The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1922-04-14
Tobacco Growers Meet In Marlboro

Those elements whose interests are
opposed to the Tobacco Growers As
ISOLATION, and who are using every
means Ia their power, both fair and
1o1 eo misreQresent that organization,
Would have ielt very Uncomfortable
had they been present at the entbus
laStlc meeting Of tobacco growers
held In Marlboro last Friday The at
tendance was composed largely of vet
Grams in the movement for a farmer
controlled market as opposed to The
present market controlled by the buy
ers. the opinion was expressed that
in sections where ''tranfer buyers'
handle the bulk of the crop. that
central packing houses should he
established as a convenience to the
farmers, In cases where buyers refuse
TO cooperate with the Association.
Secretary w. B. Hill called the meet
inR to order and Joseph H. Blandford
was elected chairman. In openino the
meeting M. BIandford declared the
tobacco industry of Southern Maryland
would soon be destroyed if organized
buyers AID commission men were al
lowed to defeat the law of supply and
demand, and to control the price to
be paid the farmers for their crops.
DIR. A. N. Meloy told of the hugh or
ganization recently formed in seven
tobacco growing states of the South
for the selling of tobacco by the grow
ers.
Mr.. R. Laurie Mitchell who has made
an exhaustive study Of the affairs of
the Maryland Tobacco Association de-
clared the association to be in better
shape than it had ever been; that it
was not only selling the 1921 crop at
the best prices being obtained in Balti-
more at this time, but was unloading
large quantities of the common tobac-
co left on the market from 1919 and
1920 at fair prices. He stated that
70 paganda of the commission men had
caused considerable dissatisfaction and
disloyalty on the part of Association
members who had foolishly believed
the false reports circulated with q
view to weakening the ORIGINATING. He
recited many such reports which upon
investigation were found to have NO
foundation, and in fact were often de-
liberately calculated to drive numbers
from the Association. He said some
members were under the impress ion
that their contracts with the Associa
ton expired after period of 8 years
and showed that the only way grower
can sever his connection with the as
ISOLATION, is by giving notice in writing
at least IL months in advance. That
although disloyalty had been overlook
ed in 1921, that the Association will
rlgidly and unsparingly exact the full
penalty of cents per ID. for all tobac.
CO not shipped to the Association OF
not sold to accredited buyers of the
Association in 1922. All landlords
were urged to exact from their tenants
agreements that all tobacco grown or
their lands should be shipped to the
Association and in cases where thu
tenant refused, to ship to it his hall
of the crop. Mr.. Eugene Roberts tolc
of an instance on his farm when il
order to satisfy tenant half of thu
crop was sent to a commission house
each class of tobacco being divided
equally. But when the returns wer.
made, they showed the Tobacco Grow
ers' Association had sold for severa
cents per Id. higher than the commits
sion man.
Before the meeting adjourned forty
five of those present pledged themselve
to spend at least six hours prior to Ma
Is, in on effort to secure the enroll
ment of new members. Those desiring
application blanks can secure then
from Mr.. w. s. Hill, Secretary, Uppe
Marlboro. Md.