The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-10-25
NOTE Book SKETCHES

No other business has come to the
front more loyalty on the Fourth Lib
erty Loan than the tobacco trade. In
the New York federal reserve district
the tobacco trade committees listed
subscriptions of over 25 million dollars,
exceeding its allotted quota by over 25
per cent. At Philadelphia and other
centers the trade has given literally.
We have before US list of subscribers
of Chicago leaf dealers and box manu-
facturers that totals $167, 100, nicely
topping their quota of $3.50, 900. Among
the most liberal pledges in Wisconsin
will be found the names of the local
tobacco merchants, many of whom
have given their time in pushing over
the drive. These investments to aid
the government come too from a trade
that is already paying heavy tribute
in internal revenue taxes that is des-
tined to be largely increased in the
near future. If there be slackers it
cannot be charged that they are among
the tobacco trade, which has already
distinguished itself on every war pur-
pose measure.
-
A Deerfield tobacco farmer writes a
Madison paper intimating there lis a
conspiracy among buyers to cheapen
the price of the present crop. Hear
him:
stAbout the first of September quite
a few tobacco buyers started in to buy
tobacco and paid a good price. Only
about Is per cent of the crop was
bought when all of sudden the buyers
were scalled in and all buying ceased.
AS soon as buying ceased a campaign
of cheaper tobacco prices was begun
by the buyers. They Immediately
started in to tell the farmers that all
tobacco sold from now on must be sold
cheaper. The war may stop at any
time, they said, 'and if it does prices
will go way down. The war story has
been their favorite one but many other
stories have been circulated and all
with the purpose in mind to impress it
upon the farmers that tobacco prices
must be lower. Now, is it fact or is
it reasonable that tobacco will go down
if the war ceases? Why should it?
Who is going to quit smoking or chew
ing if the war ceases? Please tell US,
Mr.. Tobacco Buyer Will the soldiers
/ in Europe who are not getting nearly
as much tobacco as they are used to
having, use less? Will tobacco starved
Germany use less than they use now?
Will the people of the Scandinavian
countries who now have the tobacco
rationed out to them use less? Is it
not reasonable TO suppose that when
ships are released from bringing only
food and soldiers to Europe and are
allowed to carry tobacco to the tobacco
famished countries of Europe that the
demand will far exceed the present de-
mand? The only reason then why prices
should go down must be general de-
preston after the war and it must be
admitted that if erything goes down
tobacco will naturally follow. But will
there be general depression?"
The writer is not familiar enough
with the market conditions to answer
his complaint. We can only suggest
that if he has watched the price of bar
ley, oats and corn go sliding down the
scale recently he might discover one
reason why war prices are gradually
coming down. Wouldn't it be reason
able if tobacco follow in like manner?
1t is claimed by some buyers that if it
were not for a combination of the
farmers in southern Dane county who
met and fixed so cent limit on their
tobacco, most of the growers who are
now complaining about price could have
disposed of their crops at the prevail
ing figures. If they overreached, who
is to blame?