The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-07-07

sive effect. Legislation more or less
drastic was attempted and enacted.
As early as 1888 statutes were passed
by the various states Of the Union
and by the congress Of the United
States, highly penslizins combina.
lions made Ia restraint OF trade. Ken
lucky in 1890 passed a similar stat
ute, severe and stringent, and AFFORD.
ing no exception.
In 1891 the people Of Kentucky
adopted new constitution. Il was
provided in your organic law that the
legislature should enact such statutes
as would prevent considerations and
combinations Of capital and enter
prlses which would raise the price OF
commodities above their reasonable
value. After that the legislature en-
acted no statute on the subject until
1906.
Producers Received Little.
Prosecutions begun under the stat
ute of 1890 were contested on the
ground that the statutes had heen re-
pealed by the constitution. The courts
held to the contrary. Still, there
we're no convictions, and but few
prosecutions undertaken so far as we
know. The effect Of the combina-
lions continued to increase. The re-
suit was that the producers Of tobac-
CO In Kentucky found their market
restricted to practically a single
buyer, who set the price, graded the
crops and took its time for accepting
and paying for crops delivered; par
titioning the territory Of the state
among its representatives and allies,
as sovereign would parcel out his
favors among his courtiers. The
world was demanding and using all
the tobacco that was being raised
and was paying for 1t at the prices
demanded by the single manufacturer
and its allies. The producers were
being paid in most instances but lit
tie more than the COST of production.
When it was considered that the fer
tility of the soil was being exhausted
by raising tobacco crops. in a great
many instances the producers we're
paid even less than the cost of pro-
duction.
Tobacco Is crop which, from Its
nature, requires personal handling
and care. But little machinery can
be utilized in its culture and prepare
ton for the market. Consequently
one man can handle but few acres.
The tobacco raiser became generally
a poor man. He and his family de-
vote their labor for a whole year to
the crop, frequently resulting in his
receiving less than 70 cents a day
for his toll.
Trust Reaped Profits.
1t was finally disclosed that this
single buyer and its allies had reaped
and was reaping the most enormous
profits from this class of business.
The difference between the buying
price and the selling price was so ex
tensive that as much as so per cent per
annum was realized upon the capital
Of the trust, magnified by fictitious
means to four times its resse value
In other words, the trust realized 240
per cent upon its actual investments
in the business.
The growers, finding that the stat
utes against the trusts apparently
were ineffectiye, undertook to apply
the same methods which the trust
had employed. Legislation was en-
acted in Kentucky, under the impulse
Of the public demand and in further
ance of the public good, allowing
farmers to pool their crops and prod
ucts, so as to present a more united
and organized body Of sellers against
the united and organized body of
buyers, and so as to realize a more
nearly reasonable value for the com
modify. The trust buyers at this
point declined to buy from the grow
ers' association. and In every way
in the art Of cunning. ex-
perienced and apparently conscience
less men, backed by hundreds of mil
ions of dollars made from the product
Of these people, sought 10 break
down the organizations Of the pro
ulcers.
You will observe that these condi-
lions had been existing for full gen
sration. After considerable agitation
IN the public press and upon the
stump. sentiment was sufficiently
aroused to procure the enactment Of
legislation granting to the growers
he privilege their. competitor had
been enjoying undisturbed for so
ong. Then the growers were met
with the concerted, combined, DELHI.
crate and ruthless methods OF their
In which the latter I'M
iertook to and proclaimed that II
would destroy the growers organiza-
ion and would not buy their product. |
Thus the first assault was made by |
he tobacco trust. the buyer. itself
IN unlawful organization, fattening
~ unlawful means upon the sweat
poverty and hardship Of those whose
abor produced the subject OF the
commerce, II defied II.
Growers Formed Pools.
In 1906 the growers formed pools |
n Kentucky. as we'll as in other
states growing the crop. in which