The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-08-11
WRITES
ON TOBACCO
Attended Meeting of Associa-
tion in Florence
DO NOT RUSH
\ TOBACCO ON MARKET
Says That The Weed is Now
Selling Below Cost of Produc-
tion .

/, secretary Fteardon, acting execu-
tive comitteenan for Sumter' county
of the South Carolina Tobacco Asso-
citation, has furnished some very per-
tinent information regarding the
,neeting of the executive committee
held in Florence last Monday, and
which he attended.
There were about seventy-five to-
bacco growers present, besides the
committee. sR
The previous advice OF the associ-
alton to the farmers was discussed
Reardon. and it was decided that
this advice still holds good, as fol-
lows:
"Do not rush you tobacco on the
market. Cure your tobaccos bright
and bulk down until they bleach. On
ly bright tobaccos will sell good.
IF prices fall below reason. with
hold your tobacco from the market" ;"
Help the tobacco market by leav-
ing your money in your local banks.
There is little help to be had from
the north on account of the money
stringency, SO the local banks and
the local farmers must hold up the
markets. If you do not leave your
money in the banks the market is
sure to fall seriously.
1t was agreed that tobacco is sell
ing below cost OF production, since
the recent slump on the South Caro-
lima markets, this condition prevail
ing all over the South Carolina to-
bacco belt, and is not peculiar to
Sumter at ALL this market evidently
heading in prices throughout the sea-
son. 1t was stated at this meeting by
a member OF the central committee
that practical assurance had been re-
ceiyed that South Carolina markets
will be kept open until September
Goth. and the committee has request
ed the large tobacco companies to
help the farmers by keeping their
buyers on South Carolina markets,
even after September Goth, by having
limited number of markets open
tn market points to be designated
by the South Carolina association
executive committee. Tobacco is full
three weeks behind and farmers can
not properly market, some will be
absolutely unable to market by. Sep
tember Goth. 'i
An appeal TO the tobacco compan-
les to help the South Carolina grow
ers has been made. !. -
Regarding the Sumter tobacco
market situation Secretary. Reardon
requested the statement that reports
circulated that he had shot the, to-
bacco% o%marixets all to pieces' by his
articles in the state and in Sumter
papers advising holding OF tobacco
pending probable advances in prices,
as advised the South Carolina Tobac-
CO Association, is really md truly
genuine hot air" circulated for
spite, because he has only advised
the farmers in accordance with the
South Carolina tobacco association
bulletins of advice. He Says that
the Sumter County Chamber of
Commerce is in the present emergen-
cy like the South Carolina Tobacco
Association, working in the interests
Of the South Carolina FARMERS and
not In the interests of the tobacco
companies and the warehOusemen,
the tworlatter of.whom need no as
sistance or advice when it comes to
taking care Of themselves.
Neither the association nor the
Chamber WOULD, however do the
companies or the warehousemen any
harm beyond protecting the farmers
interests. Another matter Secretary
II ReariOn desires to stress is the i'm
portance OF the tobacco growers OF
Sumter market using both OF the
Sumter warehouses more than they
have been doing. For years. the grow
ers kicked on Sumter being a one
warehouse market. The business
men OF Sumter and the farmers ex-
pended about $25,008.o0 building
second warehouse TO create addition
al competition. because the growers
said two warehouses would cause
keener competition and consequent
higher prices He says don't sell
all or. most Of fhe tobacco on either