The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-01-13
(Editorial.)
THE TOBACCO SITUATION.

unusual serious situation To all
the business interests in the
Burley tobacco growing dis
trict. And II Is well enough
that the people realize what
Il means. II Is n situation that
is not going to be solved by
any excited or hasty steps on
the part Of some badly balanc-
ed or radical person. Each
locality in the tobacco district
has troubles of its own and 80
far as the present crop is con-
cerned are compelled To deal
with the situation in it, own
way. So far as this locality
u concerned this crop Of to-
bacco has been produced at n
heavy expense and all business
interests. including merchants
and bankers. have conducted
tscir business looking To set
dement, with the growers out
Of the sale Of this tobacco. A
disappointment in this regard
would bring enormous losses
To such business interests. In
fact. such losses as we are not
prepared 10 take at this time
and u any one should stand
these losses il should be the
grower and not the creditors.
The proposition for the grow
or to hold his tobacco for an
other year. or even until May.
II not practical. "a we see II.
In the first place. he is not pre-
pared to take care Of II IL he
was financially able To hold It.
and should he attempt 10 hold
this crop Of tobacco over the
waste Incidental 90 the delay
would be far In excess. in our
Judgment. 90 any increasing
price that he would ever be
able to realize IN the under
taking. To prize the tobacco
and send il 10 rc-dryers and
place the same IN storage
warehouses for months with
the crop in the hands of some
one else. and all the inconveni-
ences attached To such an un-
dertaking would not suit the
tobacco grower. And the de-
mand. therefore. of any out
side communities, coming
without any previous notice
would entail a hardship and
sacrifice so great that the
grower should be entitled to
consult his own interest and
wishes before he yields TO the
plan Of his neighbors, how
ever sincere his neihgbor may
bee in this undertaking for
mutual good. We therefore.
conclude. that the Garrard
County Warehouses should
continue open for the sale of
tobacco so long as the growers
of this locality. that is. the ma
iority of the growers, wish
them 20 furnish an open market
for the sale of their crops.
But dealing with the future
crop. that is the 1921 crop.
presents a different question
altogether.
ne believe that Garrard
and surrounding counties
should engage in the closest
cooperation with all the Bur
ley growing districts in deal
ing with the question in the
future. The open and gener-
al discussion of the tobacco
growing business gives all a
timely notice as TO how TO ar
range future plans. There is
no question but what we are
producing more tobacco than
the present consumption re-
quires. There is already "A !
large over-production and sur
plus in the lower grades of to- (
bacco. This is admitted by /.
all. And the law of supply ,
and demand without regard to |
any complaint of a monopoly I
that may exist among the buy
ers would result in a lower
price. The grower must real |
iZe that all farm products have ,
been reduced in price from
one-half TO two-thirds and to-
bacco would naturally reflect I
in price this general falling of 1
in the markets. The handling
OF the trust or monopoly con-
dition Of the manufacturers
who buy the tobacco must be
left 10 the courts and public
officials. who may be encour-
aged in doing their duty deal
ing with the trusts by a strong
organization among the tobac-
co growers, which we believe