Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-07-24
TOBACCO MEMS
WAR INVOLVES
SOUTH GEORGIA
Alleged False Reports Are Circulated
s Regarding Industry IN South
Georgia-Railroad Officials
Issue Statement

Atlanta, July 22-Alleged false and
misleading statements regarding the
tobacco industry in Georgia have been
widely circulated as result OF the
open warfare between marketing as
sociations and tobacco companies IN
other states, it was declared here to-
day by railroad officials, growers and
others connected with handling the
crop.
1t is charged, among other things,
that the agents of the Imperial To-
bacco Company of Great Britain were
fostering the widespread extension OF
tobacco growing in Georgia so as to
b-esk down the grip of the oo-opera-
tives on the market; that the concern
maintains considerable number OF
demonstrators, who sign up the farm
ers, under contract, to plant a certain
acreage in tobacco, the demonstrators
to advise the farmer in the culture,
handling and marketing and to- FUR
msh detail plans for the construction
of the necessary barns :.
The Federal Farm, Loan Bureau, 1t
is. asserted, has been used in an effort
to discourage the tobacco companies
from sending buyers into the Georgia
markets. This information, it is point
ed ont. is contained in letter from
the Secretary of the Farm Loan
Board. addressed to Hon. Carter Glass,
United States Senator, giving an ap-
praisal Of the agricultural conditions
in South Georgia, which 1t asserted
is entirely erroneous in so tar as TINS
anraisa1 relates to the activities OF the
tobacco comDanlieS
Georgia Growers Not Obligated
Colonel B. L. Bugg head OF the At
lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Kali
wav. whose road introduced tobacco
growing in South, Georgia some years
ago and has fostered the INDUSTRY
thru it's agricultural department., today
made the following statement:
"Neither the Imperial Tobacco CON-
nanv nor anv other tobacco company
has extended money for the employ
ment of demonstrators or Tor the cur
tire of tobacco in Georgia, nor nave
thew exacted any influence to contloi
the demopstrators; on the contlaiy,
the tobacco companies have "e!lleu
/ many. requests to send Duyers' my
certain South Georgia points IN older
that warehouses and markets might NC
established. The demonstrators are EN-
nIoved by chambers of commerce.
sales warehouses and farmers,
"There is no obligation on the faInl
arc nv d;spose of their crops thru the
auction warehouses but they dispose
Of them according to their best Juog-
ment Even after the tobacco is piac-
ed On the auction floor and has Deeh
sold the farmer does not have TO ae-
cent the bid but can take his tobacco
~ the floor and take it back home or
TO other market. ,e
"Gf demonstrators who have come
20 Ceorq;a from other states, as mas
been charged, are antagonlstc 10 tno
co-oneratiyes. it is because OF expell-
800 elsewhere and not because OF any
attitude on the part OF the toodt 49,
COMPANIES in Georgia. In snort, tle
tobacco companies are in Georgia "
co,,ce thew were asked to come helo
- NV TOBACCO. which Our farmers dio
piop Brief History Of Industry
The following, according to Coo.nei
pnaa ;s = brief history of the toDac-
e;SndrstTv in South Georgia, from
it's origin to date: -. race,+1v
In 1915 a Id liCi w." - f,r,,,
moved from North Carolina TO oao ,ar IN
near Nichols, Coffee county, Geo ,1 g,a a.
u s,' station on the Atlanta, Birmlngnfa IAN,
and Atlantic Railroad, ,planted a low ,vm
slu Of tobacco upon the urgent, 4 sug1
az = of the A. B. & A. agricultur;a a.
deoartment.. Since 1918 the acreage u; u,
a tobaeco has steadily increased and ;,,et;f IN
1 1oIs the Weld was such as to Justd ss
~ ao onening of the first sales warenou ss
~ Nichols, Coffee county, to ", Mll, 4nl
h a. were sent by several OF inc he;a ~
baeco companies interested IN % oF'g the
i ba5e tobacco, at the solicitation OF t 4;e
Al Atlanta. Birmingham and At ua,,sS
R Rsilroad, owners of the warehouse a,,nfS
Ma mai the civic bodies Of Coffee county =,
wv With the advent of the boil weevll a, IN
,s,,ch vast numbers as to prac :.a1nor,
DESTROY cotton, it was not only nn n,av
t tant but necessary that other her, money aerrn
o e@nr should be planted by the farm a,n a.
ere As it had been. demonstrated eh a.
tob + could be raised, in Georgia a
unrof;t.. the banks, civic bodies anu
abroad agricultural departments TO-
.of tobacco as one OF their leauins