The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-01-24
THE EXODUS.
A Talk With One Of the Immi-
grants.
No sgore North Carolina for Him.

No zKore North Carolina for Him.
In our ramblings about the city las.
Monday, we were informed by promi-
nent business man that he had met with
an aged immigrant in very destitute cir
cumstances, who seemed to be anxious to
get back to the Old North State againt
Almost before this information could be
given, the aged immigrant put in an APP
pearance, and we sought the opportunity
for an interview. His name is Rigdon
Herring, and he came to this city about
three weeks ago from Lenoir county, n.
Carolina By reading the interview which
followed an Introduction to him, it will be
seen that he is not go anxious to return to
his former home as We expected TO find
MIN. He 10 a man of considerable intelli
gence, and no one conversing with him
would doubt the truthfulness of his state
| ments.
We began our interview by asking:
Whv did Won leave North Carolina?
well, sir, we left North Carolina on &C.
count OF bad treatment received at the
hands of the white folks"
| In what way were you badly treated?
They wronged US in every way. The
highest wages paid for labor was forty cts
day, and laborers must board themselves
This amount was seldom paid in money,
but orders on the store were given. The
store man always overcharged for his
goods, and we could save nothing"
Were you allowed the free exercise OF
your political rights; to speak and vote as
you pleased?
"No, sir. We always voted the Repub-
licap ticket when allowed 10 vote at all
Sometimes, at elections, they would not
accept ticket from middle-aged men, and
saying they were too young to vote; and
Sometimes they would take in tickets al
the polls, and throw them away, telling Vi
they were no account"
Did the election authorities ever refuse
to allow you to cast your voter
They thought was too much bent ovel
to count me out on account of age, and
am always very quiet on election day"
/ understand that you can find no em
ployment, and want to go back to Nortf
Carolina. Is this true?
Il have an engagement to chop Woo
for man who lives twelve miles in thu
country, at IS cts. per cord. l never ex
pect to 60 back to North Carolina.
would rather starve in Indiana than II
go back"
l am told that you are about out o
money, and must soon depend upon char
ity.
swell, l hav'nt got any more none.
than need, but guess | can get along
! have put my little pile away, and / q
and look at it and let it alone"
In what condition are the schools il
, North Carolina?
THE schools don't amount to much
The teachers don't know much more thai
us old fellows. When the Republican
had control of the State, teachers wer
| paid good wages, and consequently goo,
teachers could be hired; but since tn
: Democrats have captured the State
enough money is not paid to secure goo'
teachers
How does it happen that so many ar
: coming to Indiana in mid winter
, well, you see We got little money TO
our work on small crops in the fall, AM
we were afraid to wait till spring for fea
we could not get money enough to com
: away"
{ How much did it cost you to get here
1T cost me sos for myself and family?
How did you raise that sum.
1--WE have been organized for two Q
three years, and have been saving u
, money all the time for this purpose"
Do you intend to make this State you
homer
~ don't know; I will stay here ii
spring, and may 60 to Kansas then.
would go now, but as many of our peopl
have already gone there, / am afraid
could not find work.