The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-06
AMERICAN SMOKER
is EXTRAVAGANT.
Tobacco Men Rejoice at Great
Demand for High Class
Southern Products.


Southern Products.
The American smoker tends to be-
come ever more eNtravagant in his
taste. according to members of the
States. who held an informal smoker
at the Jefferson Hotel last night, and
discussed the many phases Of their
business.
1t is high class bright cigarette
tobacco; rich, selected Burleys: and
high grade, dark plug tobacco that are
In the greatest demand this year, and
as these are the varieties that grow
In the seven States represented at the
convention. the delegates argur we'll
for the future OF the Southern inter
ests The only thing that shows a
laiiinS OFF in demand is the hard
fred dark tobacco Of the South. the
Kind that burns all day and requires
human bellows to keep it going
For the American smoker won't pun
hard. AS he grows increasingly opu-
lent and his taste for IuXuries is edu-
Gated, he rejects more and more those
varieties OF tobacco that require the
wind of Marathon runner to get any
good out OF them. The high grade
cigarette that Yields its fragrance to
the merest zephyr OF breath. pipo
tobaccos miraculously blended so as
not to bite the tenderest tongue. and
cigars that smoothly and sweetly pass
away, leaving only the cleanest and
purest ash-these are the luxuries that
the original and immoderate Ameri-
smoker demands.
The pioneer, who whitfield his black
plug and crammed the shavings into
his pipe has disappeared. and with him
the taste for strong and coarse tobac>
co. The black hard fred brands OF
the South now so 10 Austria and Hun
gary. where tho pipe loving peasants
make life noxious with tho black weed
after 1t has been given additional
strength by being smoked In bis
barns like hams.
Formally Opens To-Day.
The tobacco men Will formally open
their convention this morning with a
meeting in the Jefferson Auditorium.
They decided last night to invite the
women to this and all subsequent pro-
ceedinSs OF the convention, and as
many wives and daughters have ac-
companied the delegates to Richmond,
the events will take on a Pleasantly
social aspect
Mayor George Ainslie, w. T. Reed,
vice president OF the Chamber OF COM
merce, and John NJ. Taylor, president
OF the Richmond Tobacco Trade, will
make the addresses OF welcome and
the principal response will be made by
G. s. Norfeet, of Winston-Salem n c.
The reports OF the president and sec
rotary will also be read. Especial in
tercst attaches to the report of the
81
deliver comprehensive review OF the
tobacco situation. touching upon the
present state of the market, the prob
able enec. OF the Federal legislation
about to be enacted, and the question
of ocean transportation rates. the in
crease OF which threatens to become
an important factor In tobacco ship
ment.
The Tobacco Man and His Banker"
Will be the subject of an address by
Colonel ]. F. Bruton, of Wilson, n. c.,
who is president of the First National
Bank in that city. He will discuss at
length subject which will occupy an
important place In all the delibera-
tons of the convention, namely, that
of currency and banking reform The
tobacco men assert that their business
has probably suffered more than any
other from the Anticipated and inef-
fectual currency system of this coun-
try. because the handling OF the tobacco
crop. all the way from the farmer to
the manufacturer, requires. more than
anything else, ready cash. The in
elasticity of the currency of the United
States, and the frequency of distur-
Dances In the money market, are spe-
cially great hardships for the tobacco
man. The convention will probably
take some action indorsing the cur
rcncy reform program OF Congress.
,fuI
J. ID. Clark, of Lexington. Ky. will
also address the meeting this morning
on the subject OF Kentucky" The
an automobile tour of the city, leaving
the Franklin Street entrance of the
jefferson Hotel at 5 o'clock this after
noon. and n reception in the evening al
the Jefferson Hotel Auditorium, given
by the Richmond Tobacco Trade. the
Chamber of Commerce and the city.
Tomorrow all of the delegates and
Jamestown. All OF them are deeply
impressed at the prospect of seeing
the place where the fragrant leaf first
enchanted the nose of the white man.
ono of them declares that when the
settlers first founded jamestown. to-
bacco grew so rank In the streets that
III was necessary to cut 1t down with
axes before traffic was possible. An
other declares that Captain John Smith
first detected the delightful odor of the
weed in that vicinity and presented
Pocahontas with a bouquet of 1t, there
Ey winning the maiden's heart and
making lot of history. Owing to
these historical and traditional asso-
Citations, the pilgrimage to jamestown
island will be a portentous. but not
necessarily n solemn. occasion.