The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-03-01

ly it will cost money to own or pay
rent and operate them.
The tobacco passes through the
warehouses to the buyers factory;
here is well nigh perfect organiza-
ton for handling tobacco-ample
equipment, trained men, close super
vision. II the cooperative associa-
tlon should secure any of these plants
most assurcdly they would have to
pay some profit to the owners. If
they should attempt to lease and or
game, the increased expense against
present cost for handling would be
enormous. The best evidence of costs
is fac-simile of account sacls for
a. member of cooperative associa-
ton which is printed in these colu-
mns. Now look carefully at the
items on this bill. They appear high
and might be reduced little in hand
ing larger quantities Of tobacco, but
the cost will necessarily be some
thing near these figures. No, Dr..
Joyner, your intentions are good, but
you can't receive, grade, rcdr yand
sell your tobacco through the associa-
ton as chcaply as it is done today.
Flnancing: Dr.. Joyner doesn't say
that hnanclal arrangements have
been made or can be, but after re-
viewing the strength Of the associa-
Iloh ana the various financial resour-
ces OF the Nation, says if it can't be
financcd--"it will certainly be a sad
commentary upon the financial ability
OF the directors and other administra-
tive officers of the association" Per-
maps this is so, we can't dispute it.
Objection 3: "The Impossibilitv Of
Grading and Classifying Tobacco"
Answer, "Tobacco can certainly be
graded and classicficd before selling
by lew experts employed by the as
Sociation, such as are now used by
inc big buyers and spectators after
buylng, far better than it is now by
thousands of incxpcrt individual grow
ers, each grading according to his cwn
standard. Under the present system
there is no real grading, only a sort
OF sorting" before selling. rhc sell
en- sells and the buyer buys sort of
pig in poke. The experienced buy-
cr usually knows more about the real
value of the pig than does the seller,
and takes advantage Of his superior
knowledge to buy mixed grades ut the
price OF the poorest and then employs
exports to separate and classify. This
work IS now done after selling i'm the
interest of the buyer. Any sensible
person ought to know that if it can
be done proftably for the buyer af-
ter buying, it can be done profitably
Tor the seller before selling. Nobody
can know on expect to receive the full
market value of any commodity un.
til 1T is graded and classified accord
ing to quality. Government experts
have been at work for months on
standardiZing grades Of tobacco and
assure us that it can be done"
We uotc DR.. Joyncr in full and
wish every farmer and every tobacco
man could read this answer; it simply
shows that man may be ever so wise
about many things and yet know SC
little about tobacco If DR.. Joynel
employees just one practical tobacco
man, that man will tell him that this
expert regarding or classifying can.
not be done before selling. This work
is now done by many thousands OF
| women sitting quietly behind "pick.
| ing benches" and each dozen "class.
es' as they are called in supervised
| by an expert foreman in an effort t<
Keep the grades uniform. No, Doctor
no. You can't regrade or classify be.
fore selling--it is practical impos.
slbility. No, your tobacco will como