Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1915-10-08

by sad experience what Lne DuJ lnS III
terests will do when they are unpro-
tected), or unite solidly in making
compact organization that will afford
protection for all time, and which 1t
would be impossible for the buying
interests to disturb.
It might not seem inappropriate to
recount a few facts which are as
milestones along the Associations
tourney of life. Immediately proceed
ing the existence of the Association
the buying interests were maintain
ing an average of probably four cents
per pound in their purchases OF TO-
bacco. The Association succeeded IN
advancing this average to approx
mately nine cents per pound. 1t has
supervised the preparation, sale and
settlement for something near sixty
million dollars worth OF tobacco IN
eleven years of its operation. On
basis of doubling the price, the net
increase in the circulation OF money
and to the credit of Association tobac-
co growers over prices paid before
there was an Association, or on
four-cent average, would be thirty
millions Of dollars. But on basis OF
the Association having equally ad-
yanced the price for the man on the
outside. which fact is scarcely denl-
able, because the advance in prices
was apparent and if the outside man
had not believed he was getting ap-
nroximately the same prices the IN
side man was getting, all would nave
flocked to the Association the next
season, the sixty millions OF sales
representing as it does Association
holdings, or about one-third of the an
nual production of tobacco in the
Dark Tobacco District, 1t would be
fair to say that the outsider who pro-
duced two-thirds Of the tobacco, had
benefited to the extent Of sixty mil
lions over the four-cent average, and
that the aggregate increase in the
value of the crop to growers inside
and outside the organization in eleven
years is approximately ninety million
dollars.
The greatest difficulty experienced
is in making growers believe the AS
ISOLATION will discontinue business un'
less better support Is Immediately
pledged, but such Is fact nevertne-
less. In past seasons, at the urgent
solicitation Of growers, upon what
seemed reasonable assurance that q
large amount of additional tobacco
would be pledged, the books have
J been reopened for membership. But
such course only resulted in aiding
} the fellow outside to obtain a better
: price. 1t never appreciably Increased
: the amount Of tobacco pledged, anc
was generally considered a deception
But even il 1t had been frank and con
sistent the conditions then and nov
are entirely different Then we had
large following, and Notwithstanding
It was not such a per cent Of the an
. . nual production OF tobacco as the Al
ISOLATION desired to control in orde
Q to accomplish the best results, 1t wa
nevertheless a benefit to those Wh
= entrustedathe sale OF their tobacco 7
it, as evidenced by better price tina
It would have been possible for theI
to have obtained. But on OCTOBER
= 1914. and on account Of the Europea
!, war demoralizing market condition.
all members were released and so ia
: as the 1915 crop was concerned, 1t wa
:, announced IL we were to have an
ganization it would be built from tn
n. beginning. Hence there was no nuclei
: from which to draw, and the presel
q effort is not simply an annual addltic
r. to an already large membership
in We learn there are those who al
r.. saying there is no danger OF the A
Q. sociation retiring from business.
or this connection 1t is my duty to 81
II. there is not the least probability
ng securing the services of the men WI
have made success of the enterprl
ng for eleven years to attempt what tn
in believe would result in disaster, eV'
ce though there might be clamor I
an the Association to continue. 1t won
es be no kindness to attempt to condu
ell an Association which had for pl
nose successful sales unless 1t h
en-. the requisite strength, Therefore,
MS, is positively certain that one thl
lpt only will preserve the Associate
ng which is to have sufficiency OF
to bacco pledged, and those who del
nd signing on the presumption that it "
no survive somehow, reckon withC
eco their host. The books will positive
to not be reopened after they are
ne mally closed, and if by any char
70 there is an Association after the boo
ms close growers will make it, and t
ing der it to the management.
We The United States government,
aue several States and every public n
who is writing or lecturing for the
10 lift of his fellow man, urges organ
ny ton on the part of farmers as
o. only possible means for their pro
ton and progress. He has the me
'ion for his protection in his own han
AR if he will not accept to degere