The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-10-11
MEN TO
EFFECT CORNER
ONCOTTONCROP
NJ. E. Lesem of Cape Girar-
deau Gets Instructions to
Buy In Three States.
TO INVADE MISSOURI
BELT WITHOUT DELAY
Action By Blue Grass Men Will
Relieve Conditions In Missouri,
Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The tobacco men of Kentucky
among them some of the richest mer
in that state, have decided to relieve
the conditions now prevailing in the
cotton district of Southern Missouri
Northern Arkansas and in many parts
of Oklahoma.
This announcement was made yes
terday by NJ. E. Lesem, proprietor OF
the Riverview hotel, who also repre-
sents the Scott Tobacco Company of
Bowling Green, Ky. He was ordered
to buy all of the cotton that was for
for sale in this district for eight cents
a pound. Mr.. Lesem, who travels
over Southern Missouri and Northern
Arkansas for the Kentucky company,
was given authority to make purchas-
es over all of his territory and then
go to Oklahoma.
He will depart tomorrow for the
Kennel district and begin buying.
Merchants who have been dealing with
the Scott Tobacco company, will, in all
probability, cooperate with Mr.. Les
EN- in making the purchases.
It is said that the cotton will be
shipped to various points in Kentucky
where it will be stored in tobacco
pens, and when these have been filled,
the cotton will be stored near the
town where the purchases were made,
to be held until ready for shipment to
points in the east.
eI have not been informed of the
details of the company's plans" said
Mr.. Lesem last night, "but l suppose
it is going to be purchased for specu-
lation purposes. Most every one re-
alizes that cotton is worth just as
much this year as it has been in years
gone by. In fact, it is or will be worth
a great deal more within short time,
l believe.
'If the war should stop, the demand
for cotton would exceed the supply and
price. of course, would be much bet
ter than it is now. However, We are
going to pay a fair price for it. In
wears when conditions over the coun-
try are normal, cotton is sold all
through my territory for eight cents
q pound. 1t is going for six this year
and the growers are very glad to get
that.
"By buying this crop the tobacco
men in Kentucky will render big
favor to the merchants in the cotton
country. These men have been buying
tobacco from my house in Kentucky
an dthe other tobacco companies that
are associated with the Scott people.
'I have no idea what my firm is 60
ing to do with the cotton. don't
imagine they have received requests
for it. 1 presume they will Just hold
it until the war comes to a close ano
then dispose of the whole amount. II
should be a splendid investment.
"The growers in the lower part OF
Missouri and those in Northern Ar
kansas are really hard up and their
condition has a bad effect upon the
merchant. The merchant extends
credit to the cotton growers, and II
return the wholesale houses give The
merchant credit while he is waiting
for the cotton growers to pay. If the
cotton men are unable to dispose OF
their crops, the merchant does ge'
paid and that makes a bad effect al
around.
al have no idea what the tobacc.
men plan to do, but know they vii
greatly relieve conditions down through
the tobacco belt. BY buying up :ht
cotton they will make the whole terri
tory more prosperous.
81 will buy all can get until I ge
orders to quit buying and as my in
structions were to purchase every bal
Icould find, l don't suppose I will bt
limited to any amount"
While Mr.. Lesem works only for tht
Bowling Green concern, he said he un
derstood that all of the tobacco mel
in the state of Kentucky had agreed
to investigate in cotton.