Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-09
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THE LABOR QUESTION.

IhE LADUh QUEoAAVNs
At the joint meeting of the State Grange
and the Agricultural and Mechanical Asso-
citation, held at Marion on the 25th and 26th
ultimo, the labor question ELECTED consider
able discussion.
Col. McCutcheon advocated the use OF
labor-saving implements as the most practl-
cal solution of the labor problem: He gave
a detailed account of his practical expert
ence for a number of years, with various
implements of this description.
Col. J. N. Lipscomb reduced the question
to one of the expense of labor, and asked
the question if any of the machines hau
been found to supplement the mere muscle
of the laborer.
Col. Rucker, Of Anderson, said that labor
is at the foundation of our prosperity. we
must plant largely in grain and have ma
chimes to assist US in this work. a very
good point is to find how we can produce
the mostto the hand. Plant cotton in wider
rows and then we need fewer hoe hands and
therefore Utmost from the hand. Weneed
the same intelligence on the farm now as
before the war, when we had good system
of labor. The land owner should be upon
his farm and bring his education and the
force of his character to bear upon the dl-
rection of what labor we have.
COl. CrdytOu ldNOlSu lolSiSh htOoi 'A..'
gave his experience, for eight years, with
German imported labor, which was highly
satisfactory.
Senator Butler said that this was the great
question for the farmer. We should not
mince matters in this discussion. The labor
in this country is becoming more unsettled
every wear. There has been no time since
1865 when the labor has been more unrella-
BILE than now. tis admitted by the colored
men even, that those born since freedom
are becoming more and more worthless:
We must supply this deficiency. We could
safely spare two hundred thousand negroes
from the State. Let them go into Kansas
and elsewhere if they wish. We could fol,
low the example of Mr.. Crayton and get
Germans. There is too much cheap labor.
Some have been driven by necessity to
procure machinery and use it themselves.
They have not ten mouths to feed now
where they should have one. Experience
is good for us all. Go upon the farms and
give them personal supervision. Land in
New Jersey which was worth 81 is now
worth 500 per acre. He was sorry to be-
lieve that the laborerS we have are not
making progress in this country. The
white race cannot afford to be handicapped
by such a drag upon them, and must use
all labor-saving machines and get rid of an
army of drones.
Mr.. Parrot, of Darlington, thought the
most important of all the industrial ques-
tiohs of the day is the question of the lien
law. It is the cause of our condition and he
hoped it would be abolished.
MIR. Sojourner, of Clarendon, thought that
we needed varied farming, diversified farm,
ing. Cotton, the so-called king, has ruled
and ruined the agriculturists of the South.
We have supported the world and have
nearly starved to death. We must quit
cotton. .
Mr.. Noise, of Sumter, did not coincide
in the belief that cotton had brought us to
a condition of starvation. Marion county
was a lasting refutation to that proposition.
We have wealth and happiness in these
Southern States, while in Russia the people
are in ignorance, constantly looking for a
Republic and some condition better than
thew now have. Without the culture OF
cotton what will be done with the laborer
The negro is the only laborer we now
have, and we must provide for him while
we have him. The true solution of our
difficulties is to work our land in small
farms. France by this means has been en-
abled to pay the enormous war levy. OF Ger
many. The time for the planter is gone;
The time for the farmer has come, and not
unU1l O"llS, VI llOPCo w o"iA1 SiiS
land will we have that prosperity for which
we hope. We must make the best of what
we have. Sell your lands to the laborer we
have show him how to cultivate it.
Rev. Mr.. Dunlop said we had tried the
renting of land to our present labOrers ;
some was rented for one third, and they did
not make it, In France this system was
q success, but We have different class of
people to deal with. If we could get good
foreign laborers and cut up our land Tor
them we might see success in that line.
At the afternoon session Col. McMaster,
hoped that the labor discussion would be
resumed because it was one OF great and
vital interest to all farmers. Ar Anglo
Saxon will always lead in the great race.
Let us go on as we are now doing. The
progress in this country shows that we can
utilize this labor. Pay good prices and the
labor will be improved. When the negroes
see that it is to their interest to improve
themselves they improve. Let us make
use of all the means in our power, and COD
will bless our endeavOrs.
Mr.. John Sellers, of Marion, said that this
was subject of vital Importance, and we
must look it squarely in the face. Our pres
ent labor is good and it is to our interest to
use it. The production of cotton had been
increased $50 per cent. We have failed in
this country with German labor, and in
every instance this labor had left us when
we most needed their services. The negro
understands them. Chancellor Harper said
that when slavery was abolished the pro-
duction of cotton would cease. We find
that this is not the case. If we get rid of
this labor what are we to depend on in this
country? We must not apply ante bellum
ideas to this free labor. If we recognize the
changed condition of affairs we can make
this negro labor effective, as in other parts
of the State.
Mr.. J. ID. Lucas, of Marion, said: l ad-
wise the introduction of white labor. That
has been the cause of the large increase of
production. Colored men two years ago
made two bales of cotton; now they make
one bale.
Col. D. p. Duncan said that as tenant
the negro is failure, but as a laborer he is
a success. I am willing to show balance
sheet with any one who employs Germans,
SWedes or any other foreign labor. Those
who have contracts in the State Penitentiary
say that the labor furnished by South Caro-
lima is the best they have ever employed.
Senator Butler wanted to know If it was
not thought that it was better to have white
laborers around us than the negro.
Col. D. P. Duncan said that he would not
supply his twenty-four negro laborers by
the same number of white laborers. If we
live with these people we can teach them
and beat any labor we can get. The differ
ence is between the laborer and the tenant.
We have this labor here and it is our busi-
ness to make the best that We can of it.
Mr.. A. F. Edwards thought that we were
without efficient labor. 1t is a conflict of
brains with ineficiency. The lien law in
its incipiency was good, but its day has
PASSED. The condition of things now de-