The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-27
The Labor Question.
REDUCTION or WAGES.

A reduction Of wages is a necessity, in consequence
of the decline in the price of cotton and the losses
cured by the farmers this year. That reduction how
ever if proportional the depreciation of cotton and
the losses sustained, would not be adequate com
pensaon for labor The character and the quality Of
the labor would be injured by such reduction, and
efficient laborers would be compelled to seek other
sections. We Think therefore, the policy of our plan
tiers is we have before sated-First to reduce the
number of their hands; second abandon the part
nershlp plan altogether, and the employment Of gangs
altogether on the uplands; third to discriminate as
to the quality of the labor enployed-and by this
mean, to pay good wages for good hands, and never
to retain any other kind.
fatal objection to the share and partnership sys-
TEN, and one Ineligible to the negroes themselves is
the injustice operates in the equality of shares among
the aboreTs. There is no recognised distinction be-
tween q capable and industrious negro and his idle
and imbecle coparner in the share of the crop. The
individuality Of the aborer is lost. Instead of deve
opng the utmost capacity Of each it reduces all to
common level. Industry, Skill intelligence and fdel-
lty can never be the fruits of those gang divisions
the contrary where every mans share is equal, the
/
Without stimulation on the one hand or coercion on
the other the level OF all is the exact Of the
worst. Now as long as this share system is contin-
ued there be competitive industry, and conse-
quently rewards for and atainments Of superior
skill
| The more industrious and better class Of freedmen
understand these things so well that We believe they
would gladly accept daily or monthly wages in lieu of
share in the crop And to this Glass; in consequence
of reduction of hands, farmers would be able
pay good wages, notwithstanding the decline in cot
ton At all events, towards this class they ought to
be liberal their will possibly allow. Meth
the farmer the industrious freedman can afford
to divide their hardearned means of subsistence with
the idle droncs who make pering and politics their
only business
The share and gang system is the nursery Of these
idle creatures and the Radical clubs are their school
rooms, where they taught to believe perishing
faction will provide them with lands, with schools and
political power. The cohesive power of this class is
weak their intelligence and as evanescent as the
decisions of Radical promises. They are Joined to
their idols, and should be let alone.
The employers of the country, in discriminating be-
tween this class and the class Of more industrious and
better informed should treat with the laborcr as if be
worthy of his hire, and Of the kindest considera
ton which good conduct merits, They should, at the
end Of the year. furnish all Of them with certificates
of good character, to enable them, in changing
places, to obtain good homes upon the strength of
their recommendations. The names of the pfercrs,
drones and politicians should be reported, at once, to
the agricultural associations to enable employers
protect themselves against the successive imposition
Of these pretenders, who always represent themselves
as efficient hands. Tie formation of these associa-
tons we recommend to every neighborhood. On the
upands from the reduction of force and breadth of
lands cultivated, there must be wise and concerted
economy among the farmers for the sake Of subaist-
There must be greater attention paid to sup
ply articles of subsistence and less cotton planted
Experiments to be made and their results made
known agricultural information Disseminated new
culture introduced, and new spirit fostered There
is instrument powerful as these associations for
all those purposes A weekly paper devoted exclu-
sivcly agricultural matters would be desiderat4nl
and its establishment and patronage will follow, in
very short time the cultivation Of the right spirit in
the associations, will fairs, sc. Bad is the pres
ent condition Of our political and industrial af,irs if
we trust more to excrtOns and rely less upon
the worthless labor of the negro if cultivate less
land and cultivate it BETTER if pay out money only
for efficient labor and refuse to board and lodge part
ncrS for shares in crop, that they either refuse to
make refuse to gather if raise our own arti-
cles of subsistence instead of relying on the farmers
the little farmers, Of the West to feed rs bad as it
is, we can begin, at once, to mend it, and we can i'm
: I.
ng seifshy, and expects by going it alone" to take
care of himself, without regard to the interests of his
neghbor bis race without regard to his own future
interest the interest of his children, associated eff
olt will fail, the present runous system will be con-
nued lands will be exhausted support the negroes
wages will cat up profits and bankruptcy is the newt
able and speedy result. The hornons, driven from
their beautiful Nauvoo settlement, fed from persecu
ton and settled in brackisll valley Tin remote terri
oTy of our Western plans) and pitched their tents
md their crops at the time An old trapper en-
Outraged then by the pro1er of bet that he alone
would eat all the the wheat they would raise
hat year. That valley supports about one hun
bred thousand disciples and during the winter months
furnishes subsistence to upwards of two thousand
miners of Nevada, Colorado and Montana besides its
arge contributions to emgrant trains across the plains
The secret Of this extraordinary success is associa
i've labor. In point of fertility that valley no more
with the upland region Of Louisiana and
Texas than does the fanatica polygamst of Utah with
he intelligent citizen of other States. Yet the Salt
Lake Valley is garden in beauty and granary of
wheat The Mormon recruits his labOrerS from his
European converts, puts them on the land and puts
hem to work. Just farmers must do. They
must agree to sell portion Of their lands and invite
European immigrants. The agricultural associations
should give this matter the prompes attention, and
confer with the State Commissioner of Immigration
An EDITOR IN TroUBLE.-Gcn. Ord, the commander
If the 4h Military District, has arrested and thrown
nto. prison. Gen, W. II McCarde, editor of the Vicks-
ourg Times, for being impeachment to reconstruc-
ion The following from the Times Of the ID is I'M
.oubtedy the force' which butted the bovine male
luadruped off the superstructure commonly called
FRIDGE
In his appointment that contemplate liar and brag-
Maj nv, tt,, Dx re tno1