The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-11-14
NOTE sook SKETCHES


already contracted for, is large enough
to satisfy all concerned that the year s
work and worry over the crop have not
been gone through for nothing. The
prices paid have assured the growers
liberal remuneration for the toll, risk
and expense involved in producing the
crop. At from 20 to 80 cents the loaf
holds an undisputed first position as a
money crop. even at the present high
cost of raising it. The farmers In the
Wisconsin tobacco producing areas are
not men of leisure; the growing of to-
bacco involves hard work, long hours
and exacting care, not only in order TO
handle that crop, but to handle every
thing else on the farm that must go
along with successful tobacco culture.
1t is natural that he should feel enti-
tied to e reasonable compensation for
his work and expense. When these
expectations are met, as they have
been this fall, he is encouraged and
braced up for the tasks ahead. These
conditions are gratifying not only to
the farmer, but to everybody. AS a
producing class the farmer renders q
service, the Importance OF which can
be measured only by the need of them
on the part of the consuming class.
They are gratifying also because they
serve to stimulate the feeling that ag-
riculture as an occupation is not only
drudgery and bare living, but it is
profitable; it pays. A back-to-t the-soil
movement, built on the economic ad-
vantage of it, is more convincing than
the sentimental one of simplicity, early
rising and flowers. The profit which
brings independence and comfort and
reasonable leisure has come to make
farming attractive Tobacco farming
| is not only dirt and the rough shirt, 1T
is some velvet This is gratifying to
all. The tobacco buyers who have been
riding through the country and bought
this fall, have taken great delight in
the fact that the market prospects
were such as to be able te meet the
expectations of the growers. The buy
er is distributor. His service to the
tobacco industry is in it's way no less
important than the growers. His
risks are different, but they are real,
! too real sometimes for comfort. AS it
| is well for the distributors to realize
| the problems of the growers, it is no
| less important that the grower should
realize the problems which the distrib-
utor must face Over against the
manufacturer s the packer has 70 watch
| his goods and watch his steps in order
TO dispose Of his holdings at figures
which will leave him a profit Liberal
enough to keep his credit good for the
next buying season. In this matter
The grower can do his bit to make the
dealer S end more secure. The strip
| ping season will soon be here. Then is
| the time for the grower, who sold at
| good price, to remember the packer.
| In making the crop ready for delivery,
| the grower has a chance to exercise
such care and consideration for the fu-
/ ture condition of the tobacco as no one
/ else can do. In the matter of careful
handling the grower plays part not
| second to that of raising a good crop.
| Here the grower and packer are part
| ners in the business, and the neglect
| and carelessness of the one does not
only harm the other, but it harms the
whole industry, reaching forward and
back to both extremes, and touching
every point in between. Conscientious
handling of the leaf to be delivered is
a protection, not only of the buyer, but
| of the reputation of Wisconsin tobacco
| and the Wisconsin grower. The game
| should be so to pull, each at his end of
| the evener, as to move the load for
ward. This reciprocal sense of mutual
/ responsibility and mutual interest is
not wanting. There is bond of APP
/ probation of the other fellow difficult
ties. risks, honesty of purpose and pull
1 for the common good established be-
tween the grower and buyer who year
after year have met to move the Wis
consin tobacco crop from the field to
the factory down East, which can not
be fully appreciated by one who Judges
| only by surface appearance. Both sides
are best pleased when the teamwork is
good and things run smoothly. So far
these conditions have prevailed this
year Sound business rests on three
pillars: honesty, confidence and judge
ment. Where the one or the other is
kicked over, business is upset. The to-
bacco business is no exception to this
rule.
| The news that buying had started ir
the choicest tobacco sections of north
ern Wisconsin, which was given to the
trade last week by the u S.. Tobacco
Journal, coming as it did Immediately
upon a buying movement that hac
| greatly reduced the supply of binders
in the market, was very significant anC
was read by the trade with great inter
est. 1t was learned this week that E.
Rosenwald & Bro. have been buying
liberally in that section. Nathan |. Bl
iur having left Monday to superintenf
operations. 1t had been almost taker
for granted that little or no buying o1
the 1919 tobacco crops would be done
until the tobacco had been taken dowr
and bundled. Scenting in this deviation
from the policy that has been accepted
by the majority Of the packers, mat
ter of peculiar interest, a Journal rep
resentative inquired Of member Of
this firm why they had decided to in
itiate purchases of the 1919 crop 81
Iearly The response was that the firm
!. found it absolutely necessary to assure
itself of a supply of the best of the 1915
| | crop for the benefit of their customers
The Rosenwald firm, it was pointed
| out, maintains very close and intimate
relations with its customers, who have