(a) Tobacco warehousemen licensed and bonded under the laws of this state to operate warehouses for the sale of leaf tobacco at auction are authorized to organize, either as nonstock corporations or as voluntary associations, tobacco boards of trade in the several municipalities of this state in which leaf tobacco is sold on warehouse floors at auction.

(b) Said tobacco warehousemen may also, by majority vote, authorize any nonstock corporation or voluntary association of tobacco warehousemen, in which a majority of such warehousemen in this state are members, to exercise on a state-wide basis the powers and duties provided in this part. In the event there shall be more than one such nonstock corporation or voluntary association in which a majority of such warehousemen are members, that organization possessing the largest number of such members shall be the organization which may be vested with such authority.