The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1920-11-09

must either be advanced or the raw
material must be purchased much
cheaperf Naturally the line Of least
resistance would be the purchase Of
the raw material at half the cost Of
production from the unorganized
farmers, using as an excuse the gen.
eral dcflation Of prices.
mo one has heard'it even init
mated that at any time in the future
manufactured tobacco would de
cline. In fact, some lines are being
advanced. It seemed an appropriate
time to proclaim an over produce
ton Of Burley. This may be true,
under present conditions. In our
opinion, if it is true, then II is due
to the fact that there are no other
companies in the country either with
the knowledge or with the capital to
manufacture our surplus.
'Tn our opinion, the world would
consume today twice the amount Of
Burley tobacco Of the cigarette type
as is in this present crop, if there
were manufacturers with the knowl-
edge of manufacturing and the cap
ital to convey to foreign ports the
American Burley cigarette of the
type that is now produced by our
leading manufacturers. 1t is not an
attack on the manufacturer for us
to study our own business interests.
. 'Tn 1912 the sprune growers OF
California, we are informed, grew
about 5000 tons Of prunes. Four or
five firms were accustomed to hand
ling the entire prune production. The
growers were solemnly warned that
there was an over production and as
a result the dealers could not pay
more than one and quarter cents
per pound for prunes. This led to
the formation Of the Prune Grow
ers' Association. If we recall cor
restly three or four thousand dol
lars annually was spent for adver-
Using. Business men were paid to
handle the prune business. Last year
100 900 tons were procured and sold
for around 10 sents per pound.
There are thousands of prune orhh-
ards coming on. Lands have in
creased five to ten fold in value and
still the prune growers of California
do not fear an over production.
"The use of Burlev tobacco in
cigarettes has been going on only
for few years. Our tobaccos, when
stemmed and dried absorb flavors
more readily possibly than any other
! type used in the cigarette business.
The demand for them is worldwide.
We have an opportunity that comes
to but few men, the opportunity to
produce in few counties a prod
net that the whole civilized world
is calling for. Our lands can be
doubled and THRILLED in value by push
ing this product. Is it not good busi- |
ness for us to build up and not to
tear down this industry? We would
meet the manufacturers more than
half way and take them into our
confidence, if they would treat US
likewise.
1--WE shall ORGANIZE the Burlev To-
bacco Growers Association. whether
the prices be high OF, whether they be
low. AS we gain strength and rev.
enue, such work as can be done in
the interest of the growers will be
accomplished. 1t is our immediate
purpose to curtail the acreage until
there is no over production. The
manufacturer knows today practi-
cally what the crop is likely to be.
We cannot force thee to divulge this
information. In the future we hope
to be able to collect and dessecinate
our own facts. The predicted price
of Is to 20 cents average for this
Burnley crop would indicate that the
manufacturers believe that there is
an over production. If this be not
the case the sooner the growers have
the information the better it will be
for all concerned in this industry.
For / believe l speak for practically
every grower in or out of the or
ganization, when 1 say the Burley
tobacco growers will not long sub
NIT to accepting a price below the
cost of production for this product.
Monday last was seeking con-
ference in Lexington with the local
warehousemen. They had a meeting
at A o'clock. fingered near like
Mary's lamb until nearly 6 o'clock.
Buyers were called into the private
conference and had their say for the