From the CORPS: Storm on Horizon

Linwood Hines, founder and past president, set the tone and trend on the first night of the 25^th Anniversary gathering of the C.O.R.P.S, or the Conclave of Richmond (Va.) Pipe Smokers in the heart of tobacco country and American history. 

Hines led off the dinner with introductions of some of the special exhibitors, such as Alberto Bonfiglioli of Bologna, Italy, Ian D. Walker of Northern Briars from Cheshire, England, and Jimmy Craig of Clacton-on-Sea, England, who is taking over the Ashton-Taylor line of pipes from the late Bill Ashton-Taylor, who died in September. He then went straight to the heart of the matter: the many problems facing pipesmoking and pipesmokers today. 

“Without you (those gathered at the first night dinner) doing something,” he said, nodding out to the audience, “I believe you are even going to lose your ability to assemble. 

“If we don’t do it, then pipesmoking is going to be gone,” he said.

Already, pipesmokers are finding it more than just difficult to locate a place to assemble and to smoke freely. Even the CORPS, representing a prestigious group of men and women who enjoy the briar, has had their problems finding places to hold their conclave. 

Moreover, if you think this threat is not for real, try finding a restaurant or convention center for a pipe club meeting or a large show, such as the one staged yearly by the CORPS. You will discover that pipesmokers, just like cigarette and cigar smokers, are persona non grata, no matter how much you want to spend. 

Stephen Ross, associate editor of Pipes & Tobacco Magazine put it a little more bluntly: “2009 has been a very difficult year.” 

Stephen Ross Addresses C.O.R.P.S. Gathering

Who would have thought, he said, that states such as Virginia and North Carolina, “two states built on tobacco,” would enact bans (in 2009).” 

“It would be easy to throw in the towel,” he said, “but we love the product and we are passionate,” he said. 

“We should stop accepting scorn and stand up, and no longer accept the scorn from the antis,” he said. 

Then he said, “If we don’t unite, then more than likely pipes will become mere museum pieces.” 

Hines also warned about the new Food and Drug Administration as tobacco regulator, with a go-along Congress. 

“If you think this is only about cigarette tobacco, you might be surprised, and what is in store (for pipesmokers).” 

I also talked to Chris Keene, from Arlington, Va., who works for the Federal Libraries, a private vendor for medical library. 

He told me that the FDA is expanding its site in White Oak, Md., adding a wing just for the tobacco regulators. 

“It is big,” he said. “They are getting ready to add regulators to take on tobacco.” 

All the signs are in place. Batten down the hatches. The storm is on the horizon!