New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-18
THE MEETING IN ST. MARY.
A W0rkingman's View of 1t.
FRANKLIN, PARISH OF ST. MARY. LA,
naee IN her Ii l3lH- I

FRANKLIN PARISH OF ST. MARY La,
December IA, 1873. )
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
desire to say few words to the public
through your columns relative to mass
meeting held at Harker's Hall, in this vii
lage, Saturday evening. 1t was called
farmers meeting, having for its object the
fixing of the price of manual labor, in viola
ton of the spirit if not the letter of article
eleven of the constitution. 1t was largely
attended, and the following rates were
agreed on: First class hands, Sl4; second
class hands, $l2; third class hands, $40;
women and plantation hands, $8. House
servants thirty-five to fifty cents per day.
Resolutions of support Were passed.
1t seems to me these gentlemen have un-
dertaken something of which they have not
fully considered the consequences. They
have not regarded the temper and con-
dition of the laborers of this parish and
State. 1t is true that times are hard and
the crops of cotton, sugar and corn have
failed. But they are fair questions to ask,
who caused the failure and who is respon-
sible? Must the hard working laborer,
whether plowman or mechanic. ditcher or
washerwoman suffer! Is it just and right
that their wages be reduced nearly one
half! And'will that reduction remedy the
evils? 1t will rather aggravate them. 1t
will make thieves and robbers out of what
are now industrious laborers, and fill the
jails and charitable institutions with crimi-
nails and paupers. No first class hand will
work on half wages, and the poorer class
will shirk and pilfer from others. They
will rather desert their work and their fam
lilies.
l shall be told by the gentlemen who par
ticipated in that meeting, and by others
who sympathize with and support them,
that the labOrers can not help themselves.
That they are cOlored and have no homes
OF their own. That they can not leave the
plantation and must take such wages as
are offered them. That the price of labor
is uniform and must be submitted to-
1t is the usual cruel answer of capital to
the appeal of labor. but these gentlemen
are mistaken in supposing it conclusive. 1t
does not touch bottom. The laborer can
help himself His time for remedy is when
the crop must be planted and worked. His
help must be had then. and he will make
his price. Besides, one hundred of them can
live on less than will support twenty of their
opponents. But they desire to live better,
anu as their labor is worth more than is Of
fered, they will insist on it.
They are differently situated than the
Northern laborer. Though labor is cheap
in the West and North, so are the peces
saries of life. Corn is scarce here and pork
and -four high. If laborer only receives
seventy-fve cents per day for twenty-six
working days, his Sl9 SO per month will
supply him with very little. If we estimate
the board for himself, wife and child at
fifty cents day, he will only have -$4 SO
for ether necessaries. They will have had
S54 in the year for these. The wife and
child will require
Fnrtytwo yards of calico at fifteen cents. Sc 30
Sixty yards OF cotton at twenty cents. Il 90
Three pair o. shoes at So 50................ I so
There will remain of the earnings Of the
whole year only $l9 20 to buy the more
durable clothes IF the man, and when these
are obtained, what will remain for the com
fort of his family and the result of his toils
No, gentlemen. the delights of that planta-
ton home will not be attractive enough to
keep him in it. The product of his labor
will not be sufficient to keep him honest
He can not become good citizen by receiv
ing such treatment, or being one he will
have no inducement to remain such, You
have taken the wrong way to remedy the
evils you complain of, and your road leads
to ruin. 1t is wrong to tax labor for your
You must not attempt to cul- |
tivate with twenty hands when fifty are
needed. You must cause your hands to be |
in the success of your crops, and |
not Indifferent or vindictive. Give them |
shares, SO that while they can improve their |
they may aid you. They are not |
to blame for the scarcity of money or the
failure of banks. If you want to build up
the country they can help you, and will, if |
you help them. 1t will not do you any good
20 take advantage of their ignorance, for
hat experiment will fail and react before it
8 tried many times. You can not make a
New England out of the South by taxing
he lahorer for your shortcomings.
When you give half the attention to the
lse of your plantation that yon do to abuse
If Republican officials, spend half the money
or agricultural that You do for political
'apers, drop your prejudices against color
md labor, and strive half as hard to make
he laborer help you as you now do to make
i'm fight you, you will find pleasure and
roft in prosperity which will rival that
f any country in the Union.
Very respectfully, etc, S.R