Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-10-02
FAIR WARNING TO TOBACCO
GROWERS FROM
ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS
Office OF the General Manager
OF the Planters Protective AS
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Office OF the General Manager
OF the Planters Protective As-
ISOLATION.
Clarksvllle. Tenn. September %. 1915
The time is at hand when decisive
action on the part OF tobacco grower.
themselves with reference TO the fut
ure OF the Tobacco Association must
be taken. Action on their behalf by
anybody else would not suffice this
| season.
The prospect for having a sufficient
amount OF tobacco pledged to make .
safe beneficial sales agency, is alarm
ing.
The Board OF Directors In session
this day adopted a resolution that the
membership books be closed on 0cto-
2Srd as referring to the 1915 crop of
tobacco. and unless $4,000 acres be
pledged by that date In the several
counties heretofore represented in the
Association all pledges win be can
celled.
A proverb among solicitors now is
that unless q far greater number Of
growers than are manifest cooperate
with us in sustaining the Association
and improving the price OF tobacco.
we will necessarily cooperate with
them in its destruction. II is painful
to note that some OF the best prizers
and warehousemen, heretofore pillars
of Association success, are discussing
plans either OF buying tobacco on or
der or operating loose floors.
1t would be impossible to contract
for the services OF the more desirable
prizers and warehousemen under such
indefinite conditions. Moreover, rent
contracts for tobacco houses date from
October 1 and they must on this ac-
count have definite purpose.
Some tobacco experts in the service
Of the Association are men whose time
and talents have already been sought,
and such men cannot afford to ignore
congenial business prospect nor that
their years employment be conditional
upon the whims or fancies of men who
say. we should have an Association,
but do not sign the pledge to make
one possible.
1t is scarcely conceivable that the
grower Of tobacco fails to realize that
the more desirable price for tobacco
was made possible by the establish
ment Of the Associations storage
houses. which afforded time and the
services OF experienced statesmen to
find the most desirable place to dis
pose OF tobacco instead Of being oblig-
ed to sell practically the same week
everybody else sells to the same man
and at the same price. with no regard
to It's classification.
II the Associations system OF ware.
housing. insuring and lending money
when the owner OF tobacco desires IL is
removed. is no longer a possibility. and
the grower is thrown back upon the
old system Of selling at whatever price
II is the pleasure of buyers to offer.
have growers any reason whatever for
expecting results which are satisfac-
tory?
Does II seem even remotely possible
that an enlightened citizenship would
sacrifice this best, last, and only posi-
BILE opportunity for self-preservation!
And yet the dissolution of the Associa.
ton is not only possible, 1t is immi'
nent.
II the Association has greatly en-.
HANGED the market price OF tobacco,
which fact is incontrovertible, and If Il
offers reasonable promise of still fur.
Their doing so. which is equally certain
provided there is an enlarged member
ship, and growers hesitate about pledg.
ing because some neighbor, friend or
acquaintance is on the outside. such at.
titude would be suggestive OF biting
off ones nose to spite ones face"
We OF course appreciate a feeling
OF resentment against a man who in
cold blood encourages the maintenance
OF the Association by others than
self. and to the extent that it provides
a standard price to enable him to sell
out quickly and advantageously.
Unless the membership Is tremen.
dously Increased over recent seasons.
the management will not attempt
sales. II will not attempt something
so extremely difficult and unsafe As TO
be improbable Of accomplishment. and
more especially because there is no
longer a grower in the Dark Tobacco
District so unfamiliar with facts as tc
be incapable OF deciding whether h.
wants the Association to survive or to
dissolve. II he wants it to survive. his
desire must be made known by signing
the pledge. II he wants 1t to dissolve
his desire will be effectively made
known by his continued silence.
There is not on this occasion a re
mote probability OF the membership
books being re-opened after they are
formally closed.
II growers want an Association