Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-10-01
GROWERS WARNED
LOW PRICE MENACE
Extensive Movement Planned At
Big Lexington Meeting, Im-
portant To All Growers

| More than ZOO representative
tobacco growers from Kentucky,
Ohio, and Indiana, are in attend
ance at the Burley Growers As
sociation at Lexington, held for
the purpose of completing the
mammoth organization recently
formed and the charter and by
laws, prepared by Judge George
{. Webb, of Lexington, were act
ed upon. The circuit court room
was used instead of other quar-
ters, owing to other meetings be-
ing being held there. The features
of the bylaws and charter were
described by Judge Webb at the
opening meeting. George w.
Newman was selected temporary
chairman.
Chairman Newman in opening
his address, declared that the time
is ripe for the hurley growers of
Kentucky to take some decisive
action looking to cooperation and
union for the good of the tobacco
industry and that with the proper
educational propaganda, and a
spirit of intelligence, conserva-
tism and consideration for the fu-
turc, a successful organization of
the growers should be easily ef-
fected
He asserted that no one would
deny that there is an over-pro-
duCtion of tobacco this year; as
government reports show that
the 1920 crop will amount to be-
tween 45O,OOO0OO and 50O,OOO,OOO
pounds, and that the quota set by
the manufacturers for their use is
given at approximately 3OOOOO,-
900 pounds, leaving a surplus of
from 100000 to 2OO,OOO,OOO
pounds, according to published es-
climates.
He stated that prices for high
grade tobacco would probaly be
satisfactory. while those of other
grades would be low Reports
from Virginia and the Carolinas,
where the 1920 market has al
ready opened, were not at all en-
COuraging to the growers, as most
of the tobaccos offered on those
markets are selling at only about
80 1-3 per cent of the price they
brought last year-a loss of about
60-2-3 per cent.
The speaker declared that in
the face of these conditions that
many growers in Kentucky be-
lieve the only remedy to maintain
the price of hurley is to cut out
the 1921 crop, which he said. the
cut-out advocates argued would
keep up the price of this years's
crop. He deprecated the cut-out
sentiment, saying that it would
spell lawlessness, disorganization
and loss to the growers. The
purpose of the new organization
he said, is to reach d solution Of
the problem in a different way.
There are two angles to the pro-
position, he explained, as seen
from tn eviewpoint of the friends
of the association-to prevent ov-
reproduction and to enlarge the
markets.
The proposed cut-out Mr.. New
man declared, would be only tenn
porary and in 1922, should the cut
out be resorted to, the growers
attempt to double the production,
SO that the problem would not be
solved
what we want to do is to sta
billze prices, raise tobacco at a
profit, and come out on the right
side of the ledger" Mr.. Newman
asserted.
Chairman Newman, in describ-
ing conditions in hurley district,
stated that owing to the scarcity
Of labor, many growers are pay
ing from $S to $12 a day for
hands" to work in the tobacc
fields. Last year, he said, it cost
20 cents pound to produce bur-
ley tobacco and that it would cost
fully 80 cents to raise it this year
''The hurley tobacco growers of
Kentucky" the speaker declared,
Cannot afford to sell their tobac-
co for less than this figure. A
lower price will mean ruin and
disaster to them and their fam
lilies. We are anxiously awaiting
the opening of the market i'll
Kentucky to see what the price
will be. The opening of the mar
ket in Virginia and the Carolinas
where the tobacco combine is Of
fering less than half the price of
production is the most monument
tai crime against the defenseless
growers of those states since the
rape of Belgium.
81 cannot predict what the mar
ket will be in Kentucky for this
this years crop, except by COM