The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-03-01
EDITORIAL FROM SOUTHERN
TOBACCO JOURNAL ABOUT
COOPERATIVE MARKETING


to be encountered in attempting to
apply q cooperative plan of market
ing of the tobacco crop. We hesitate
to continue a discussion of the matter
because we fear that nothing short
of trial Of the plan and the bitter
experience Of failure will convince the
enthusiasts that it is not workable.
We will add one more note o warm
ing which will perhaps have little eff
feet, but before five years have pass
ed many an honest farmer will say;
"Old man Webb was right; wish I
had listened to him."
One newspaper in big headlines
says: cdr. Joyner disposes of Col.
Webb's objections" disposes is a
good word much more accurate than
the statement that the objections are
answered. They haven't been answer
ed because they can't be. This same
newspapers headlines say this writer
has been bitter in denunciation. Not
one line written in any article just-
fies this characterization. We confess
an occasional feeling of irritation
which may have been manifested in
something we wrote, that misguided
enthusiasts who know nothing about
the tobacco business should attempt
to lead the farmers into a plan which
can only result in decentralization and
we fear disaster.
Replying. first to the latter part of
DR.. Joyncr's article, we disclaim any
intention Of rejecting on this distin-
guished gentleman. We knew him
nearly forty years ago as school
teacher in Winston, who's record was
good. Just as he was faithful and eff
ficient in the discharge of his duties
then, so later as the head Of the Pub
lie School System in the State he
wrought we'll, rendering great public
service. There arc many things
about various matters which Dr.. Joy
ner knows and which we don't know
and are too old to learn. On the 9TH
or hand there is much about the hand
ling and sale of tobacco which DR..
Joyner doesn't know, as Il part of his
article to be uoted later shows, and
frankly there is not sufficient time
allowed him in the natural span of
life to learn what he should know in
order to successfully put over this
wonderful but visionary scheme under
discussion.
Yes, The Southern Tobacco Journal
is trade paper, enjoying Il limited
patronage of concerns in the business
Our feeble effort has always been cx-
crted in the interest of the entire
trade, producer, dealer, manufactur-
cr. The personal effort of this writer
has been faithfully devoted to the
grower and there are many hundreds
who appreciate the value of the SER
vice rendered. There has come to us
no suggestion from any advertiser
nor from any business interest as to
the editorial policy Of our paper with
respect to the cooperative plan. We
are perhaps lacking in wisdom some
times, but have always been indcpcn-
dent in thought, so much so that there
is attached to us little Of this worlds
goods. We've never learned to kneel,
"that thrift might follow fawning."
The general attitude Of tobacco men
towards the plan seems to be one of
Indifference. Just few occasionally
express themselves as fearing that the
business will be demoralized with the
farmer the ultimate sufferer While
we have had no sort of an expression
from any of the big tobacco compan-
les, we will hazard this guess; 1t
would be an enormous advantage and
they would all be highly pleased if
the farmer entered into any plan
store and carry a supply of leaf to-
for sale and the price would not be an
arbitrary figure named by owners but
price fixed by the law Of supply and
demand. Just think what an advan-
tagc that would be to the manufac-
turcr--his leaf stock carried for him
by the grower. But you will say:
mo, he must buy when we offer and
at our price" However, YOU could
not exact this for the government re-
ports show more than two years sup
ply OF tobacco now in hands of manu-
facturerS and dealers The Kentucky
pool is hcralded as a success and vet
there has already been sold at auction
nearly sixty million pounds Of Bur
ley, with auction sales still going on
at more than a score Of markets. In
reporting recent sale of Burlcy, by
the association, all the discussion of
price has been a comparison with the
prices obtained at auction. AS mat
ter Of fact association officials have
kept in close touch with auction sale
prices making accurate records of
prices paid for different grades. So
IT the producers carry stock for the
manufacturers, the prices paid will be
Just what the buyer is willing to pay
on IS forced to pay b ycompetition Of
other buyerS-thc same thing he does
today on the auction sale.
DR.. Joyncr selects eight objections
raised by US and answers them, not
with any hgureS on positive state
ments but largely by assumption
FIRST expenses: He merely assumes
that they will be no higher, perhaps
be lowered, but makes no figures. For
this he can't be blamcd--not being
Irn FOL l>1