Evening journal., 1921-01-19
TOBACCO WARS
NOT NOVELTY
Kentucky Frequently Scene
of Efforts to Cut Out
Crop
REIGN OF TERROR
WAS OR IN 1908


LEXINGTON, Ky, Jan. i9.-Although
the movement Of 1921 for the forcing
Of tobacco prices to a higher level in
Central Kentucky probably is more
general than ever before, trouble over
tobacco prices is nothing new. Efforts
TO "cut outn the crop because OF low
prices have been made periodically
during the last Thirteen years, resulting
In 1908 IN what amounted 10 virtually
war between growers who did not
plant and those who did
In 1908, tobacco beds were burned,
farmers shipped and In some in
stances killed, and a general reign Of
terror inaugurated. State troops were
unable TO cope with the situation and
the trouble died down only when
Governor Augustus Il. Wilson issued
a proclamation saying that the killing
OF a night rider" would be followed
by an immediate pardon for the
slayer. There were no sales that year
IN any OF the principal markets OF the
tobacco belt, either in the cigarette
tobacco section OF Central Kentucky
or the black belt" or dark hurley
section OF Western Kentucky.
During the two years prior TO the
"night-rider" trouble, prices for to-
bacco had been at a low level. In
1906, i,Ji2,9i7 pounds were sold on the
Lexington breaks at an average Of
sl.i9 per 100 pounds. while 1891, ,s05
pounds were sold In 1907 for an aver
age OF Si093
Prices rose 10 a new high level Of
siitl hundred for i2.04i,S ST pounds
In 1909, but slumped again In 1910.
fIniE guIfE4A lha auIltner Of
ton In Lexington, which was attend
ed, according 10 local historians. by
growers from Kentucky, Ohio and In
diana, and at which 10 was unanl-
mously voted TO "cut out" the crop
In 1911. There is no indication, how
ever, that the agreement was generally
followed out, for records OF the Lex
ingtOn Warehousemen's Association
show that In the latter year S,i9s sos
pounds Of tobacco were marketed here
at an average price OF si0.33 per 100
pounds. as compared with an average
OF 81 &C per hundred for ~ 0ii ST.
pounds In 1910
The price OF tobacco reached an
average OF si29i Ter hundred for as
tl7,225 pounds on the local market in
1912 and si205 per hundred for 1916
0l1 IN 1913. hut dropped again TO 1927
In 1914. when 56.ii9,2i5 pounds. a rec
ord for this market up 10 that time.
were sold over the breaks here The
next year only 35.3qS $50 pounds were
offered at auction here, and brought
an average OF si0.53 per hundred.
With 1918 the upward trend N to-
bacco prices started. In 1916. A2 2i6.235
pounds were sold here for an aver
age OF SiS.27 a hundred, and in 1917
the average price paid for ii.2i9.9i0
pounds jumped to s2s GO. Another $40
Increase occurred in 1918 when the
local warehousemen auctioned 3d.
S26,360 pounds for an average OF $3.50
per hundred.
The largest amount OF tobacco that
ever went over the floors OF the Lex
inglon warehouses was marketed IN
1919 for the highest price on record.
63.6i9S6i pounds being sold for an
average OF si6t7 per 100 pounds.
Indications of drop In price were
foresocn by tobacco men early in 1920
and last July a meeting OF growers
Was held In Lexington 10 vote on the
proposition 90 abandon the 1921 crop
10 was stated that labor costs were so
high that In order 10 make the crop
pay u would be necessary TO do some
Thing 10 keep prices at a level with
those Of 1919. u was decided at the
July meeting. however. that a "cut
out" would be necessary and the
Burley Tobacco Growers Association
was formed In an endeavOr to work
out the problems OF the growers
through cO-oTerative methods John
w. Newman Of Versailles was elected
head OF the organizations.
When the government estimate OF
the tobacco crop OF Kentucky was
made public December 1 growers de-
clarcd that Il was too h'gh. as the
leaf would not weigh more than two
thirds OF the usual amount This
caused pOstponement Of the opening
OF the markets throughout the white
hurley, or cigarette tobacco belt
while the Growers Association and
State and Federal agricultural depart
meni officials took a census OF the
white hurley crop This report was
given out December 20 and showed a
production Of 236.500OOO pounds Of the
cigarette leaf
Onlcials Of the College Of Agrlcul-
ture. University OF Kentucky. and
field AGENTS Of The United States De-
pariment OF Agriculture, who had
heen making a study Of the cost o.
producing and marketing Kentucky
tobacco, gave out an estimate OF s3nQ
per acre as the cost OF producing and
marketing the 1920 crop. The csti-
mated production per acre was fixed
at s5s mounds, making the estimated
cost S36 per hundred.
The Lexington market opened jan
uary 3. and other markets on succeed
ing davs. the larger ones on January
s. When growers found that prices
an over the districts were averaging
far below what was claimed 20 be the
cost OF production and marketing the
"cut out" movement gained renewed
impetus with many new advocates.
After the closing OF the Lexington
similar action on the part OF all other
larger markets, growers favoring
abandonment OF the 1921 crop called
a mass meeting at Lexington to de-
cIdn A.-hnI anIinn .hnnIl hn Inlnn