Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-06-25
10 Tobacco Growers Of the
Clark Fired Tobacco Belt Of
Kentucky and Tennessee
General Offices Of
TIE Tobacco Planters Association.
Guthrie, KY. June s. 1920.

Guthrie, KY, June s, 1920.
I have both Witnessed and expert.
Snced the ban0ful effects OF the de-
cline In the price Of the 1919 tobacco
now being marketed. This decline in
price Is especially remarkable in that
more than at any other time in the
history Of tobacco sales growers had
reason to expect better prices. Rela-
lively better prices had been paid else
where. Better prices had been paid
In this district earlier in the present
"oeason. We expected such prices a.
would accord with advances in prices
of absolutely everything else known
70 human requirements or desire.
Is there anything save leaf tobacco,
In the hands Of the grower, in the
whole schedule Of human wants which
has met a similar fate recently?
And this at q time when the Euro
peau countries which buy our tobacco,
and which normally produce from their
own soils so per cent of their con-
sumption have not been able to pro-
duce pound during the four years
progress of the great world war.
My opinion Is that because growers
had no visible protection the great
tobacco buying corporations to which
we are accustomed to selling, and Of
gigantic financial possibilities, saw an
opportunity to buy tobacco in this To-
cality below it's value at huge profit
fo'themselVes, and that their strategy
In the successful accomplishment OF
their purpose has been immensely
gratifying to them. It will be recalled
that an equally undesirable situation
with reference to the price Of tobacco
existed in 1904, when an organization
was perfected to combat the out
spoken injustice, a blight upon our
progress, robbing good citizens of
courage, from fear they were helpless
under such powerful opposition to fair
prices. All the discomforts and alb
.sence Of progress which our citizen
chip endured then in the same ratio
contributed to the revenues of foreign
governments, great corporations and
individuals exploiting our industry.
But they were employing the most
competent technical men and financial
brains procurable, and at great cost,
while tobacco growers, without the
least protection, were laboring with
Eheir hands.
The organization then perfected
was 4 conspicuous and glorious sue
cess, by the only common sense meth
cd of computing success. 1t greatly
enhanced the price of tobacco.
There may be some to question the
real success Of the old association.
doubt If they really do. But one thing
ia certain: tobacco buying interests
never doubted its having materially
advanced the price Of their purchases.
What was 1t that prevented as COM
,plete success of the old association as
could reasonably have been expected,
.and its permanancy? 1t was the larger
percentage Of growers who not only
did not aid it with their patronage, but
whose tobacco, although they person
saEly may have been silent and free
Crom unkind prejudice, was a powerful
factor to defeat it in firsthand mar
Aet possession Of buying interests.
When painfully undesirable condi- |
&ions became apparent in the sale Of
%he 1919 crop, which l feared, and al
though unorganized, hoped for a |
spontaneous uprising Of all elements |
of protection and progress amonl |
growers.
hoped that, instead of awaiting, or
depending upon others to provide a
rescue, all growers Of tobacco in every |
county Of the district would with one |
acclaim determine upon vigilant and
ever-sufficient safeguard Of our great
Industry. I hoped they would secure
the services of a new, competent,
mfddle-aged man, who would prove
agreeable alike to all elements, to lead
q new cause in determined purpose
that henceforth our product shall
never be sacrificed to an unfair sale.
I watched and waited for some influ-
ssnCe or accomplishment from else
where which might prove the neces-
saEy safeguard. l did not then, and
do not now, feel that the man who
prompted and served twelve years In
a1no service of the old cause should be
expected to put on the harness and
again assume the tremendous respon-
abilities and labor which to establish |
such an undertaking Contemplates,
and which 1t would be necessary to
experience for one to fully understand.
But after having been appealed to-
and assured from innumerbale sources
and 4 number Of counties, that |, as
sFroWer Of large acreage and past expe-
tFfgnce In the organization and con-
duct OF such an enterprise, was the
ilogIcal man, that 1t was accepted as a
matter of course that l suggest the
rremsdy for untoward conditions, test
Una sentiment, and at least successful
.Jy launch such an enterprise as seems
@sHt. I undertook on this basis what
n knew would prove a great task, as a
duty to my country, to tobacco grow
@rs who honored me with their conf
sencs in the past, to my tenants, who
- -, n.r+para and to my own in |