The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-29
FARMERS TRYING TO PROIECI
THEMSELVES FROM The
TOBACCO TRUST.

was the session of the Virginia and
Carolina Tobacc Growers, held at
Greensboro last week. 1t was at
tended by distinguished leaders Of the
armer not only from North Carolina,
but from Virginia, Tennessee and
Georgia. After much discussion it
was decided by these tobacco grow
ers who have been robbed syste-
m%atically about every year, except
was organized, that they must 90
something to protect themselves
from a continuation Of he policy OF
paving a decent price one year anu
inducing them to grow a ana
then paying starvation prices TOR the
succeeding years. The a farm
ers in Kentucky, tired of working Tor
nothing and seeing the American 10
bacco Company get all the pronts
from the business, some years &
decided to pool their tobacco ana
they had a long and stormy war with
the tobacco trust. Last year they
received twice as much for their
tobacco as the North Carolina ana
Virgins received, though the
bright tobacco Of these two states is
i%ntrinsically more valuable.
The rme of these two states
have decided to pool their obacco
and store it in warehouses until the
price of Is cents a pound can be OBJ
tanned. A special to The News and
Observer Yesterday from Greensboro
gave the facts about the meeting Of
the North Carolina and Virginia to-
bacco farmers, as follows:
ut was learned that it is the plan
of the delegates, representing over
fifty per cent Of the tobacco growers
of the two States to put the crop
through prizeries and store in ware
houses until the price Of Is cents per
pound was obtained. Members Of
the Union are confident they a win
against the American Tobacco Com
pany for a price allowing them rea-
sonable profit.
1T is figured that the American
Tobacco Company, instead of having
sufficient supply for three years
without using the 1911 crop, has
only enough to last until the crop
is marketable"
There was never any talk of pool
ing tobacco" or any trouble between
the tobacco farmers and the tobacco
manufacturers as long as there was
competition. In the old days, the
farmers received high prices for
their tobacco when there was a
strong demand for it, and were
satisfied to have their tobacco bought
under the worldwide policy Of sup
CO trust has got control of all the
markets and fixes the price at it's own
sweet will, the farmers have been
promised year after year by politi-
clans who wanted office that if given
office they would compel the trust
to stop their robbery, but the farm
ers have not received any protection
and the trusts have gone On robbing
them systematically without let or
hindrance. Almost in despair OF
getting help through the law, which
alone can bring a permanent and
full relief to them, the farmers are
now trying to do something for them
selves, and the Virginia and North
Carolina rme hin hat in the
pooling arrangement they can do as
we'll as their %neighbor armer in
Kentucky did and bring the trust for
one time to it's knees.
Let us hope that they will succeed
in compelling the trust to pay a fair
price this year for the tobacco. 1t
iC Ua11 knaNUn thnt tba No.
Is Very short. and if the law OF sup
ply n demand had Q been throt-
tied by the tobacco trust, the tobac-
co farmers his year would be re
ceiNing fine prices for their tobacco
Everybody, except the trust and its
defenders and apologists. will wish