The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-04-21
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


quaint the public with the strong CO.
operative movement which has taken
hold of the growers in practically every
section of the country where tobacco is
produced in quantity. In the South
where the movement of cooperation
is by contract of five years made in
voilable by clause fixing penalties for
breaking the same, has united the
tobacco farmers in cooperative han
ding, warehousing and sales organiza-
ton, the experiment is already effec-
tive. In Connecticut about 2, 600 grow
ers have endorsed similar plan. In
Wisconsin, where the movement was
launched year ago, it did not mater
iallze at that time, but new efforts are
being made now under the leadership
of the State Marketing Department.
Ihe most important move made by
the Connecticut and Massachusetts
growers at their large meeting in Hart
ford during the first week in April was
to adopt resolution praying that the
members of congress and the senate
tlonal legislators in Washington to vote
for continuance of the United States
War Finance corporation and the early
enactment of financing bill for farm
ers. This means that the Connecticut
and Massachusetts growers intend to
have federal money in readiness for
them to finance the pool and marketing
project. Only actual growers and deal
QHO0IffnH f0 hor <>f
association.
That the present national administra-
tiOn has felt kindly toward the demand
raised by farmers all over the country
for federal assistance in financing their
product, is evidenced by the enactment
of the Warehouse bill under which a
new arrangement of credits upon ware
house receipts have been made possible.
Under this act number of warehouses
are licensed for receiving and storing
tobacco also in the state of Wisconsin.
tits clear, moreover, that congress and
| the administration are working togeth-
er to facilitate cooperative efforts
among the farmers both in the handl-
ing and storing of THEN. products, and
in the marketing methods to be en-
ployed.
Just now resolution has been intro
duged boob in the senate and the house
asking to have bill passed clarifying
the idea OF cooperation under existing
anti. combination laws. It is up to con-
gress to say where CO operation ends,
and combination in restraint of trade
begins.
The manufacturers and dealers in to-
bacco products are interested in this
matter from their point of view. Thev
want to know IT they are allowed to CO.
operate for the purpose of making it
unlawful to cut price in unfair compe-
tltlon-a practice which recently has
threatened the very existence of legiti-
mate profits in the cigarette business
OF the country. One sort of combina-
tlon leads to another. Capital leads
the way IN it's industrial combinations,
labor has united to protect it's interests,
merchants seek sanction of law to COM
blne against piratical competitors, and
the farmers are combining to regulate
the price of their products, not by the
size OF the output. but by the need of
the consumer. Where the thing will
end IS not easy to see.
The fruit growers of California have
shown the way in the farmers move
ment, and stabilized the price of fruit.
Their method is to limit the marketing
to meet the demand at certain price,
ana not to market any more. This is
also the principle to be employed in the
marketing methods of any product of
the soil. When it can be done with
perlshable crop like fresh fruit it can
be done with crops of less perishable
nature, is the argument.
Cooperative marketing as it has de-
veloped now involves the relinquish-
ment OF individual buying and selling,
and turning this operation over to ex-
perts, these experts to be guided in the
moves they make in putting goods on
the market by the information furnish
ed them by the federal government
through the different state marketing
departments relative to the consumers
needs. 1t is thought that organiza-
tions of classes of products will prove
most successful -graingrowers, wool
growers, fruitgrowers, potatogrowers,
cheesemakers, buttermakers, cattle
ralsers, tobaccCgrowers, etc.
1t also means that the producer as
sumes the risk and cost of storage, in
surance, shrinkage, damage, or deteri-
oratlon of the stock, acting as whole
saler of the product direct to the man
ufacturer. 1t IS IN this capacity he
needs large financial backing in order
to be able to hold when the market be-
comes gutted, and sell when the market
is ready to take the goods at price
profitable to the grower The whole
process involves complete readjust-
ment Of the trade, eliminating the
trader and the professional packer and
dealer, the grower himself assuming
all hazards OF the crop from the seed
bed until it reaches the manufacturer,
making the farmer a merchant and
speculator on large scale. The cost
of handling, warehousing, sales man
agement, and every exigency arising in
connection with the trade and trans
portation, as well as with the culture
of the crop, will be borne by the grow
ers themselves. The success or failure
of the movement depends upon the 10y
atty, discipline, intelligence and capac
ity for organization and administration
possessed by the growers. and upon a
financial hot oil and