Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-07-22
CHINESE LABOR CONVENTION.

CHINESE LABOR CONVENTION.
A Convention of delegates from several South
ern States and California met in Memphis last
week, to consider the Chinese labor question. Ex
Governor Isham G. Harris, of Tennessee, was
elected President. Reports were received and
speeches made mostly in praise of MIR. John Chi
nanau's many good qualities. But they were not
all praise as will be seen from the following syn
opsis of the proceedings on the 18th. The first
speaker, Mr. Tykem Ow 1--WE think it ought to be
''Take EN- out ") does not seem to consider his
countrymen now in the western world as belonging
to the elite of celestial society," The other speaker
Mr.. "Koop-man's shop" is regularly in the i'm
porting business and is, ofcourse, interested in Civ
ing good account of his ''laborers" Still he does
not recommend them very highly. But we will
let them speak for themselves:
The attendance at the Chinese Labor Conven-
ton which met yesterday morning, was large.
Reports were submitted from the committee favor,
ing Joint stock emigration society, with officers at
the principal Southern cities; from the emigration
committee, promising welcome and protection to
all emigrants from China and elsewhere; from the
TRANSPORTATION committee, stating that emigrants
can be brought to Memphis in lots of so and over,
from the Pacific States, by rail, for $50 each, and
from Hong Kong to San Francisco from $50 to
$780, in gold
Tykem Ow, Chinaman, who has been two
years in this country, and is now residing in Louis
lana, addressed the Convention. He stated that
of the 10000 Chinese now in the West Indies,
with many much distress prevails, because they
we're not selected with proper care as to effective
dock hands, laborers and artisans. Many were
criminals who have been sent on plantations to labor
which they are not familiar with. Agriculturists
can easily be procured through proper agents IN
the interior of China. In Cuba they are paid "a
per month. Farm hands are paid SIS to $50 per
year in China, where living is so cheap that l5O
pounds of rice cost So. Women work in the field
in China. Only city women have small feet
About one in ten are lovers of strong drink, but
comparatively few are opium eaters. 1t is luxury
that only rich and city people can afford to indulge
in. Tbey are easily managed, being patient, in
dustrious, docile, tractable and obedient. The
products of China are in many ways similar to
those of the Southern States and the Chinese
would soon become successful workers Of the South
ern lands. 49,"
MIR. Koopulanshoop arrived at noon and ad.
dressed the Convention. He stated that his house
has brought 10000 Chinese to California, where
&C, 900 are now engaged as mechanics and in rail-
road works. They are paid from go cents to 81. 10
per day, in gold, as laborers. They can be in
duced to come from San Francisco here at $50 per
month, but can be obtained much cheaper in Chi,
ma, and under five years contract could be had
for $40 to $l2 per month. He said they are not
at all reliable, unless security is exacted, and will
take service with Others if higher wages are offer
ed. The Convention adjourned till tomorrow,
On the next day the Convention adjourned, but
not until the Mississippi Immigration Company
had been organized, with capital of $l,OOO,OOO,
to be increased to s2,OOO,O0O, if found necessary
Of this amount, $4,000 was subscribed on the
spot. The business of importing Chinese may
therefore, be said to have fairly commenced.
Where will it end?
This company will import directly from China,
and not from California, as has been done hereto
fore, and as the people Of that State would like to
have it done hereafter. They have Chinese
population in their midst of one hundred thousand
and they are SO thoroughly convinced Of their fit
ness for Southern farm work, that they are ex-
tremey anxious to get rid of them. This they
will not be likely to do now, as the South is going
to draw directly from the fountain, and not from
subordinate streams.
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Executive Committee of the South Carroll
ma Agricultural and Mechanical Society held q
meeting in Columbia on the 18th. COL D. Wyatt
Aiken, Secretary, furnishes the Ph@nic with re-
port of the proceedings the substance of which
we annex:
1t was resolved that the Secretary be authorized
to issue, by the first of August, premium list
amounting to $4,000, this amount to be increased
to Sc OOO should the financial subscriptions warrant
it. 1t was also resolved that the chairman of the
Executive Committee appoint three citizens as a
Committee to collect all the necessary information
as to the cost and methods of introducing Chinese
labor into the State, and report at the next meet
ing of the Society. Messrs ". NJ. Lawton, VIM.
Wallace, and NJ L. Bonham were appointed to
constitute this Committee
H. Piuckney Walker, British Consul at Charles
ton, placed in the hands of the Executive Com
mittee copy of the programme issued by the Sec
retaries to the "WQrkingmen's International Ex-
hibition," to be held at London in 1870. The OBJ
icct of the communication is to call attention to
the approaching exhibition, by forming local COM
mittees in the cities and towns of the State, and
to make arrangements for the transmission OF ar
tices to the exhibition from this country. 1t was
resolved that the details of the local organizations
invited by the projectors of the exhibition, be re-
frred to the Society at its meeting in November
next.
The Committee appointed to visit the Sorghum
Works of Dr. w. p Passmore, at Greenville,
made report They say: "For the purpose OF
refining sorghum syrups, your committee are salts
fed that the Southern process is the best otwhich
they have any knowledge; and if sugar can be
successfully manufactured from the sorghum cane,
then the cultivation of the cane and the manutac-
ture of sugar by this process, will prove highly re-
munerative to the Southern planter. Even should
it be found impracticable to manufacture sugar
from sorghum, still this process will be highly val
liable for the purpose of refining syrups. From
the information before your committee, they have
no hesitation in recommending the Southern pro-
cess for refining syrups to the favorable considera
ton of the planters of the State.
The Committee were informed that the city
council of Columbia will furnish the grounds and
necessary buildings for the first annual fair, and
proceeded to elect the orator for the occasion.
Their choice fell upon one whom the Southern
people have always delighted to honor, Gen. John
|C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. They could not
have selected one more acceptable to the people Of
South Carolina. A speech from him will be one
of the main attractions to draw large attendance
at tins iGai.
a.. 1k,,~o md hIn