Henderson daily dispatch., 1935-09-19
1T WOULD WORK

In all the maze of suggestions about
low-priced tobacco and the discus
sions about what to do to remedy the
situation of the farmer, there are GER
tain things that could be done that
assuredly would bring relief and sue
cor. All of them were suggested at
the mass meeting of Vance county
growers held here Wednesday after
noon, along with other proposals.
If we had our way about it, the
first thing done would be to order
the closing of all tobacco warehouses
in the State for a period of two or
three weeks. Then the new sign-up,
which is now proceeding leisurely and
without any pressure from any
source, would be greatly speeded up,
so as to complete it within the time
the warehouses are closed. Then, as
the final step, have the AAA an
nounce right now what next years
acreage allotments will be.
After that the warehouses would be
reopened, and there would be very
pronounced pickup in prices.
Of course, such a procedure would
require the cooperation of several
agencies. The governor could order a
voluntary warehouse holiday and
could urge a speedy sign-up. But that
is as far as he could go. The remain
der of the job would be largely up
to AAA officials in Washington. They
would have to order full speed ahead
for the sign-up, and once that were
complete, the acreage allotments for
1886 would have to be set, all to be
done by Federal authorities. 49,.
We think there is no question but
that such plan would get results AS
for the closing of the warehouses,
certainly there would not be the
dramatics about that there was two
years ago. But in the frame of mind
in which the farmers now are, there
would be little question as to their
enthusiastic support Moreover they
would find abundant encouragement
among their city neighbors
So long as the warehouses are open
and the sale of tobacco continues,
there is little likelihood of material
improvement. AS long as the growers
are willing to part with their crop at
present prices, the buyers are not go
ing to refuse to take it. But if the
manufacturers are once convinced
that they are going to face a greatly
reduced crop in 1886, they will be of
0G L.,
available this season. That is simply
the old law of supply and demand
and not even the AAA and the other
alphabetical bureaus have been able
thus far to circumvent that sbasic
principle of economics.
That the toabcco chiefs of the farm
administration have made a serious
and disastrous mistake in 1885 acre
age a1lotments is clear now to every
one. They refused last spring to listen
to sound advice and thought they
knew more than any one or every
one else The result is that this angle
of the RECOMMENDATION scheme has
failed to pan out right.
Mr. Hutson talks freely about what
can be done next year, but the crisis
is upon us now and what the growers
are intensely concerned about is the
emergency they are facing this fall.
So far as we have observed there has
been little disposition on the part of
farm officials in Washington to ad-
NIT that mistake has been made
They appear to be much more inter
ested in defending their action than
in looking for an immediate remedy
and a practical way out that will
bring relief and bring it now
In the flue-cured territory, a large
portion of the business transacted in
most lines Of activity is dependent
upon tobacco prices. When averages
scared in 1884, prosperity returned
and great strides were made in NOV
ing out from the depression But
what has happened this year is hav
ing the effect of throwing the whole
machinery into reverse and we are
heading back into condition from
which we had begun to emerge.
Growers were prepared to receive