The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-08-11

A1clh4A6 q A0ANOAd III anu 6l1lhl4k 6DE6Cu.
Uncle Joe Cannon was then the pre-
siding officer of the House, and he
asked the. old gentleman, afterwards,
what he thought of his effort. The
old fellow replied: well, young man,
you said many things that were new
and many things that were true; but
the things that were new were not
true, and the things that were true
were not new So, my friends, in
discussing this vexed and complex
subject, do it with great hesitation,
not to say reluctance. feel that ADLER
men, who were more financially inter
ested than myself, have labored and
given their strength and grown heart
sick over 1t.
1 must tell you that for myself, see
ing no prospects for better prices be-
yond six or seven cents, l have de-
cided to raise no tobacco next year
My acreage this season will not ex-
coed seven or eight acres. But my
interest in the welfare of my friends
and neighbors and all the growers in
the hurley belt compels me to meet
with you to-day to exchange ideas and
to lay before you what ideas l have
acquired in thinking over the situa-
ton.
1t is obvious and safe to assume
that big percentage of the growers
have some faith and hope in the eff
cheney of organization, or else we
would not be here. 1t seems to me
that we have made appreciate prog
ress through the disappointing years
of apparent failure At least the
ground has been broken and we should
be able to secure some new light on
the dark and tangled problem from
the mistakes of the past.
think that our first step should be
to provide ways and means of placing
a good sum of money in the treasury
of our association for organization
purposes. AS you know, battles in
these modern times are never under
taken on an empty treasury. 1t is
obvious to my mind that the organiza-
ton can not be effective or secure sat
isfactory results for the growers in
the way of better prices unless it has
stability and permanence in the con-
tinued and uninterrupted and unremit-
ting efforts of it's officers. They must
be continually on the job. Victory can
not be attained if the officers of the
organization are spasmodic, no matter
how much zeal and enthusiasm you
inject into it periodically, every now
and then. The price of success in bust.
ness, like that of liberty, is eternal
vigilance"
Now, my friends, to put the idea
plainly and concretely, it seems to me
that it must be clear to you, that you
must recognize the necessity by this
time of having a few men, a commit.
tee, acting as your agents, of your
own selection, to manage for you the
marketing of your own product This
small committee should be composed
| of men of the highest character and
| integrity of purpose. 1t goes without
saying that they must be successful
business men and recognized experts
and handlers of tobacco. You must
realize that it is not humanity possible
| to secure the full time of these train
| ed and able men without compensa
ton. 1 do not doubt that there are
men who would serve from motives
of philanthropy, if they could afford
to indulge themselves, but they car
not and it is not to be expected
If you are really in earnest about
organizing and cooperating and wisI
to secure for yourselves frst-clas.
business ability to sell your products
the money to pay for that service
could be easily raised by agreeing t.
assess yourselves, say 10 of one pei
cent on the sale of your crop. 1 un
derstand that 100000, 900 pounds were
raised last season. Suppose, for argu
ment, your agents, your executive
committee, could secure an average
for. you of 10 cents, that would NEAR
$25,000,000 One-tenth of 1 per cen
would be 5000 for your treasury
On crop of ten acres of 1000 pounds
to the acre, at ten cents a pound, i
would mean to the grower $1,000 HI
would assess himself one-tenth of
per cent, or 81. Do you not think any
man would cheerfully pay 81 to make
or save $500, the difference between
7-cent tobacco and 10-cent tobacco?
Now what would be the duties O
your president and his executive
staff? Every pound of the tobacco O
the organization should pass through
their hands. They would first estab
fish standard or recognized fixeC
grades of tobacco. Having the alb
solute sale of all the tobacco, the!
would dispose of certain grades, o.
all grades, that in their judgmen
brought their full value The grades
that did not bring their value would
be rejected and put into winter orde
and held for better price. This com
mittee should verify the impression
hat exists that it could secure fl
the owners of the rejected Tobacco
so per cent of the Appropriated valu
from the Federal Reserve Board, s.
there would be no hardship worke,
upon land owner or tenant. In adj
ton to grading, the time consume,
In the selling of years crop is
big factor and could be more ad
vantageously arranged. The seller
at a great disadvantage, and frequent
ly sells at great sacrifice, in rush
ing the years output on the brake
in few months and accepting wha
is hurriedly offered him on con
gested, not to say glutted market
Any manufacturer who auctioned OF
without reserve his entire yearly out
put to the highest bidder i'll Unite,
number of days would soon go broke
The Executive Committee would ind
cate the exact quantity that woult
be brought up each day from the va
rious counties or districts, each maj
could unload his crop on schedul
time and return promptly to his home
thus avoiding expense and tediou
delays and of remaining in the cit
over night. One such saving alon
would more than pay his annual as
sessment
The manner of the election of you