The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-11-26

tain we'll established restrictions, the
tobacco placed in storage and sold
in this way.
As long as this was the only way
of selling tobacco this plan was all
right but about the time the associa-
ton was formed the method Of sell
/ ing tobacco loose at public auction
houses began to be introduced into
the dark district. This plan met with
instant favor and rapidly grew In
popularity for by II the farmer
brought in as much or as little OF
his crop as he wanted to sell loaded
loose on his wagon, he saw 1t graded
weighed and offered publicly with
all the buyers on the market having
a chance at 1t. If the price il
brought suited him he got his check
! that same day, and If II was unsatis-
factory he rejected it, and had his
tobacco offered at another time when
over he thought conditions were
! right.
This left the farmer the sole arbi-
ter of affairs, gave him an early or
late sale. as he saw fit, and brought
him his money Immediately.
With the association il was differ
ent. 1t took time and cost money
to have tobacco priced, and it was al
ways early spring and often well into
the summer before the sales would be
made, and every year more or less to-
bacco was carried over unsold to the
next season.
The association officials charged
that this was largely the Machine
ton of the trust in refusing to buy
so long as they could for the express
purpose of making the members of
the pool disconnected.
However, this may have been, the
farmers did in time become FESTIVE
because of the refusal of the associa-
ton officials to adopt the loose meth
cd of selling. and great numbers re-
fused to continue their allegiance.
From first to last the moving spir-
it in the association has been Felix
G. Ewing, of Robertson county, Tenn.
Himself a wealthy farmer owner of
an elegant plantation of 1000 or
5000 acres and one of the largest
growers of tobacco in the nation he
took a deep interest in the plight OF
the farmers when prices were so
ruinously low and he was among the
first to suggest an association. Not
only did he suggest 1t, but he took
an important part in planning for 1t,
and when it was finally formed he
was made general manager and given
the powers of chief executive, and he
has held this position continuously
ever since. That he was the right
man in the right place was demon
strated by the success which attended
the carrying out of the plans.
For the past few years the sup
port of the association has been
dwindling From 10000 hogsheads
the amount controlled by the organi-
cation fell to 10000 then to 10000
then to $4,000, then to $1,000 and
the past two years to less than TO-
900.
Then it was that it was decided
the time had come to quit business.
The matter was put to the farmers
as to whether they wanted the asso-
citation to continue business. 1t was
nut before them straight all, over
the district that unless the associa-
ton controlled the bulk of the crop
it could not hope to dictate prices
and selling terms. So the farmers |
were told that unless 60 per cent of
the acreage. estimated at $4,000 |
acres. was pledged by October 23 the |
would quit. This amount |
Of pledges failed to show up. and the |
announcement of the retirement OF
he organization followed last week.
At the same time this does not
mean that the association is perma-
,ently out of business. The associa-
ion officials and many others claim
hat it is the only real bulwark of
safety for the farmers to protect
hem from another organization of
buyers with resultant low prices. To
prevent this the affairs of the asso-
,iation will be kept in such shape
hat the organization can be revived
gain on short notice and once more
intervene in behalf of the farmer.
The situation, in view of the pre-
lotions which have been made as
D disastrous consequences that would
'e certain to follow the dissolution
4 the association is one which will
e watched with widespread and deep
interest during the coming season.
he crop is now soon to be on the
larket, and with the association
uiescent, to say the least of it, the ,