Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-06-06
FRIDAY. JUNE 9Th. 1919.
FARMERS GET TOGETHER.

L lis - "a Nt1INIt it-l NLilfIl req NIiLN =
serious thought by the farmer.
of this county and in fact the
whole OF Southern Maryland
since it is in this section Of tst
State that this crop is chiefly
grown.
A few years ago the market
became SO low that it proved al
most a losing game for farmer,
TO grow tobacco and many stop
ped growing the same. An or
ganization was then formed o.
mong the farmers which resulted
in better conditions Within d
short time thereafter, the wan
broke out and last wear the iar
mors in the tobacco growing see
ton of this state after many
years of struggle came into what
We may term Justly what was
their own" and received adequate
and fair prices for their tobacco
The war caused an increase in
prices Of all foodstutfS, clothing
and other necessaries of life and
an increase in the price of labor
The lattor being the factor as we
see it that caused high prices.
The increase in price Of labor
was not only due To the war but
to organization among the labor.
ing men throughout the country.
The war is over and bearing
the above facts in mind the far
mer must get busy and look after
his own interest if he is going to
meet the high prices of clothing
and foodstuffs which he cannot
raise on his farm as well as pay
an increased price for labor.
The prices of none of these things
have come down but on the con
trary are remaining as high as
ever if not increasing, hence, the
farmer must be able to meet
these conditions. The farmer
cannot meet them unless he gets
fair and adequate price for the
produce raised on his farm. No
farmer can afford to pay high
prices for labor if he is going to
reccive lower prices for his to-
baccO and other farm produce.
Another thing the farmer
must take into consideration is
the fact that at this time last
year there existed a competitive
market for Maryland tobacco.
but up to the present time there
appears to be no competition and
whether the same will come
about is a matter to be reckoned
with in the future. 1t is up to
the farmers to bring about con
ditions that will cause competi-
ton. If the farmer had fixed
market for his tobacco according
to grades he would be in posi-
ton to make farming ALWAYS pro
titable and hire labor intelligent
ly, but as the conditions exist
today the farmer does not know
what price he will receive or can
receive for any of his produce
outside of wheat, the price Of
which has been fixed by the gov
eminent. In shor, the farmer
has no certainty Of anything in
the way of prices for his produce
except wheat.
The day has come when the
farmers must open his eyes seri-
ously to the problems that con
front him. The farmer feeds
the world and this being SO there
is no reason he should no not
be able to sell his produce at al
fair and adequate price in al
stable and fixed market. The
farmer must seriously awaken to
his interest as his cOuntrymen
following other avocations of life
have been doing.
The time has arrived for action
among the farmers and strong
action. What action is best to
be taken to insure the farmer oil
a safe and good market at an
times for tobacco and all other
produce raised on his farm is a
matter for thought, reelection and
future settlement.
We have not been able to make
a thorough study of the situation
but it now suggests itself to us
that the old farmers organiza
ton should be called together and
a strong complete and compact
organization effected. Every far
mer should at once join and give
his hearty cooperation to the
best plan that can be devised by
those thoroughly familiar with
all the conditions whichconfronts
the farmer and carry it into eff
feet. In our Judgment as TO
what should be done, is the es-
adjustment of a farmers eX-
change through which all Of his
tobacco and other produce can
be sold at fixed and stable prices. \
The farmer has got to take the
situation in his own hands if he
wants results. If the farmers
are laggard in looking out for
their interests they are liable to !
wake up some fine morning and !
find that the market has slipped |
back into the Old rut.
In days gone by We have heard /
some farmers say that the could \
not Join a Tobacco Growers As
ISOLATION because of their obliga-
lions to others which would pre-