The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-06-30
LAND PIRATES.
How the South L. Abused by Unscrupu-
lOas StOrekeePeFs.

How the South L. Abused by Unscrupu-
lOas StOrekeepoFs.
Correspondence of New York Tribune.
One of the worst features of the ex-
listing condition of things in the south is
70 be found in the character and methods
of large number Of men who sell goods
in the smaller country towns and vii
lagos, and at the cross roads and
landings almost everywhere. These
men are mostly foreigners or northern
men, but of late they are, in some parts
of the country, few native sOuthcrners
taking up the same kind of business,
as good southern citizens now and then
confessed to me with shame. These
merchants, or stOrekeepers, are as rapa-
ciOus as pirates, entirely destitute
of principle, conscience and honesty
Observe, do not say that all the small
merchants or dealers IN the country
places in the south are of this character,
but the class is very large one, and it
has its representatives almost every
where. These men are growing rich
faster than any other class in the
Southern states. They sell goods TO
negroes and poor whites at 800 or 800
per cent. profit, and much of the time
they simply take all that a man has. A
lar &c part of their business is conducted
in this way: A dealer of this class
makes an agreement during the winter
with q negro or white laborer to run"
him for the season: That is, the mer-
chant furnishes the "small planter" with
all his provisions and supplies of every
kind for the spring, summer and au-
tumn, agricultural implements and
everything needed, on credit; all these
to be paid for out of the crop, when it is
matured and gathered. Each dealer may
L Il
or fifty men. During the summer and
the dealer rides about and inspects each
mans crop, or sends some competent
man to do this, SD that he
can estimate the probable product.
OF course an experienced judge can
do this very accurately. Thus, when
the cotton is ready to be picked, the
merchant knows exactly how much has
been produced by each man that he has
run" All along through the season he
has, of course, entered on his books each
article furnished to the planters. Now
he goes over his books and puts down
the price of each article, the amount
which the customer is to pay for it; and
the price is SO arranged that the aggrc-
gate charged for the seasons supply will
exactly take the whole crop. The poor
son, absolutely penniless.
There are often stormy scenes on "sct-
Ting day" Such q merchant will sub.
NIT without resistance to the bitterest
curses wronged. disappointed, enraged
negro can utter. Often there would be
violence, but the merchant is armed and
his dupe is coWed. The end or result OF
| It all is usually that the dealer makes
the man a cheap, snowy present, and ar
ranges TO run" HIM again the next year
But sometimes, when a negro is con
ccrned, the outcome is different. The
merchant buys cotton. Ia many
cases he has gin of his own, or a cot
ton press. This gives the wrOnged, help
less negro an opportunity for revenge
The gin or press is fired same dark night;
there is q deduction from the dealers
profits for the year; the negroes Of the
region exult among themselves, and
there is q new political outrage" for the
newspapers and politicians.