Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-06-19
Md THURSDAY MORNING JUNE 10. 1919

The one subject that is uppermost in the
public mind of Southern Maryland at the pres
ent time is undoubtedly the tobacco situation.
This is not only evident from the trend of dis
course among the farmers, but it is also exem-
pEhed In the editorial comment of the news
papers throughout the tobacco growing section.
The feeling Of uncertainty as to market con-
ditions, and consequent dissatisfaction with all
concerned with the handling and sale of tobac-
CO, does not appear to us to be caused so much
by decline in the price Of the staple as it does
by the absence Of the usual brisk market at this
season of the wear. With the advent Of the
w. II. Winstead concern, and the erection
throughout the tobacco section of warehouses
for the storing, grading and packing of the pro-
duct, the growers naturally expected the same
competitive market conditions that prevailed
last year. Now we do not feel justified in in
dulging in wholesale criticism of that company
for its failure so far to enter the market as
buyer for the 1918 crop until we know just
what their reason is for not buying In Justice
to w. II. Winstead, Inc, it must be admitted
that the increase in the price of Maryland to-
bacco dates from the time that this company en-
tered the field as buyer for our product.
These two facts and conditions are co-incident
and must be considered as a unit.
Prior to that time France was practically the
only buyer for Maryland tobacco, and while the
war naturally caused a raise in the price of to-
bacco generally, it is doubtful if our growers
would have reaped the full benefit of this, con-
sldering that our product must be shipped to
France and that transportation facilities were so
demoralized as to render this almost impossible.
Right at this critical stage the Winstead Co..
became buyer on the Baltimore market and
by securing contract from the r. ]. REYNOLDS
Co., established new market for at least part
of our tobacco, domestic market that could be
reached without depending, on the rapidly d.
minishing ship tonnage engaged in trans-Atlan-
TIC traffic.
While the Beacon is In no manner concerned
with the success or failure of the Winstead Co.,
except In so far as it improves or hurts farming
conditions In Southern Maryland, it feels mpell-
ed to call the attention Of the growers to what
they have accomplished through the erection of
warehouses in which the tobacco could be so
graded and packed as to command new and
better market. This has created competition
with the Baltimore market and has Injured to
the great financial benefit of the growers.
he present situation, in our opinion, is attri-
butable to just two causes---hrst, a very regret
table hesitancy on the part Of II. Winstead,
Inc, to take the growers into their confidence,
INFORM them as to the exact status of the market
for Maryland tobacco. and tell them why that
company is not buying this year as last A
full, candid statement on these points would
bring about the much desired understanding and
would go a long ways towards dissipating the
present feeling.
The other cause, and the underlying one in
every instance Of dissatisfaction with market
conditions. is the lack of organization among
the growers. the feeling that they are helpless
to cope with a situation that very materially af-
fects their vital interests. With a compact or
ganizshon administered by capable executives
they would today control the market for their
product because they would control the pro-
duct itself, and SO controlling there would be
none OF the present uncertain, panicky feeling,
L.. Al