure in de-
velopments as one of the grounds for
federal action under the restraint OF
trade provision of law. Equally as Sc
rious is the later disclosure that the
compact between the American Tobac-
co company and the Burley Tobacco
society was combine of two trusts, In
violation of the antitrust law. Many
of the outrages were committed or
producers who had dealings with the
so-called Independent buyers. 1t was
shown to them that the results Of the
various events were such that they
came within the purview of the United
States statutes, and that the federal
government had ample grounds ano
Justification for drastic interference.
The law upon which Uncle Sam grasps
the situation is that prohibiting any act
in restraint of trade. AS the tobacco
raised in Kentucky is sold and shipped
to other states and countries, the fed
eral government is empowered to pre-
vent any interference with this traffic.
The destruction of tobacco crops ano
warehouses, considered as to the mo-
tive behind these overt acts, has been
deemed by the legal advisers of the
government as warranting its interfer-
ence and the visiting of its wrath.
Furthermore, the organized action that
has inspired the disturbances has by
the same legal authority been decided
| to be in violation of the antitrust law.
In other words, the fight that was in
augurated against the so-called tobacco
trust has developed into an organiza-
| ton that is more evil trust. All the
reports from the sources of secret in
vestigators in the tobacco territory
have been placed in the hands of the
government officials conducting the
campaign for the elimination of the to-
bacco trouble. 1t can be said that the
name of every man that has been men