The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-05-05
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


We print today statement author
lied and submitted by the Wisconsin
Tobacco Growers association covering
the purpose, method and significance of
the cooperative marketing pool which
now is in process of organization. While
The Reporter from time to time has
given this matter impartial publicity of
a nature to cover the principal facts
outlined in the official statement, we
quote at length from it for the benefit
of our readers:
The fundamental idea of the pool is
for the growers to control the supply
of Wisconsin and to carefully regulate
the sale on the open market so as to
''feed'' the crops to the manufacturers
only as the active market demands
There will be no glutting of the market
with every grower selling at certain
period-if he can-and every county in
competition with the other in sales.
Accurate information is to be gained on
the tobacco market and critical Observ-
ations made as the needs and sales be
governed according to the demand.
There will be no attempt to sell quick,
rather to furnish tobacco the year
round. Under the grading system
buyer can obtain any grade and any
amount desired as needed.
"There will be no attempt to estab
lish exorbitant prices, for nothing could
ruin the pool quicker declared Ed
ward Nordman, Commissioner of Mar
kets. "There must be sane methods
in selling prices so that tobacco will be
in proper relation to other prices OF
farm products. The main thing is to
obtain a fair price that will give a
profit to the grower. If there is any
money to be made in holding of tobacco
until it is absorbed by normal consump-
ton, there is no one more deserving of
obtaining this advantage than the man
who grows it. "
Advance payments on delivered to-
bacco will not be made on warehouse
receipts. Rather the plan proposed is
for the classifying of the leaf in the
bundle and after weighing in, payment
made at the banks Immediately after
delivery. This wonld eliminate waiting
until the tobacco ''goes over the table. y
The one thing that the commissioners
Of the Department of Markets are in
sisting upon is competent management.
Realizing that ineficiency in business
methods has been the downfall of many
of the cooperative pools of the past,
the rule has been rigidly established
that only successful business men,
skilled in tobacco and sales methods,
will be considered to take the active
leadership of the Wisconsin association.
Regardless of costs, the department
demands that the association be well
managed.
All the warehouses will be operated
under a central auditing system and
check made. Also the tobacco will be
positively controlled by the sales or
ganization, preventing the underselling
of one local pool as against another
the weakness of the county ASSOCIATION
plan. One organization governs and
controls the entire crop under the di-
rection of the growers
No attempt will be made to regulate
overproduction. Accurate information
will be furnished the growers as 80 the
amount the normal market will con-
sumo of Wisconsin tobacco. When
there is an overproduction, no attempt
will be made co unload the over-supply
at low prices Rather it will be held
over until the next year and growers
warned of the supply and grades not
sold. Every grower shares in the costs
incurred in the storage Of the over
supply so thrt in overproduclng the
grower automatically penalties him
self. It is known fact that one per
cent overproduction on the market
means ten per cent reduction In price.
Under the rules of the pool where
both tenant and landlord share the
crops, both are required to sign the
pool contract for the amount they own.
Tobacco grown outside of the state but
marketed in Wisconsin warehouses will
be accepted.
Full facts of the Burley pool success
where the returns to the growers were
satisfactory will become known to Wis
consin growers on the coming of Judge
Bingham and President Stone. Both
are anxious to see the Wisconsin pool
formed and all the different associa-
tions linked together for even a more
efficient and economical marketing Of
American tobacco.
The temporary officers of the Wis
consin associate and the state officials
are confident of obtaining sufficient
credit in which to form the pool and
have permanent capital AS soon as
the desired number of growers sign the
contract the new directors will be
placed in charge Warehousing plans,
| including the establishment of proper
classes for the basis of advance pay
| ment and the selling grades, will be de-
termined by the tobacco experts. Much
attention is being concentrated in CIV
ing every grower a chance to come in
under the pool. City business interests
are being appealed to on the contention
that prosperous tobacco growers means
prosperous trade centers-for such was
the direct effect in Kentucky. where
business houses were closed during the
contract campaign and business men
aided the growers in contract work
| Northern counties are expected to go
80 per cent for the pool, for the grow
ers are thoroughly aroused over the
urgent need of better marketing meth
DDS to save Wisconsin tobacco.
With the present week the big drive
| to organize Is per cent Of the tobacco
acreage in Wisconsin into co-opera-
| tive sales corporation is set in motion.
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