The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-19
Farm LABOR
An AT-Siganeat Of TIE Prsssn, sys1sm..s
Demand for Remedial Lssislatou.

-@-4 ~ 44s-SalA1 LeElki1Gc1-
At a meeting Of the Marshall County
Farmers Club, Jaly 4th, 1885, the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions wers
adopted:
Your Committee appointed TO report
plan looking 70 legislation for the
better enforcement Of farm labor con.
tracts, respectfully report as follows:
Agriculture Is the chief Industry Of
this State, aud Il must be the o1icinsI
source Of all its prosperity; vet bv un-
wise and temporizing legislation. which
originated in superficial views Of politi.
cal economy, this great industry hss
been made suhservient to the commerce
OF this and other States. Its earnings
are consumed in paying tribute to the
mule ralsers and provision dealers Of the
Northwest, TO tie money lenders of the
North, 70 the manufacturers Of the East
and to the transportation lines that pas.
through our borCers.
Mississippi agriculture is capable Of
producing Its own supplies and work
stock, and thus secure its cotton as a
surplus money crop; but by making the
hypothecation of an implanted cotton
crop equivalent 70 bank account. State
legislation has enticed labor from It's
duty TO the land owner, and forced the
country into the all-cO.ton system and
made Mississippi agriculture the indus
trial vassal Of other States and interests.
The lands Of the southern farmers
constitute the only capital left them out
OF the general wreck of the great war
between the States; yet this form Of
property, though paying a large share
Of the State aud county taxes, has for
twenty years been practically without
the protection Of law in this State.
The right of the land owner TO direct
the labor that cnltivates his soil. and
the right 20 control the methods of its
tillage and TO determine the kinds Of
crops thSt shall be grown upon it, have
been porpetaallv interfers,l with by
lien-h0aierS istwec-r wEous<1sEa sg5u
owner there Is no privity of contract,
and who have no interest in the farm
except to sell the laborer all the goods
and supplies that he can make cotton to
pay for. As result of the interference
of the lien holders, it has been impossi-
bic TO induce the labOrer to plant any
thing but cotton. Farm lands have
greatly deteriorated in value.
There can be no successful farming
without the legal means Of promptly
and efficiently enforcing farm labor
contracts. But there Is no such legal
means in Mississippi. The landlord is
at the mercy of his laborers.
Should the laborer who has given
mortgage dispose of his crop TO any one
other than the supply lienholder, he is
by statute made guilty Of felony and
made punishable by imprisonment in
the penitentiary. But this same laborer
can live in the cabins Of the land owner
during the cold winter months, burn his
firewoOd and consume his supplies, and
then in the opening of Spring abandon
with impunity his contract for labor
without paying his Indebtedness. This
loophole in the law has educated great
many labOrers up to the idea u feed
ing and housing themselves and families
during the winter months by chicane
and sharp practices upon land owners.
They enter under contract for a years
labor, get advances upon the faith Of
that contract, and when the winter Is
over and work time has come they move
over to the nearest farmer who will give
them more rations. The injured party
is left without redress, either as to the
advances made, cabin rent, firewood or
the loss of the labor contracted for.
Should the land owners refuse 10 fur
nish land, team and tools to the laborer,
according to contract, the labOrer has a
remedy; but, should the labOrer refuse
to labor according to contract, the ag
grieved party is without a remedy.
The wage laborer has a lien for wages
on everything in the world that his
employer owns; but for unskillful labor,
or for failure to labor at the proper
time, or for an abandonment of his con-
tract by the laborer, the land owner has
no remedy.
The rights, duties and responsibilities
between land owners and farm laboreTs
should be mutual aud reciprocal, but
under the law of this State the rights
are in favor Of the laborer, while the
burdens and responsibilities all rcst upon
the land owner.
The land owner who entices away the
laborers OF another, thereby becomes
IaboreT, ana Should b. h1ade to trr;ttaJiftf
to the aggrieved party without the ben
eft Of exemption laws. But in such
cases there is no remedy, or if there be,
it is vague, indefinite and uncertain.
Now, therefore, resolved:
l. We are honestly opposed to all class
legislation.
3 Whereas, a very large majority Of
the people of our State are engaged in
agriculture, we believe the time has
come when We should place in our leg
islative halls men who are familiar with
our wants, and knowing our rights are
willing to assert them, and insist upon
them upon all proper occasions.
g. We think il indispensable to our
interests that a law shall be passed for
/ the better enforcement of farm labor con
tracts; and we demand that the nextleg
islature grant us relief upon this subject
f. That we hereby call upon all legis
lative candidates for an expression Of
their views on all these questions.
). That we request all farmers clubs
and similar organizations in this State
to Join Us in this demand for Legislative
protection. II. o. RAND, Chairman.