Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-09-23
Do Some Hard Thinking
for Yourselves.
INTERESTING INSIDE FACTS
Important For the Grower To Know
With References To the Tremen-
dousIy Advertised Trip To
MISUNDERSTANDING Of
Promise In II For
the Grower.
September Is. 1916.

bacco District of Kentucky and
Tennessee:
Gentlemen-For the past ten days
or two weeks tobacco interests of one
kind or another have been in state
OF excitement or expectation over the
outlook of the export tobacco market
The apparent condition existing has
not been viewed from an ordinary
market fluctuation, but. to the con
trary, was represented serious to an
acute degree.
Those vitality interested, or who
study statistics which make history in
order to comprehend facts in connec
ton with the sale of tobacco may oh
serve.
Something unreal as the basis of an
activity, and grave men are seeking
response to an inquiry.
What is the real situation?
A conference was held in Washing
ton, d. c., on the 2Sth and 29th ult.,
in one of the committee rooms of the
United States Senate. This confer
ence purported to be growers griev
ances for presentation to the Secre
tary of State. thence to the President
of the United States, a protest against
a war order of Great Britain prohibit
ing the export of tobacco, non-con
trabrand into Holland, a neutral coun
try, because it was assumed II would
ultimately reach Germany and Aus
tria.
Vivid word pictures of the distress
which would emanate from the En-.
glish Order in Council, in the event il
prevailed we're made use of by a
prominent tobacco man.
To form an intelligent idea of the
present situation. 1t will be necessary
to contemplate more extended prem.
Uses than the pilgrimage to Washing
ton would indicate.
The matter as presented there dealt.
only with the English Order in Coun-
Gil as affecting exports to Germany
and Austria.
The normal exports to Germany and
Austria are about $4,000 hogsheads,
Is compared with an aggregate of ex.
ports of approximately $4,000 hogs |
leads. 1t was not explained why such |
attitude of England as affecting the |
German and Austrian trade or approx |
mately 10 per cent of the aggregate |
f exports could completely wreck our |
market. Nothing whatever was said |
If price for the tobacco usually alb |
'orbed by the various Reggie Coun- |
ries, or the American Tobacco Co., all |
Except the latter being included in the
70 per cent of the aggregate of ex-
,orts.
But specialist of the State Depart |
nent on trade relations remarked that |
England had authorized a contract to |
he British-American Tobacco Co. for
our times its purchases of the quar-.
er ending March 81, 1916, plus 10 per
,ent., provided they could transport it
n their own ships. This presumably
meant in ships not otherwise useful to
england, or at least which would not !
hinder other traffic.
But It might be interpreted a pro-
libition against a less powerful COM
nercial institution. II England has ia
iored such corporation, it is reasona-
lie to suppose she is receiving some
benefit in return therefor, and as Eng
and is not Reggie Country. it only
the matter of prices.
England is asking credit OF the
world; who is better prepared to ex-
end it than the American Tobacco
Co., and the American Tobacco Co. is
iot averse to desirable permanent
;onnectionsl Who or what has done
more to foster a combination with a
purpose of depressing prices upon the
grower of the BLACK patch" than the
American Tobacco Co.?
In noting this sale. and for the pur-
pose of computation IL we add pos.
'ible English purchase to the normal
German and Austrian export from the
Black Patch" we still show a small
per cent of the whole was contemplate
ID and a large per cent did not enter
nto discussion at such conference.
The tone of remark was ominous.
The Hon. Ollie NJ. James, Senator
rom Kentucky, inquired; why do
rot growers organize and hold their
.obacco until England wants tobacco
rs much as they want money!"
A prominent tobacco man replied;
This Is no time TO discuss that"