Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-08-13
UNREST in
THE MARKET.
Punctuation In Price Of Tobacco
Has Hit Dealers
Hard.
ASSOCIATION IS IN DOUBT.
Fate Of the Planters Organi'
cation To Be Settled
Sept. Fl.

The decline in the price OF tobacco
in this district is causing serious
losses to the dealers who bought at
high prices in the loose state. So
serious has the situation become
that there is move on foot among
these dealers who still have tobacco
to form an organization for their
mutual protection. There is also a
move to pool this tobacco with the
Planters Protective Association and
have it sold through these channels.
From the best reports obtainable
there are about 1000 hogsheads Of
tobacco still unsold in the district,
which is owned by independent deal
ers, or those who bought the tobac-
CO loose and priced it themselves as
a speculation, hoping to be able to
sell at a profit. OF this amount
probably $500 hoGshead are held
here. 1900 at GAINESVILLE. LOCO at
Paducah and 1900 at Ma, field. For
this tobacco fancy prices were paid
last fall and winter and nov the
market quotations IN most instance
are considerably less for the tobacco
priced and after it has gone through
the sweat than was paid for it at
first.
Several conferences have been held
betwesn thesA independent dealers
and officials of the Planters Protec-
tive Association looking to a joining
of interests. The association has be-
tween 5000 and 5000 hoesheads Of
the 1911 crop still on their ha-ds
which they are closing out as fast
as thew eau at reduced prices. Moth
ing has been given out 10 the pubic
from either side as TO the progress
that hes been made towards coall-
ton between the association and the
independent dealers, but just what
the outcome Of the negotiations will
be cannot be foretold. That the in
dependent dealers will form an or
g4niz lrion of their own seems more
probable, to hold the tobacco.
Whether OIL not the Planters Pro-
tective Association will continue in
existence for another season Is yet
to be determined. For the past two
years only about one-third of the to-
bacco growers in the dark district
have sold their tobacco through the
association and now the officials have
come out with plain statement OF
facts and the positive declaration
that unless at least majority OF the
farmers affiliate with the organiza-
ton for the next year, it will be al
lowed to dissolve and quit business
entirely. The membership books
will be financially closed for the 1912
op en- September Fl. and the final
decision will be made on the show
ing made at that time. The officials
OF the association have repeatedly
stated their position in public
speeches and through cards publish
ed in the newspapers. and they de-
clare they mean exactly what they
say.
The effect Of this has been to Gre
ate more interest in some sections.
but whether or not the farmers gen.
orally are interested sufficiently to
join and raise the membership to Il e
required status, is another matter
that only the future can determine.
The association was formed in 1904.
1t has controlled as high as $1,000
hogsheads of tobacco in single
year. this year their holdings being
ahcut 70 600 hOQsheads.