The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-03-07
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

already arrived. In the stampede OF
growers to dispose of their holdings
before spring they are accepting prices
much too low. OF some $50, 600 pounds
re- ceived in this market this week an
average price of between IL and IA
cents was paid. This means that some
of the crops did not bring over 10 cents.
This tobacco was bought for stemming
purposes, but in our opinion the stem
ming concerns ought not to take ad-
vantage of the situation and crowd the
price down so near the cost Of produc-
tion. The larger manufacturing con-
Germs who depend on Wisconsin for
their binders are willing to pay the
growers fair profit on their tobacco
and several firms now stand ready to
increase their holdings at from 20 to 25
cents for such crops that yield the re-
quired amount of binders. 1t is mat
ter of policy with them to keep the
normal supply grown. But they want
binders, not stemming stock. They
will tellyou that rs per cent of the un-
sold tobacco where the grasshoppers
were so plentiful must be classed as
stemmihg goods and therefore is TAX
ing the full benefit of the slump in
prices It hardly need be added that
the 1919 crop will show a remarkable
decrease IN acreage.
-
The growers who were so insistent
few weeks ago in fixing minimum
price of 80 cents for their stemming
goods might come to the front now and
relieve the situation wonderfully by
forming pool and taking over this to-
bacco now being slaughtered by the
more unfortunate farmers who could
not afford to have their crops handled
at the association ware houses. If they
have the faith of few weeks ago, the
pool would be sure winner. Here is
an opportunity to put into practice the
spirit of cooperation and friendliness
that should prevail among farmers.
Thasreply OF she-iAesA2sss.st trade cossar
mission to AssembtymEl ti1ss Hanson's
joint resolution thht pavasa the legis-
lature requesting ag sH@. ssatiOn OF
the tobacco marke& corFli- i-aaya.s mas been
made public and is ~ seiipsys: after
careful consideration 8ee commission
believes it should proceed in matters
of this character only when SO directed
by resolution Of either the United
States senate or house Of representa-
tives appropriating the necessary
funds" Rather curt, isn't it? In
other words, the federal trade commits
sion doesn't tspropose to act as errand
boy for Wisconsin legislator. They
take their orders only from congress
who must supply the funds for the ex-
penses of Investigations. So the hope
Of hanging something on the tobacco
trust for the slump in tobacco prices
has gone glimmering.
-
Much emphasis has been laid upon the
fact that the bulk of the cigar leaf to-
bacco in this country is in the hands of
the manufacturers, and that, eompara-
lively speaking, the leaf tobacco pack
ers have very little, not having invest
ed yet to any extent in the 1918 crop.
AS broad generalization Of the situa-
tion, this is correct, but it does not
state the whole truth. There are
few packers who have fairly large
ocks of old tobacco on hand, and
their situation is not quite but almost
Is bad as if every packer had large
stocks, They realize that the new
crops are being taken up at consider
ably lower prices than they paid for
the stocks they hold; that by October
1919 the 1918 crop will be ready for
the manufacturers use, and that, if
they are to dispose of their tobacco at a
profit, they must do SO before cheap
er crop comes into competition with
their high priced holdings.
*x*
A county Equity pool for tobacco
growers was organized at Madison Fri
day unGer direction of the Dane County
Society of Equity. A warehouse asso-
citation, with Its center in Madison, will
care for scattering tobacco crops in
outlying districts which cannot be han
died in local associations. Growers
will be able to obtain money on their
tobacto while it is in pool.
-
The price of cuttings has been watch
ed with considerable eagerness by
packers who have bought 1918 Wiscon-
sin, as giving line upon what they
may expect for their low grades. Some
contracts have been placed with pack
ers for low grades upon the basis of 10
to II cents. Cuttings are now selling
at around 2l cents. o Once the packer
has ascertained what his low grades
will bring him he is in position to make
price upon his entire holdings. The
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