The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-11-17
- A true copy from the minutes.
J. BAYLIS LEWIS, Sec. pro tenn
Cotton Picking and White Labor.

In the course of a journey through this State,
the serious want of steady reliable labor for
cotton picking was frequently brought to our
attention by the leading planters of every sec
ton. The chief trouble is with the negroes,
who are up to their eyes in politics, and spurn
the most tempting offers to pull the crop. A
Florida paper says that the negroes there "have
become so excited on the subject of politics,
that planters have great difficulty in getting
their crops harvested" The Memphis appeal
asserts that though the fields are white with
cotton, the picking force is inadequate. Many
negroes are deserting the fields and efforts are
making to supply their places with white labor"
The Galveston NeaUs remarks, many OF our
freedmen refuse scventy-five cents to onedollar
aud upwards, specie (pcr 100 fbs.) for cotton
picking"
1t is evident that this labor must be supplied
from new source Theimportation OF China
men seems not be desirable, and it becomes
serious matter how to head off this misfortune
of the scarcity of labor at the most critical
time, which occurred last year, which occurs
this year, and which will occur every year as
long as the freedmen are the prey OF political
colporteurs.
The New York Journal Of Commerce, in an
article on this subject, strenuously recommends
the importation of Cinnamon. This, it says, is
the first and best remedy for the ills prevalent
not only at this time of cotton harvesting, but
at all times and in all pursuits at the South un-
der the new order of things. But foreseeing
the great obstacles that are thrown in the way
of getting hands from China, the journal ad-
vises European immigrants idling in the North
(less for want of work than for the disposition
to do it) to buy tickets and go South by the
middle of October, and there in the cotton
fields they would find plenty of not overland
occupation at good wages.
''Once there" says the editor, Eve counselled
them to stay and work plantations on shares,
making the contracts from January next; We
showed how we'll this had paid where the ex-
pertinent VIA ...v,i Immigrants newly landed,
or citizens not well-to-do in the North, who
took our advice, are now thankful for it. Such
is, or was, the scarcity of labor, owing to the
profound immersion of the negro in politics,
that the New Orleans Price Current, in re
cent article thought it would be cheap to give
free railroad or steamboat tickets and return to
hands in the North to 60 to Louisiana, Texas
or Arkansas, and $3.50 per day and rations for
the whole six months from October 10 to April
Is. The laborer during that period, would es-
cape the cost of extra fuel and clothing of
Northern winter, be well fed, and have at the
end of six months, if saving, over 1925 clean
cash in his pocket-morc, probably than he
ever had before Perhaps some such scheme
will be organized for the next season. 1t is
not too late for Northern laborers to make
good thing out of the South this winter But
they must pitch in at once, and on their own
account, not dwadde about the great cities
waiting for some Southern committee to hunt
them up" >,
1t is scarcely necessary for us to add that
these cmigrants will be we'll received with open
arms by the people of the South. Their ser
vices are needed here, and the white men who
come to South Carolina to settle now will meet
with facilities never before afforded them. Let
them come to Charleston. There are commit
tees here who will see them well provided with
lands and work Charleston Courier.