The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-01-10
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

Wisconsin tobacco farmers during
the year just closed have produced not
only the largest crop in acreage, but
also one that is destined to yield the
largest amount of suitable binder leaf
the state has yet produced. So far as
the crop has been delivered tits coming
to market in better verage packing
condition than for many years past.
The yield per acre so far as the delivery
is conducted does not very much from
1900 pounds and the money returns
around $3.50 per acre. So on the face
of these statirtics it looks as though
the Wisconsin gorwers had been favored
with a very profitable season, and it
would be satisfactory were the con-
ditions to continue through to the end.
But the rev year finds scarcely half
the 1918 crop under contract and the
above estimates were based on that
portion which had been sold. What
prices will prevail for the balance of
the crop none can fortell now. Up
to few months ago the trade had been
led to believe that there was an ex-
treme shortage of binder leaf and the
market would readily absorb any sized
crop that might be produced. All this
puts another phase upon the prospects
which the growers must face before
the books are balanced on the 1918 crop.
80
An action of especial interest to the
tobacco growers and buyers of leaf to-
bacco OF the state has just been sent
to the supreme court from the Rock
county circuit court for final determin-
alton, being the action of Erick Stran-
dervs. Mcintosh Brothers, and involves
the constitutionality of the so-called
s'Paul Law" While the statute is
general in it's terms, it is aimed partic-
ularly at the tobacco buyers, many
growers claiming that they have been
unfairly treated in past years by being
docked at time of delivery for fat stem,
pole rot, wet tobacco, rust, hail cut,
she burn, sunburn, grasshopper bite,
rocks and old kitchen stoves, etc., ac-
cidentally left in the bundles, and many
other kindred ailments, real or imag
mary. The Strander case arose over a
cs osf-0f 1915 tobacco, contracted for at
certain price, and said to have been
in a damaged condition when delivery
was attempted 1t was recently tried
in the circuit court and Judgment was
rendered for the defendants. Judge
Grimm holding that the "Paul Law"
was unconstitutional, as bridging the
right of contract, and not beng within
the police power of the Legislature,
under which it was supposed to have
been passed. The case will be tried at
the January term of the supreme court
and the outcome will be watched with
a great deal of interest by both grow
ers and buyers.
*
The year 1918 will be remembered as
one of the most unique in the history
of the domestic cigar leaf market, both
from the packers standpoint and from
the growers. The chief characteristic
of the previous year was the tremen-
dous. almost frantic, activity of the
market, during which prices scared to
almost unbelievable levels. In direct
contrast to the preceding year, when
the bulk of the 1917 crop was contract
ed for by the packers, the close of the
present year finds the growers with
almost an entire harvest of the record
breaking crop of 1918 still on their
hands. The explanation for this rad
ically altered state of the market may
be found in brief survey of the situa-
ton as it existed in 1917 and the early
part of this year. The 1917 crop was
known to be very short, both in quality
and yield. Manufacturers throughout
the country were rushed with orders,
and the demand for raw materials was
tremendous. Although the 1917 crop
was grown under most unfavorable cir
cumstances, the farmers had no diff
Guilty in disposing of their harvest at
top prices. The manufacturers, at this
period. had every reason TO believe
that the unprecedented rush of busi-
ness would continue, and so far as the
binder supply was concerned, famine
was even predicted. This expectation,
for time, was fully justified. Busi-
ness with the packers, following the
first rush, continued fairly brisk until
earlv in the fall of 1918. 1t was then
that the cigar manufacturers began to
feel most acutely the effects of the in
dustrial restrictions growing out OF
wartime conditions. Labor shortage
and labor troubles resulted in great
curtaiment in factory production. The
great increase in the cost of all items
necessary in the manufacture of cigars,
and the tremendous increase in internaj
revenue, combined to exert most de-
pressing effect upon the production of
cigars. In consequence, leaf stocks ac-
cumulateG in the manufacturers hands
in proportion to the curtailment OF the
output. The reaction upon the domes-
tic leaf market was of lightning like
suddenness. In fact, SO sudden and
complete change in the temper of the
market has scarcely been known within
the memory of the oldest tobacco man.