The New York herald., 1921-01-08
TOBACCO RAISERS
VOTENO 1921 CROP
Kentucky Action Presages
Summer Outbreak of
Night Riders.
MANY OPPOSE DECISION
Low Prices Close Sales Houses;
Governor Calls for Com
promise Conference.
MANY OPPOSE DECISION

Special Despatch to THE NEW YolK HmILp.
LEXINGTON, Ky, Jan. Tt is re-
garded as probable that Kentucky will
experience outbreaks of Night Riders
next summer. The reason Is that
delegates from thirty-five counties Of
Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and In
diana voted at a mass convention held
at the Lexington Opera House to-day
to cut out raising a tobacco crop in
1921.
The action was taken because prices
for the 1920 output are so low that
hundreds of farmers face bankruptcy
Growers by the score in every county
In Kentucky where tobacco is pro-
duced oppose the order for a cutout,
and II they attempt to put out their
usual leaf plants in the spring it is
feared Night Riders will destroy the
plants.
The convention adopted resolution
asking that all sales houses be Kept
closed until May l, and that TOBACCO
which has been withdrawn during the
last week should be offered then.
Most warehousemen are OF the opinion
that the crop should be sold now. re-
gardiess of the price. as the product is
OF poor grade. Another mass meeting
Of leaf producers will be held here
Monday which will be addressed by
Representative J. Campbell CantriH OF
Kentucky. who telegraphed to-day that
he would come here with plan
which he believes will afford reliet-
Delegates at once wired their home coun-
ties OF the cut out order to-day and to-
night farmers are preparing to obey or
oppose. as the case may be.
Henry Prewitt, Circuit Judge OF the
Bath. Montgomery county district, pre-
sided at the meeting. The 1000 dele
gates represented more than 100000
farmers. The convention was orderly
in every way.
Gov. Morrow arrived in Lexington
early and issued call to any tobacco
men who desired TO confer with him
relative to possible agreement in the
situation. He remained at his hotel all
day ready TO cooperate. He said pri-
yate suggestions had been made to him
for a compromise, but up TO tonight
nothing looking toward any agreement
had been Instituted.
The remaining small markets In the
States have closed, with the exception oil
that at Richmond. shelbyviile closed
when several hundred tobacco men de-
scended upon the town and demanded
that the tobacco sales suspend. The re-
quest was promptly aoceded TO. Then
the party went through southern Ken
lucky and into Indiana, making the same
demand. which was generally obeyed.
1t Is believed no attempt at selling to-
bacco will be made before May /. There
would be some danger. possibly. II ware
housemcn should try TO reopen their
houses. as the farmers are desperate In
their need. Hundreds face ruin. with
their leaf tied up and with prices at the
lowest mark in years.
The belief Is general that the 1920
crop is bringing every cent a pound IL is
worth. but the growers who support a
cut out say that manufacturers Will pay
a higher price II the tobacco Is held
until MAY / and the cut out order is
obeyed. II is not regarded as likely that
bankers can lend more money on the
crop. as the leaf as security Is not suf-
flcient.