In the early 1900’s Buck Duke and his American Tobacco Company had capital of over 400 million dollars amd a virtual monopoly on tobacco manufacturing in the United States and was paying about 7 cents a pound for Kentucky burley, a sum roughly what it cost the growers to produce.
In 1906 and1907 Kentucky tobacco growers organized against Duke, and then in 1908, 95% of Kentucky’s burley crop went unplanted, the growers on strike.
Too often in this sin cussed world, God favors the side with the bigger battalions.
But every so often the downtrodden and oppressed actually manage to win one against the corporate juggernauts.
You’ll have to join JSTOR, but it’s free and the article is meticulously researched and well written, and of interest to all lovers of the leaf.
Search:
The Limits of Agrarian Action
The 1908 Kentucky Tobacco Strike
In 1906 and1907 Kentucky tobacco growers organized against Duke, and then in 1908, 95% of Kentucky’s burley crop went unplanted, the growers on strike.
Too often in this sin cussed world, God favors the side with the bigger battalions.
But every so often the downtrodden and oppressed actually manage to win one against the corporate juggernauts.
You’ll have to join JSTOR, but it’s free and the article is meticulously researched and well written, and of interest to all lovers of the leaf.
Search:
The Limits of Agrarian Action
The 1908 Kentucky Tobacco Strike
Last edited:
