The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-10
Anaersuat yatel1igsaees.
Objects and Aims Of the Labor Reform
Associations.

Objects and Aims of the Labor Reform
Associations.
Rev. A. W.. Moore, of Laurens, was
invited to attend meeting at Hodges,
in Abbeville County, but was unable to
meet the engagement, and sent the fol-
lowing letter to the meeting, which ex-
plains so fully and satisfactorily the aims
and objects of the Labor Reform Associ-
ations that we transfer it to our columns,
with the hope that every farmer in An
derson County will give it careful peru
sal:
P1NEF1E1Ds, S. c., July 20, 1876.
Gentlemen I regret that pressing
engagements in Laurens will prevent my
being with you next Saturday at Hodges.
When we can, we will meet with the
citizens of Abbeville and urge upon them
the absolute necessity Of thorough organ
isation in every township of the county.
Such an organization is indispensable to
the industries of the county. No kind Of
government will help US much, unless we
can make our industries productive and
profitable. IF we can introduce change
in the results of business all over the
State, this very change will have deci-
ded effect upon the government.
The fundamental principle of Labor
Reform" is the union of employers upon
just and humane principles to control
labor, so that it shall be made more eff
cient and productive. Our laboring class
generally is the poorest laboring class IN
the world. 1t generally poorly fed and
poorly clad. It is poor because it is not
productive, and it is not productive be-
cause it is not controlled by. superior en-
ergy and skill. In Republican, govern
ments poor, Ignorant, Gcentious, antagg-
onistic laboring class is an exceedingly
dangerous element. Our policy should
look, not to the alienation of the negro
from us, but to the winning ofhim to us.
In subordination to the Anglo-Saxon,
when this superior race is animated by
humane, liberal spirit, the negro will be-
come to the South not only an important
industrial factor, but positive element
of political strength. Labor Reform is a
revelation of power to him; indeed it is
simply the embodied and organized pow
er of intelligence and capital, asserting
their supremacy, first upon the farm and
then upon the government; asserting
this rightful supremacy in both spheres,
without ignoring or destroying or even
abridging the rights of any class, not
even of the ignorant, debased negro
Labor Reform throws around him safe
guards in the way of protection, which q
class government administered ostensibly
in the direct line of his interest, has ut
terly failed to extend. Labor Reform
will work revolution in the industries
of the State, and therefore in the politics
Of the State. II. will finally, effect an
economic, efficient, equitable, as we'll as
broad and humane administration of
public affairs. It will effect this peace
fully and legitimately,s without Stu-:
multi or violence. It.may not do this IN,
one year, yet it certainly will do itand'
that speedily, if the business element
of the State will unite upon it, and there
fore make it successful. All classes will
eventually rejoice in the fruits of its be-
nefcent principles. :,
In our constitution, which was dictated
in very liberal spirit, no distinction is
made between the white and the black
laborer, and no distinction ought to be
made in the organic law of system. The
white laborer has no reason to fear the
negro as competitor, when honesty, eff
cheney and reliability are made indispen-
sable elements in the selection and re-,
muneration of labor. The great difficulty
with which the more energetic and trust
worthy ofthe negro race have to contend
is that they have been judged and re-
munerated more by the standard which
the great mass of negro laborers has
created than by their individual charac-
ters or exertion. The great enemy of
energetic white labor in South Carolina
has been cheap, unreliable negro labor.
The tendency has been not only to class
all labor alike, but to pay it according to
their classification. We were specially
impressed with these difficulties in our
efforts to induce immigration, especially
of the plodding, tireless German element
into our State. - 80.
The honest, capable white laborer will
therefore welcome most gratefully any
system which calls forth and rewards
their prime elements of labor-eficiency
and productiveness. The policy hitherto
adopted, which degrades the white not
only to the level of the negro laborer,
but TO the level the worst negro laborer,
has been most fatal; and that better pol
icy which magnifes efficiency and pro-
ductiyeness in all labor, whichever pro-
notes their qualities and which seeks to-
reward them, will not only stimulate the
better class of negro laborers to still
greater exertion, but it will encourage
and help our own white laborers, and
also finally induce to the South by our
superior advantages of soil and climate,
a larger influx of white immigration. Our
land is capable of sustaining much
larger population. Agriculture even
among us, is in rude state; it is des-
tined, however, to make rapid strides to-
wards perfection. We have also this pre-
eminent advantage: while our agricul-
tural resources are abundant and have
not been utilized because they have been
so very abundant, our manufacturing
facilities are unequalled in the nation
The South should not only grow to be
a great agricultural country, it should
also become busy manufacturing mart.
The cotton that is made in our own fields.
should be spun and printed in our own
factories.
We never can induce the necessary
capital from abroad until we establish a
government the permanency and simple
honesty of which "shsll be known and
read of all men," We cannot have such
a government in South Carolina until the
business element, ramifying every voca-
ton, trade and profession, shall clay to"
its mighty hand and say it shall be-
Labor Reform is among the elemental
agencies contemplating results so vast
and beneicent.
All classes in Laurens recognize the
prominent place of Labor Reform in the
great work of the Rehabilitation" of
the State; all classes, farmers, mechanics,
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