The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02
CQMPET|T|ON IN
TOBACCO TRADE
Cry That There Is None Is An
8osh, Declares Capt.
], R. Hutchings

To the Editor: / noticed i day or
TWO ago an item in The Washington
city News columns that Congressman
Stedman and others of our national
law makers had been called upon 10
look into the tobacco situation to-
wares raising prices and suggestions
OF ieSIsiatnS against tobacco firms
In my judgment We Democrats are
inclined 10 leeislate on business too
much anyway
| never cast any other vote in nay
life and feel that have a small voice
IN our policies, being one Of the fam
lily. The cry Of no competition is all
hosh.
This crop III tobacco has sold a.
Well as any crop in ten years. except
the 1923 crop, which was by far one
of the best crops ever raised. and on
account Of a very strong foreign de-
mand. 1t sold extremely high. and l
can not believe any tobacco man
either planter, NarehOuseman. or buy
er ever expected to see such prices
again with a normal crop and normal
conditions
Under present conditions tobacco
has sold far beyond the expectations
| Of the most sanguine, and has put
more money in the country and given
more relief than any other com
| modify.
| believe the spirit OF the trade is
70 IN every way possible give the far
mer square deal, and the tobacco
planters Of North Carolina today are.
in better condition than any other
| class, as well as the people in general
of the tobacco sections.
Their is Considera bic competition IN
the trade, the four companies formed
from the old \. T. Co. I.iggett 4
nolds Tobacco Co. and THE New
American Tobacco Co. all go on the
market and buy according to the de-
mands of their factories. And bid
mandS Of their factories, and bid each
against the other. and with 33 years
as q tobacco auctioneer. l say they bid
without any compromise oI one
against the other. Then We have the
2 Imperial Tobacco, II England one Of
5 the strongest firms in the tobacco
world, large users and good bidders
on the markets.
Then there is the Export Tobacco
Co, one Of the strongest bidders in
| the trade. This firm with Jas. &
tBuck) Duke at its head is giving
much attention, time and money ii
upbuilding the tobacco industry il
$ foreign countries. The Japanest
: through their agents are large buy.
eTs Of our tobacco.
: Then with such large firms art j. 2
Taylor Co, John L. Hughes & Co.
r, Dibbreil Bros. Co, l.. L. Strause
d Hughes Martin Co., Dart Tobacco Co.
@ and others ] could name, are all larg'
r buyer, and are firms that travel tn
q two hemisphires to get orders for to
.e bacco and are strong bidders in III
il ! trade. So it is shown at a glance tina
when any one says that there is II
q competition in the trade, the facts q
.r not bear it out. This is mparatiVe
- ly a mean crop Of tobacco, with
a large per cent Of green and monde
,s script stuff that no manufacture
- wants. as people have quit using tina
r. kind and lots of it is only suitable TO
20 sheep dip. And have seen 10y
grades even lower than now in tn
81 70s sos and 90s and 1905. With tn
~ great European war going on it is
40 mystery how the market has been S
;, we'll sustained.
er ticians are always seeking an oppol
"a tunity to jump on Buck Duke anywa
=. and they don't know a cussed thin
20 about the tobacco business, and it
~ time they were calling off and let tf
tobacco interest alone. / believe tf
general feeling in the entire tobacc
belt OF Virginia. North Carolina an
-, South Carolina is to give the trade
:; rest and hands off.
JOHN r. HUTCHINGS,
Wendell, N. &.