The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-26
BY WILLIAM r. SANaORN

River leaf being held at the Globe
warehouse in Cincinnati. This is Dark
Belt tobacco and not the Bright Patch
leaf, which also grows in the tributary
country.
We have spoken of this as an exper-
mental sale for the reason that this
is the first offering of this particular
leaf on the Cincinnati floors, at least,
SO far as can be remembered. If there
be good demand at a fair price.
there is whole lot of the same kind
to come forward.
And to what use will this particular
tobacco be put, the Ohio grower is
likely to ask, at this juncture. From
what we have been able to gather and
surmise. this leaf will come into direct
competition with Little Dutch, or with
Ohio low grade filters. in the manu-
facture of cheap goods, stogies and
the like. Just how this leaf will be
processed and handled is a matter Of
technical knowledge and practical,
Is not at all important in this state
ment. The pith Of the matter is this:
Leaf which has not formerly been
used in the manufacture Of even the
cheapest cigars heretofore has been
'doped" and manipulated during the
the Ohio and Pennsylvania crops and
1t Is question if the leaf in question
will not now have to be considered
competitor as far as the manufacture
of the cheaper smokes is concerned.
Men who make standard goods, who
have brands with a reputation to sus-
tain. will do no monkeying with any
substitutes. These are the men who
are paying the top of the market for
whatever kind Of leaf that best suits
their requirements.
Substitute Hurts Trade.
Old smokers are quick to note any
change in their favorite brands,
whether nickel, ten cent or still high
er cost Of lines. II the taste isn't right
they shift to something else, make
various tryouts to get what they want
within their means. This is particu.
1arly true of domestic cigars-the
"Seed and Havanas," so called. AS a
matter of fact, the advance in price
has neither improved or even main
tanned the quality in many lines of
cigars, locally or widely known.
There has been a lot of sub
stitution and experimentation of late
in many cigar.plants, and this fact has
been conducive to curtailing OF the
demand for cigars. The odd prices,
the additional pennies If you please,
have also been a weight on production
and sales in the last period of read
justment. It's tendency has been to
drive the cigar smoker to pipes and
cigarettes unquestionably so. And
nearly four million smokers went over
seas, for very few Of these men de-
MED themselves the luxury of tobac-
co. These men were among the stand
bys of thousands of cigar stores. here,
there and everywhere under the flag.
What of those who found the familiar
smoke unobtainable, or indeed, any
kind of cigar most Of the time. Well,
the pipe. the cigarette and the little
pocket sack and papers had to fill
the bill. 1t is very doubtful that
hundreds of thousands of these will
ever go back to cigars as a regular
habit, and surely not those who have
become confirmed smokers of cigar
cites.
One Phase Of the Problem.
And all of this must be taken into
account in the contemplation of the
future of cigar leaf, and the immediate
effects of the arrival of these men in
their old home towns. That the con-
to degree is certainty: but to how
large a degree? And will any reduc-
ton in the price of cigar leaf bring
us quickly back to the even price or
six-for-a-quarter nickel line. Not for
a long time, in our opinion. In the
meantime we are all becoming accus-
toned to the odd price, and in many
cases to the "odd" and unfamiliar
cigar. Possibly the new combinations
will suit us right down to the ground.
after a while, but we shall smoke less
of these until they do, and that means
a comparatively lessened consumption
of cigar leaf varieties.
But there Is ever rising genera
ton" new smokers, II you please, just
as there are always new growers of
leaf and manufacturers of tobacco.
We shall get back to normal after a
time, not only as to cigar sales and
production, but in all other lines. To-
bacco is destined to be retained on the
map. 1t will do it's share as to feeding
a vast army of grocers and handlers;
Just as always, and will do more than
its share in supporting the govern
ment and providing revenue. Tobacco
IS one of the great economic factors
in present day civilization,the world
over. 1t is the one great solace OF
millions who toll to feed us and to
provide everything that makes life
worth while. That anything can
change the existing order as to tobac-
co need not worry this generation.
Tobacco will continue to be grown,
manufactured and sold at a profit;
and to be enjoyed by its devotees in
definitely. Let us not be pesslmlstlc,
even Of the immediate future. In every
man who Graves more tobacco, more
cigars and more cigarettes were to
get his share there would be mighty
little talk about surplus of leaf any
where on the planet. The channels
OF distribution are being broadened
daily-ships and more ships will soon
be available, and with wider ship
ment and broader consumption, prices
will be stabilized. Tobacco land is
still worth something; don't give it
away. In the meantime grow some
thing to eat and something besides
tobacco to sell, and If you have lit
tie good leaf on hand you should be
glad Of it, Take care of it: 1t will
keep and the better it is the more
,,-coot will no the demand later on.