The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-11-03
wisconsin Tobacco Pool Progress


There has been considerable specula-
ton among some pool members as to
the progress that is being made by
the tobacco pool. Stories detrimental
in a way, to the spirit that should be
behind the pool, are continuously be-
ing circulated by opponents of the or
ganization. In some districts, for in
stance, the story is being circulated
that more than 80 men have already
been employed by the State Pool at
exhorbitant salaries. That statement
is an absolute falsehood, and, anybody
can see that it is a story circulated
by opponents of the cooperative to-
bacco men. From now on, as public
ity agent for the tobacco pool | will
keep the members informed as to the
progress that is being made by the
Pool. 1t is not more than fair, how
ever, that every member of the pool
should satisfy himself that every
statement he hears is true before he
repeats it to neighbor. Every farmer
should feel free to write the tobacco
pool headquarters at Madison to verify
statements that he may hear derog-
atory to the Pool. Every farmer
member ought to realize that some
concerns will do everything in their
power to break the Pool
The Pool members signed up for a
certain reason. If conditions had not
been such as they were, it would have
been impossible to sign up 1870 of
the acreage of this state. The farm
ers who signed realized that the price
manipulations as exercised by some
tobacco buyers were detrimental to
their welfare. The Pool became a ne.
cessity because of conditions that ex-
listed. The Pool through it's manage
ment will try to remedy these condi-
tions. They will try to remedy these
conditions by putting the Law of SUP
PLY and DEMAND into operation.
Anybody knows that farmer living
a number of miles out in the country,
busy with farm work and probably
worrying about the mortgage on his
farm is not in position single-handed
to determine with any degree of &C
curacy the price that he should be
rightfully entitled to for his crop OF
tobacco. On the other hand, large
group of farmers when cooperating
can carry the overhead expenses nee
essary to obtain statistics that will
help them to determine the price for
the tobacco that they are raising.
With the farmer, it is question of
getting Justice. This can best be OBJ
tanned by the tobacco grower through
cooperative effort. 1t does not mean
that the Pool will hold out for unrea-
sonable prices, but it does mean that
the farmers collectively will insist on
getting a reasonable profit above cost
of production. 1t undoubtedly will
mean that after system of grades
has been established that the farmer
will realize that a small acreage of
good tobacco will yield more revenue
than a large acreage of inferior
quality.
1t will be the effort of the pool to
determine the kind of seed that is best
suited to Wisconsin conditions. A
conference is being planned with to-
bacco manufacturers to determine
what seed is preferable to them. The
Tobacco Pool will advocate such seed
only as is acceptable to the tobacco
manufacturers.
In the near future, instructions will
be sent out to every member OF the
Pool in regards to the stripping of to-
bacco. This action will be taken in
order to have the tobacco put up In a
uniform manner. Any good handler
of tobacco realizes that it is time we'll
spent to clean out tobacco so that it is
saleable to the manufacturer in bundle
and less expensive to handle in ware
house.
Mr.. C. A. Hoen, the General Man
ager. and Mr.. John Holtan, the Ware
house Manager, have been spending
full time together with the Executive
Board in working out the details as
to the warehousing and handling of
this years crop. An accounting sys-
tenn patterned after the one in use by
the Burley Pool is being put into
operation. Temporary Office rooms
have been obtained in the Cantwell
Block in Madison. The question of
warehousing and handling of the 1922
crop is not worrying the management.
A campaign will be started in the
near future for new members for the
ought to make it point to help the
farmer that | have interviewed for
the last six weeks admits that the
high prices obtained by non-members
this fall is entirely result of the ac-
tivities of the Pool.
The Board of Directors together
with its employed officials are doing
everything in their power to establish
a marketing system that will be alb
solutely fair to every tobacco grower.
Remember, the price of tobacco will
be determined by the Law of Supply
and Demand, -
SELMER NEPRUD,
Director of Publicity.
Wisconsin Tobacco Pool.