Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-04-25

IprOteSI from the farmers ana IN
several instances violence was
narrowly averted. The United
States government estimate Of
the size and weight of the crop
caused the first storm. 1t was is
sued about December |, shortly
before the markets were due to
open. AS a result of the farmers
protest the government took re
census of the hurley crop and
the opening Of the markets was
delayed until January 3.
The re-census showed a crop of
236, 100000 pounds Of Burley to-
bacco in Kentucky as compared
with 219,000,000 pounds in 1919.
The world production for 1920
was estimated at 237,000,O00
pounds compared with 100000
| 1000 pounds in 1919.
The market opened on January
3 with buyers offering what were
considered extremely low prices.
Farmers declared the figures of
fered were ruinous in view of the
high prices they had been forced
to pay for farm labor to cultivate
and prepare the chief money crop
of the blue grass. Officials of the
Burley Tobacco Growers Associ-
alton the chief growers organi-
alton, the chief growers organi-
resort to violence and to act Of
calmly.
The first day of the market
here passed quietly despite an
undercurrent of discomfort. But
on Jan. 4th, when the other mar
kets opened, the storm broke. At
Carlisle buyers were threatened
with violence. At other places
the markets were forced to close.
The market at Lexington lasted
only an hour. growers watching
the market forcing a suspension
OF sales until January H.
On January ! representatives
OF the growers met at the opera
house to discuss what they would
do and to decide whether or not
to raise tobacco in 1921. The
meeting was attended by growers
from Kentucky, Indiana. Ohio
and Tennessee. The meeting was
called without the sanction of the
Burnley, Tobacco Growers Associ-
alton OF which John w. Newman,
of Versailles, is president, altho
the cali wa$issued from his office.
The cali Was signed by'Abe Rem
lex. r. P!"Taylor, w. c. Taylor
and A. Howard Hampton, Clark
county; Judge A. M. Crooks, Bob
Catlett. Leslie Shrout, A. NJ. Es-
till and z. H. Goodpastor, Bath
county, andr.A. R. Robertson, H.
W. Lockridge, Anderson c. Bogie
and H. r. PreWitt, Montgomery
county.
After the call had been issued
President Newman issued a state
ment saying that the Burnley To i
bacCo Growers Association will
cooperate with bankers and the
Warehousemen to relieve the sit
uation, but in trying to find a !
way out through orderly process
and will not stand for laWleSe-
ness" 1t was considered that a
positive vote for a cutout would
mean resumption of night riding |
In fact, there was a slight out
break several weeks later in Bath
and Fleming counties, night rid
ers visiting several farmers and
them not to raise tobac
co this year.
The meeting on January ! re-
suited in postponement of action
until january Is when a meeting
Of tobacco growers, bankers and
warehousemen was held here
Proposals for holding the 1920 |
crop until April were made, but
were rejected by the warehouse
men and the sales were resumed |
on January II. The growers
voted at their meeting to secure
pledges for reduction of the
1921 crop and named committees !
to carry out the plan. This plan
was dropped later, however, be-
cause it appeared that majority |
could not be obtained to sign the
pledges.
After the reopening of the mar
ket January II there was no more
trouble, the farmers apparently
accepting their losses as neces-
sary.
AS a result of the low prices,
however, many farmers who had
bought land at wartime prices