Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-11-18

lficient 10 contemplate the prOtec,ioh
of all growers instead OF willingness
TO sidetrack the association when an
lalIuring offer of one-half, or one cent
per pound more is proposed to dis
suade him from joining next time or
to induce him to violate association
rules. SO as to dicsatisfy others with
a purpose of getting them to abandon
the association or fail to enlist next
time. With three-fourths OF two
thirds enlistment commissions which
have heretofore been only one per
cent could easily be reduced to one
half OF one per cent. But apparently
so many growers have hoped that
their failure to sustain the organiza-
tipD would not he of importance that
each year has made It more difficult
to enlist a necessary working number.
This L 'r.,11tion In The volume OF busi-
ness wcs colcl by prizers and ware
housemen they have been charged with
inefficient work to compensate OF to
Speculation by secretly buying the to-
bacco they were pricing, but allowing
IL to go through the books in the name
OF the grower. This has created skep-
ticism. and resentment. which OF
course was benefiting the cause OF
buying interests
The strategy Of the buying interests
has been leading to the destruction of
the fortress of the grower in which
his prices we're made and insured. OF
course they desired the market abso-
lutely under their domination again,
as would any other great interest in
business to make money.
IL has not been forgotten that prac-
tically a million dollars was spent by
buying interests with such a purpose
in the contest for supremacy of the
English market, which resulted in
amalgamation after they decided both
might be wrecked by further strug-
gle.
Immediately before the advent Of
the association. the method of destroy
ing competition in Germany and Eng
land was to sell tobacco for less money
alongside every consignment without
regard to how low it sold until their
competitors were driven from the field
ruined, when it would be easy 10 re-
coup their losses by advancing the
price the consumer paid,
The mass Of growers (although there
has never been an attack upon the
purpose or methods or success of the
association, have been Indifferent
alike to support of the industry which I
was created to protect them, or the
one which was approaching stealthily !
and would ultimately destroy them by
receiving a lions share Of what profit
the industry Afforded
If the association had been given |
sale control of two-thirds of the annual
product by a willingness on the part
IF practically all growers to carry
heir part of the burden, there would
rave been no burden. The commission
would have been insignificant and
here would have been no delay be-
'ond that of selling other tobacco.
There have been many 'ifs" and
butts" all of which had their origin
n an insufficiency of tobacco as COM
Jared with what the opposition was
upplied with. If prices remain salts
actory without organization, there is
lothing to be said in behalf of organ
cation during such time. But our
bought must be riveted to the future,
nd not the past. Above all things,
We must avoid harboring luminosity
because of a difference of view with
eference to this matter. We must
emember there are many men who
re as good as the best of us who en-
ertain different views We are citi-
ems OF common country, living I'M
er the same flag. If we have made
Mistakes in the past, we should avoid
1aking the same mistakes again.
1t is impossible fer anybody to know
'ithin five to eight thousand hogs
eads OF what the association would
andle any season. Not only the acre
ge OF the association man when
Lodging. but the weight when housing
re approximates. Likewise the acre
ge Of the non-association man, and
Is weights when housing are approx
mates, and about which we know very
tile. If the amount under associa-
ON sale control should prove of little
nough importance that buying inter-
SIS were Indifferent about Il for q sea-
on, and especially as they know they
'ould get 1t ultimately, while non-as-
ociation men had enjoyed the pro-
eeds OF their sales, il would result In |
isaster, and very possibly worse, a
anlc. IL has heretofore been as nee
ssary that the associations manage
lent safeguard such an eventuahty as
lat banks safeguard their depositors
sufficient reserves in their vaults,
nd having suffered no evil results
'om errors of this nature In the past,
iere is no disposition to hazard a
reater chance hereafter.
Cooperative sales were discontinued
ecause, while not challenging any
ans right to do as he sees proper
ith reference to his own affairs, one
lird Of the growers, which includes
10 associations management of ap-
-oximately five hundred men, are un.
Hing to longer carry the RESPONSE.
lily and burden of maintaining il.
whenever growers in sufficient
imber decide upon the need of an
and are willing to act in
'ncert in the making of It, an asso.
alton could ha mazda uvhioh H1.A.t- L