The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-11-24

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


prOpOS1rlon 1t Is comparatively new
venture; as a psychological phenomena
it expresses the modern tendency, |
chang together" in order not to chang
separately" 1t is new idealism seek |
ing to realize its aims by working to- |
gether in groups instead of competing
as individuals. 1t is combination to
attain power collectively with individ- |
ual power gaining through the group.
The big corporations such as the Steel
Trust, the Standard Oil Co., the meat |
packers, the coal producers and many,
mary more have shown the way. From |
business standpoint they have been
successful. New groups OF organiza-
tions with cooperative purposes are
constantly formed Last of ali the ag-
ricultural classes have begun to organ.
ize comparatively. One of the most
recent cooperative efforts is that of
cooperative advertising. In the To-
bacco Leaf this form of associating to-
gether for efficiency and power is inter-
esting. The Hartford, CT, tobacco
packers go together and take one page,
Chicago leaf men another, Milwaukee
dealers two pages, and so on. 1t can
not be denied that this method gives
power to the whole; it is effective in
that each shares equally in the public
| ity as in the cost. The thing is inter-
esting insofar as it shows the faith of
| modern business in group action both
as to efficiency and as to economy.
Whether this specializing of interests
will prove to be new stage in the evo-
luton of business economics and busi-
ness efficiency remains to be tried out
through these experiments.
/ ***
The death of Jacob Sutter, tobacco
leaf man, head of Jacob Sutter & Sons,
Chicago, removes another of the not
| ables in the tobacco industry. Mr.. SUIT
| ter lived to the ripe age of 78 and had
been life time in the tobacco business.
He was not only one of the oldest leaf
Smsn-in Chicago, but one of the best
known, especially active as an importer
of Cuban tobaccos. "Jacob Sutter was
| one of the kindliest of men, and by ma
ture generous and thoughtful of 9TH
| ers, " says the Leaf.
| ***
| Simultaneously the news arrives that
| the Burley Tobacco Growers Co-opera-
tive association with headquarters at
Lexington, KY, has 75 900 members,
and that the Southwestern Tobacco Co.
has been organized with a capital Of
So, 900, 900 at Louisville, KY. The first
| organization is one representing grow
| ers; the second one represents an asso-
citation of tobacco merchants and han
dlers who for long time have been
| active as independent operators in to-
| bacco.
| The State Marketing Department has
gathered number of samples of to-
| bacco grown this year. These samples
have been graded with purpose of es-
| tablishing standards upon which the
values Of leaf in the bundle is to be
determined. The State Marketing De-
partment has submitted its judgments
to the federal experts in leaf grading
for their opinion and approval. When
| the results of this preliminary attempt
at establishing standard grades have
been finally adopted the Northern Wis
consin Tobacco Pool will make them
the basis of grading of the binder por
tion of the crop now to be handled.
The Reporter expects to be in posi-
ton to give detailed statement con-
cerning the number of grades into
which the asserting leaf of Wisconsin
tobacco will be classified, and also the
Distinguishing characteristics of each
grade. That standardizing of Wiscon-
sin tobacco grades is a task of cOnsid-
erable difficulty is realized by all who
have experience in judging tobacco.
For the tobacco that is to be sold in the
bundle one series of grades will pre-
another. The matter of size, leafness,
thinness, burn and color are rather sim
pie things to Judge But there are
other features of more evanescent ma
ture that play an important part in de-
termining the quality" of the leaf.
| On these, mems tastes, fancy and
"lkes" vary, and each becomes his
own arbiter. Each man is the umpire
| of his own tastes. It-is for this reason
that the grades to be established must
of necessity be approximate rather
than accurate; they will indicate quail
| ity rather than define it.
*3M
Statistics are not interesting, but
| often Illuminating. The Importance of
| the tobacco industry in the u. S. may
be described, but it would take volumes
to adequately cover it in all its branches.
A few figures, on the other hand, will,
broadly speaking, "tell the story of
the tobacco industry in the sisterhood
of important industries. That the U.
S. revenue department collects annually
nearly $500, 600, 900 on tobacco above the
regular taxes on the industry shows its
Importance as source of federal in |
come. Over $500, 1000, 900 is invested in
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