Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-05-11

RFv- P. E. CoNRoY.
In RECOMMENDING to you the Maryland
Tobacco Growers Association and ask
ing you to give il your strongest support
believe ] am acting for the best IN
teresis Of Church and State. The nat
ural and the spiritual in man are so
closely connected and united that what
ever affects the one also affects the other
A prominent Father OF the Church states
that IL Christ came for no other end
than the temporal welfare Of man He
could not have done more than He has.
The Church states as one Of its car
dina principles that every man is en-
titled to a living wage, and we all know
what penalties the Bible bespcaIss for
those who deprive him Of il. The Church
recognizes that man who has the neces-
sary income to live the digniied life will
make better citizen of Church and
State than the impoverished, dissatisfied
individual who believes that he is being
deprived Of his right to live in peace
and comfort by interests of greed and
power.
u have often wondered why the people
Of this locality are dissatisfied and con
stantly complaining Of the scant returns
for labor, and capital invested in their
FARMS even though its staple crop, To-
bacco, will return ten times more per acre
han any other crop, such as corn, pota-
aoes. wheat or tomatoes. We have here
kindly sod, healthful climate. and a
genial and industrious class Of people a
people who are as intelligent and ener
9etic as those in any other part OF the
United States We have here at our
door two of the best markets IN the
world and notwithstanding all Of this
our population IS decreasing and our peo
pie are leaving the farms for centcrs OF
industry and commerce. Their principal
reason for this is that they do not get a
fair and living wage for their chief pro
duct tobacco,
Maryland tobacco is priced all over the
world for its quality and flavor, a quail
ity and flavor that cannot be duplicated
and commands in the hands Of competent
sellers the highest market price, and yet
the farmer receives only a very small
portion OF this price The business Of
selling this tobacco is carried on today
the same as it was carried on a hundred
years ago. while the sale and marketing
OF tNNlt pAO1lNA u ldlIlof INN vi tti+'
tory has been Brought up to date. While
every other branch OF industry has say
in the price to be paid for its labor and
investment, the tobacco grower Of South
ern Maryland is powerless in establish
ug the price Of his product The price
is fixed by men who sit in swivel chairs
behind mahogany tables, slipping absinthe
and putting cigarettes. whilst he who pro-
duces has nothing to say as to the price
Of the product OF his labor And yet
when the thinkers among these farmers
get together and say "The time has ar
wed for US to awaken and demand a fair
price for our product" they meet with
much opposition and little help from
those most interested. 1t is because these
people do not see the real good coming
to themselves, not because they are con-
tent to be the slaves Of designing men
or even slaves Of tradition
There was time when the moneyed
interest could dictate to man the price
he received for his labor, but through or
ganization and the protection Of just
| laws, labor now says what price it will
receive and capital has to accept This
is the basis upon which rests our present
enlightenment and satisfied democracy
The farmers of Southern Maryland
must assert their rights as men and must
not be content to be economic slaves, ac-
cepting what they get in than<fulness.
They must get a fair and Just return for
capital and labor in their tobacco crop if
! they hope for the opportunity to live
decent American lives in peace and plenty
and in keeping with such life in Amer
1 .l..te
| they will receive for their crop, price
that will be commensurate with the cost
OF production plus fair and respectable
profit. There is only one method by
which the desired end can be attained,
and that is organization, cooperative or
ganization such as has rescued from pow
erty the other erstwhile impoverished
agricultural sections of our country The
tobacco growers Of Kentucky and Ohio
we're working under just such conditions
as you work under today. They were
dissatisfied as you are today. They or
ganized, and today they are living in
peace and happiness and it is mainly be-
cause they know that they are receiving
a full and just price for their crop The
! farmers OF Southern Maryland can like
wise pass from state of economic slav-
cry into the full freedom of American
life-if they wish, and their declaration OF
independence is the principle embodied in
the present Maryland Tobacco Growers
/ Association. Join II and YOU will be free
Every banker, lawyer, physician, mer
chant and clergyman in Southern Mary
/ land IS behind this organization and are
trying to give it their loyal support be-
cause they have the welfare Of the people
at heart. They recognize that il its pur
poses are carried out and they will be
carried out with the corporation OF the
growers, our people are satisfied and
prosperous, they will be better citizens,
better Americans. They will have more
money in bank, they will build better
churches. schools, and homes. Religion
| land civilization will prosper The asso-
citation promises to put two millions Of
dollars yearly into the pockets Of our
people, and two millions Of dollars in a
short while will make this location the
veritable garden spot OF America Your
children would be better educated,
clothed, and housed, and Will have
chance TO live dignihed christian and
American lives.
This association of growers must 80
ahead II our people are to come into their
own, as they have right to. You have
the same laws 10 protect you as every
other citizen Of the land Why not ex-
ercise your rights You have been given
men at the head OF your organization who
have your welfare at heart, who have
given the best that is in them that You
might prosper. Give them the support
they are entitled to, give them the en-
enlargement that is due them, but give it
because you are lettering your condition
in life, lettering the condition OF your
children and your state and your nation.
Sign the roll OF your Organization and
you are signing your declaration of indie
pendence as free Americans.
am proud to say | am a member OF
this organization, one Of the first to join,
and | will be with ii to the end. | rec
ognize il is serving our interest; / be-
lieve the men guiding it are capable and
| honest; | know thew have had a hard