The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-02-21
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES .

EDITOR REPORTER: l wish to max,
a few remarks concerning bill recent
ly introduced in the state legislature
relating to the manner of receiving
farm crops contracted for before the,
are ready for delivery. The object O.
this bill is undoubtedly calculated t,
prevent, if possible, the unbusinesslikt
practice of buying tobacco in the fielc
or before the quality of the crop car
be determined. While business men as
rule are opposed to legislation that
interferes with trade, it must be con.
ceded, however, that there are occa.
sions when such legislation is not only
desirable, but necessary, to the best
interests of all concerned. The sug-
gestion that the farmers organize to
hold their crops until ready for the
| market has been tried. The many at
tempts during the last twenty-five
years to organize for that purpose have
always resulted in failure. 1t seems
that no amount of docking, reflections,
or law suits, humiliating as these things
are, will avail. The eloquent appeals
and tempting offers of buyers anxious
to secure signatures to contracts pre-
vail over the better judgment of the
farmer and we have the same thing
over again. 1t must be evident to
everyone familiar with such practices
that if present buying methods are to
be reformed it must be done by stat
ute. 1t would not be the first time in
history that laws were enected to pro-
tect men from the consequences of
their own folly. The intimation that
this bill, if passed, might place re-
strictions on other farm produce, such
as hogs, cattle, etc., and might pre-
vent farmers from selling such pro-
ducts when they desire This bill is
applied to growing crops only and is an
attempt to bring about the same sane
methods that are employed in buying
and receiving other farm products.
This bill places no restriction upon the
purchase or sale of any product. Ev-
eryone is at liberty to buy whatever
and whenever they please It is not
designed to hamper legitimate trade,
but on the contrary it is aimed to re-
store to the tobacco trade the sound
business principles common to other
tempts to eliminate from the tobacco
~Dasiness that gambling spirit that is
now so prevalent and IS responsible for
present conditions. And barring negli-
gence on the part of the seller. it spe-
sighed the buyers responsibility be-
gins and the sellers responsibility
ceases. 1t makes contract what it is
dnCiOYooI f0 hn on i1oc,f
not be used as contract on the day of
purchase and an option on the day of
delivery. This bill will not permit
men to tie up by contract practically
the entire tobacco crop of this state,
paying contract prices for the choice
selections, and either rejecting the
balance or buying it at a price much
lower than that stipulated in their con-
tracts. Such methods are handicap
to the grower and conservative dealer
alike, and there is no business neces-
sity that justifies such proceedings.
The contention that the quality of to-
bacco crop can be ascertained better in
the field than any other place can not !
be sustained by fact. It has been dem
onstrated time and again that no buyer,
however expert, can with any degree
of accuracy determine the quality or
value of tobacco until it is in the bale
and ready for market, and | will ven
ture to say that excepting compara-
lively few men who are benefciaries of
the present system of buying. that 90
per cent of growers and dealers believe
that it should not be contracted for
until that time. I believe that the |
majority of the dealers in the state are
opposed to the present system of max |
ng contracts, and are operating under |
,he system against their better judg- |
nent and undoubtedly are as anxious |
.or change as are the growers, and it |
S to their mutual interest to cooperate |
md petition the legislature to pass this |
'ill. S. GRUNDY..