New Britain herald., 1925-12-01
ture as one Of natures unexpected
attractions,
TOBACCO GROWERS
"NO CROP" Plan

growers Of Connecticut in their en-
| deaVor TO curtail production during
1925 and thus keep up prevailing
| high prices for the weed. II growers
elsewhere attempted to create a fav-
CRADLE price mart in this manner
there woull be much condemnation;
II manufacturers combined TO shut
down and create Il shortage aud
high prices the law would be upon
their heels: # workingmen curailed
production they would be regarded
as enemies OF the common veal; aud
in the case Of the present coal strike.
which many observers say is a pat
ent endeayor to diminish the supply
Of coal and raise prices at the mines,
there Ia universal criticism.
Yet baslcally. what is the differ
ence between the contemplated act
ion OF the tobacco growers and the
hypothetical incidents enumerated?
Already 10 tobacco growers IN
Windsor have voted TO raise no crops
in 1926, although some other grow
ers are slow in following suit. 1t may
be that next year 10000 acres which
have been devoted to field grown
tobacco. whose owners belong 10 the
tobacco growers association, will be
idle. and instead of tobacco usually
valued at $15,000,0 900 being raised
there will be none of 1t produced.
Such thing occurred in the hurley
tobacco growing district OF Kentucky
in 1907. where the growers are also
associationized,
The excuse for the contemplated
action in the Connecticut valley is
that there are two years supply of
toba eco in storehouses and ware
houses manufacturers have inform
cd the growers that there is a years
supply Of tobacco ahead and that
they are justified in expecting a re-
duction in the price OF raw material,
so that they can sell better cigars
for the money AMI thus benefit con-
sumers,
1t is pointed out that a glutted
market next year would mean years
of low prices and no prosperity for
the tobacco growers In other
words, If the prices are permitted TO
descend it might be difficult to raise
them latter. Whether lower prices
might improve cigars and create a
greater market for them is not in
the reckoning,
Failure to grow tobacco next year
would cause some serious results.
Others besides growers have depend
cd upon the tobacco industry for
sustenance.
There also is the question as to
what the tobacco growers are going
to raise instead Of tobacco. There
are some who are in favor of keep
ing the fields idle the entire year:
others are in favor of going In for
market gardening. The latter method
would glut the gardening market
and injure those already i'll 1t. The
tobacco growers would not like the
market gardeners to change to TO-
bacco growing during any one sea-
son merely to stabilize prices in their
own business. The golden rule would
apply If there were not so much
| commercialism involved.
Joseph w. Alsop, head of the TO-
bacco association, and Nice-Presi-
dent Levi P. Morton Hickey, have
advised the tobacco growing holiday,
and the growers Of the association
seem to favor the idea. That 1t Is
radical venture of doubtful utIli-
ty there can scarcely be a doubt.
! Thousands Of consumers, while not
wishing to see the growers suffer,
nevertheless will reserve their good
will If the radical proposal is car
ried ont. One thing is certain: The
cigaret industry will not suffer.