The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-06
Big Boost For
Cooperative Plan

Cooperative marketing of tobacco
received great boost in Bamberg
county last Thursday when Mr..
Rogers, of Virginia, addressed a big
mass meeting of citizens at the court
house. Following the meeting, the
local warehouseman of the Tobacco
Growers Cooperative association
signed up about 125 acres of tobacco,
involving approximately 100000
pounds of the weed to be sold
through the marketing association.
The campaign continues for few
days longer before it will be closed,
and many others are signing as they
are seen by Mr.. Lane, the warehouse
man.
The meeting was called to order
by A. M. Brabham, secretary and
treasurer of the Farmers Tobacco
Warehouse company, which ware
house is a member of the associa-
tion. Mr.. Brabham introduced Mr..
Rogers, whose address was the most
business-like of any heard in Bam-
berg in a long time. The speaker
was thoroughly conversant with his
subject, and great deal of his time
was taken in answering questions
from the audience. In each instance
his reply was instantaneous and
clear. Mr.. Offut, of Kentucky, was
to have been in Bamberg, but at the
last moment was sent to Mullins in
stead.
Mr.. Rogers urged the tobacco
growers of this county to line up
with the association, which he be-
Meves is the only salvation for the
tobacco producer. He said that the
old system of auctioning tobacco is
on it's last legs, and that he had an
authoritative statement from one
who knew that those interested in
the old system were holding on this
year believing it is their last chance
with the hope that they will make
killing" However, Mr.. Rogers
does not blame these Independent
warehouses nor the tobacco buyers.
It is nothing more than human to buy
as cheaply/as possible. "You grow
ers are the ones to blame," said he.
He explained the system of selling
through the association in consider
able detail, and stated that coopera-
tive selling is not a holding PROPOSE
ton; that tobacco will not be stored
and held unless there is an over
production, in which case the associa-
ton expects to plhce on the market
only enough tobacco to supply the
demands of the tobacco purchasers.
Any oyer-production will be redried
and stored until more favorable
market exists. In the event of a
continued over-prodnction, all mem
bers of the association will share
alike the slump in prices on all stored
tobacco.
The association is in position to ad-
vance substantially on all tobacco
Of it's members, he said. Tobacco is
graded by an association grader
when it is brought to the warehouse,
and warehouse certificate is is
sued. This certificate will be recog-
nized by any bank. The government
has officially recognized the associa-
tion by making a loan of 30,000,000
to it, the largest agricultural loan in
the history of the world, said Mr..
Rogers.
The working of the association in
Kentucky and Virginia, where or
ganization was pretty thorough last
season, had been eminently success
full. In the former state growers in
the association had received for their
tobacco in excess of 29c per pound
average, while non-members had re-
ceived about 21c average. In regard
to the cost Of selling, Mr.. Rogers
said that statistics show association
members paid less than one-half the
commissions that non-members paid
last year. He added that all the talk
about enormous salaries of associa-
tion officers was bosh; that the ex-
ecutive officers were practically CIV
ing their time to the marketing sys-
tenn without cost.
The fact was mentioned that in
South Carolina where there was no
organization last year tobacco had
sold for an average of lie per pound
it was five cents in Bamberg-and
it was 24c in North Carolina. Bam-
berg county had lost on it's half mil
lion pounds of tobacco more than
100000 through lack of orderly
marketing.
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