New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-23
INTERESTS OF THE SOUTH.


| EXPORTS FOR SOCIAL ELEvArfON-POPCLAB
SENTIMENT REGARDING JEFFERSON DAVIS.
| lFRoa A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT THE Tribunal
WILMINGTON N. c., April 4.-The travelling
salesman, or drummd, is one Of the chief features
of the mercantile business Of the South at present.
l do not think have travelled an hour by railway
IN the Southern States without the company of o
drummer; nor stopped at any railroad hotel where
there was not one present. and usually there arc
several of them present at the same time. 1t must
be said that most Of these young men are kind and
Oblging to their fellow-traycllers; to everybody
indeed And the uncomplanng indifference with
| which they accept the wretched fare of Southern
eating houses and hotels is also, in some measure
worthy Of respect though it must be confessed that
they are usually treated better than any body ese
on the road. have been interested in observing
and studying this class Of young men, aud in learn.
| ing how they regard their life and occupation.
There few elderly men, Of excellent character
on the road Most Of the class are somewhat pc
culiar. Many Of them regard themselves the real
merchants and principal business men Of the coun-
try, and speak Of the firms which employ them as IL
they-the merchants in the cities-were mere SUBJ
ordinates, or agents. employed by the drummers to
ship and forward the goods sold on the road.
AFAvoRED CLASS.
have heard many discussions among these trav-
elling statesmen of the various methods by which
they conduct and control business as TO
bring the principal profits to their own pockets.
They call the trade theirs, and not that of tho
houses they represent and often speak Of the
amount of business which they control. frequently
threatening that if their employers do not act In q
way to suit them they will carry the trade over
to another house." These gentlemen always have
the best rooms, and the best of everything at tho
hotels and in many instances other travellers arc
charged extra prices for not being travelling sales
men. The drummers often have " little supperso
together when several of them happen to meet at
hotel. / am bound to say that on such occasions
they are usually very hospitable. They have often
invited me to join them in these repasts but al
ways begged to be excused. A good deal Of wine is
consumed at these suppers; it is part Of the
necessary travelling expenses,' as they kindly ex-
planned to me.
At Jackson, Mississippi. arriving late at night at
the hotel, found myself in a most merry company
of drummers, who greeted me with ELUSIVE
diality and offers of unlimited hospitality. They
explained that they all as drunk as the ID"
Tut that they were all "g-g-goo-good -" good
natured," | suggested. "Yes that's II an we're
JUS as glad to see you as if you were soberw In
conversation with men of this class | frequently
mentioned the fact that had somewhere seen the
expenses OF a travelling salesman estimated at
six or seven dollars per day. They always said that
low estimate, and that the average salary is
about the same sum. have means Of knowing
whether this is true but at any rate it seems to mo
that the travelling salesman method Of doing bust
ness is very costly one, and the older men on the
road in the South say they do not believe the system
will be continued.
MERCANTILE LASD-PIRATEs.
One of the worst features of the existing condition
Of things in the South is TO bc found in the char
acter and methods Of q large number Of men who
sell goods in the smaller country towns and villages
and at tie crossroads and landings almost every
where. These mostly foreigners or North
eln men, but 4 late there are III parts of tho
country. a few native SOutherners taking up tho
same kind Of business, good southern citizens
now and then confessed 10 ine with shame These
merchants, or store-keepers," are rapacious as
pirates cntirrly destitute of principle. conscience
and honesty. Observe. do not say that all tho
small merchants" or dealers in country places in
the South are Of this character but the class isa
very large one and it has its representatives. almost
everywhere. These men growing rich faster
than any other class in the Southern States. They
sell goods To the negroes and poor whites AT POO or
300 per cent profit, and much of the time they
simply take all that man has. a lafgc part ar
heir business is conducted in this way. dealer
of this class makes an agrcen cnt during the wiLter
with a negro or white labOrer 10 run him for the
season. That is the merchant furnishes the small
planter" with all his provisions aud supplies Of
every kind for the spring. summer aud autumn,
agricultural implements and everything needed, on
credit all these things TO be paid for out Of tho
CROP when il is maturcd and gathered. Zach
dealer NAV thus supply, or run" a dozen. twenty,
or fifty men. During the summer and all the time
that the crop is growing the dealer rides about
a : snIu
tent man TO do this, that he can estimate the
probable product OF course an experienced judge
can do this very accurately. Thus, when the cotton
il ready TO be picked the merchant knows almost
exactly how much has been produced by each man
that h. has rum" All along through the season ho
has of course entered on his books each article fur
niShcd 10 the planters Now he gees over hls books
,nd puts down the price of ea,h article the amount
which the customer is 10 pay for II and the price
> 80 arranged that the aggregate charged for the
SEASONS supplies will exactly take the planters
whole crop The poor laborer is thus left, at tho
nd of the season, absolutely pcnnilcss.
There are often stormy scenes on settlngday"
such n merchant will submit without resistance to
the Interest cursing a wronged, disappointed, en-
aged negro can utter. Often there would bc vio-
once Int the merchant is armed and his dupe.is
owed The end or result of il all is usually that tho
lealcr makes the man cheap. showy present, and
oranges to run" him again the next year. But
ometimcs when negro is concerned the outcome
, different. The merchant buys cotton. In many
ases he has gin of his own o. cotton press. Thus
ives the wronged helpless negro opportunity for
eyenge. The gin or press is fired some dark night;
here is deduction from the dealers profits for tho
ear; the negroes of the region exnlt among tbcm-
elves, and there is new political outrage" for
be newspapers and polite ians.
SOUTHERN MARKET SCENES.
In Norfolk, Virginia, | saw company Of country
int, fhn their