National Republican., 1878-09-25
DEMOCRATIC rAUPER LABOR.

DfsnotNaiitf fAtfbh Lhbuh.
A correspondent of the Nor Republic
gives in its issue of the 3lst ut. some i'm
portant figures relating TO the remuneration
OF labor in the South. lie argues that the
Democratic party, being in control of affairs
in that section, is responsible for the pau
pcrizcd condition of its laboring element.
There is no denying this logic, and it will
serve as convincing argument among
thoughtful loGoring men to prove that by
supporting the Democracy they practically
uphold power which forces them into
competition with paupcr labor. In other
words, 100000 laborers in the South are
oppressed by Democratic rule, and kept at
starvation wages, in producing many arti-
clcs of public consumption which a:c sold
in tho markets in competition With the
products OF the labor of other sections.
This is especially true of agricultural pro-
duets; but as the South progresses in the
establishment OF manufactures, it Is ap-
parent that tho competition complained Of
is Incoming more and more ramilcd. The
following extract from the letter Of the cor
respondent in question is sufficient TO give
!
his elaboration of this important truth
The rule IN the South Is to employ labor by
the year, on what is called the share system.
/ The owner of tho land provides tho agriCul-
| tural implements, the mules for blowing and
| hauling, and the seed for the crop. The labOrrr
has no means to provide food and clothing;
| hence the cinplos6r provides ration Of one
quarter bushe of oorn-incal and from three TO
/ three and a half pounds of salt pork per week
for each able.bodied hand employed, the value
of which is about 30 cents for the COrn-meal
and 2j to 30 cents for the salt pork, amounting
to j5 cents per week for each able. bodied hand
IN addition to this the employer provides an
nually one common blanket one hat, two pairs
Of shoes, and one coarse snit of clothes for each
hand employed, costing in all for clothing from
Sl5 to S2j per annum. Ii an able.bohied hand
has q family too young to labor, or unable to
work from sickness or other cause, ho gets no
more than said weekly ration of corn.mcal and
pork for their support, and nothing in any case
for clothing them; hence the universal cOndi-
tion of rags and slualOr in which the colored
agricultural laborers and their families exist.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the
average cDlored agricultural laborcr Of the
south Is provided for by his employer at the
rate Of from 1890 TO $500 per annum. This
Is In the nature Oc an advance OF wages to the
labOrcr. for which he Is sdcbited by his employer.
1t Is to be deducted out of the share Of the crop
! 10 DC raised, anu, slllhll Us lIt ullhNNilCt ~
thousands of laborng families have little moro
than that to live on. II the season is good the
employers will provide little tobacco now and
then and q few groceries and dry goods to the
amount OF irom $50 to $50 year. and even
more where the employee is affected with some
fellow feeling; but he never fails To debit the
lubOrer with these "eXtras' at from 30 to lOt
per cent. above their cost. Where the chi
blower does not provide these "cXtras" himself
tho petty trader in the vicinity will do 80 o.,
the guarantee OF the planter or employer, ant
then tho charges are usually at Il rate Of mol
less than lpl p'r cent above ordinary retail
prices in the lJCllitv.
From the foregoing 1t will he seen that, un
der the southern labor system, tho nhlo-bpd!c,
. luhorrr never gets more than 500 in valuc-
seldom that muCh-iOr the support of hilusel
aud family annually, which, counting 81
f working days to the year, l. at tho rate 0
thirty-two crmts day, and tnut the very mos
: Ior the support OF u lahOrcr and his Gtmily!
Now 1t will ho asked, "What of the share o
the crop, the usual contract with the labgr,r /
that he shall he lAil One-third or one. Fourth o
, the proceeds Of the sale Of the crop, loss thas
ad yamces - True, that is the contract. Ia
II rau safely be affirmed 1t is u contract that l.
not fulfilled in one case in thousand. Tn
! part Of the crop and farm products cOn5umCI
by the employer and his family arc nos in
cludud in the crop sold All expenses Of sale
of commissions, of stock purchased, improve
mcmts Oh land, ,Sc., are not included IN pro
cecdS of sale taxes arc also deducted. Wnei
the residue OF the proceeds arc computed, tn
> third which the laborer was to have for hi
!, share is found by the calculator to be balance,
/ by the "advunces" made. And If that doc
: not balance the account, 80 or 100 per cent
extra is put ON to the advance account or NOR
: articles charged than delivered SO thai /
u many very many, cases the laborcr not onl
r has nothing coming to him ON tho day Of sci
=. tlcmeut, but Is in debt. In debt TO his en-
poycr aitcra years hard work, and living IN
: manner in which the most degraded !aborer /
@ China could not exist