The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-15
LABOR TROUBLES
AMONG THE NEGROES AND
THEIR PREVENTION.
enced Planter who Does Not En-
plsy an Agent or Oyerseer.

To the Editors of the Appeal:
As our Colored friends are quick 10
exaggera.e any popularity OF the
viii people, no one can be surprised
at the possibility of colored X uignts OF
Labor, secret organizations fer the
purpose OF securing higher wages end
the general improvement of their con-
dition. In counties of the S1nthen
Sat where he negro element pre-
dominates, al les in numbers, tuch
Troublesome affairs as thst which re-
Gently occurred GA the Tale plantation
may possibly become monotonous.
With long experience in the en-
ploym OF co.ored labor in all its
meth ode, / think / am capable of sug-
costing something which, il needed,
will be- preventive of such troubles,
and l will be as brief as possible. In
the first place, 1 urge that no man
should be planter unless he resides
on his lands and 10 ks alter his own
affairs. Agents, generally, are not reli-
able, nor have they the authority or
mo al influence OF the actual owner.
secuIe of their own wagee, and anxious
10 show handsome profits to their en-
ployers, they care little fer the inter-
eat or welfare OF the laborers or the
permanent benefit of the placss under
their charge 1t may be considered
fortunate thing Tor the country
that that system of absenteeism
which has we'll nigh ruined Ireland
does not and cannot pay among US.
A proprietor who lives in distant
city, leaving his plantation in charge
of an agent, will find the place deteri-
Grating every year until it ID rendered
almost worthless, But about the labor
question. Even with the present and
prospective prices of cotton and corn,
laborer's work from years end to
year. end is worth one dollar day,
and any wise planter would willingly
pay thst sum for reliable LABOR
throughout the entire year; yet we find
the best and strongest field laboreIs
in the south working twelve to Jour
teen hours day from March to August
ding the really hard farm work of the
year and during the hottest sss sons,
fer seventy-five cents. The simple
reason for this is that no planter can
rely on any labor for years time. II
che made a contract with hands at one
dollar per day, the year round, the
contract would be faithfully kept until
cotton picking and corn gathering
time and lnen thera wCu a
reputation OF tue terms and
strike for an advances from
80 to 50 per cent, and this additional
sum is mere than the value of the
crops would bear; hence low wages
are paid while the crop is being made,
which are supplemented by high, l
wages paid for harvesting. There are
plenty of laborers in the county tt
make the crops, but an insufiiciency
to gather them, and until some rell
able harvesting machine is invented
the cotton picker will have an over
whelming voice as to his especia
wages. With farm work in this con
oft on, that is, abe to dictate The
price of work in harvest time, which
the planter is compelled to pay or lei
his crops rot in the field, the method
of flaming with hired labor is a baC
one. Southern planters are slowly
learning that profits based on unreli
able labor ave speculative and gener
ally nil Share cropping is almost 81
bad, for reasons which my allowed
space p events my particulsriz ng arc
come without delay to the poin
which l desire to make: Gha
the hest system for landowner ant
lsborer is SIMPLY that of rent
ing small farms, precisely as the city
real estate owner rents out his cit,
stores AID dwelling, with the add
tional protect on CT a lien on C ops fol
the rent. The renter is then thrown
on his own resources. AS he will have
use for occasional hel p in his crop, in
stead of desiring labor TO be unrelis'
BILE, his intsrss. is tlgt it should be
reliable; he must look for cledi. fol
supplies which the landlord may fur
nish him or permit some merchant tC
furnish. The amount of such credit
being based entirely on the size OF the
holding and the condition of the
grow ing crop; the landlord is only in
terested in seeing that there is always
enough crop on the land to pay the
rent and advances. The laborer Of
renter left independent of supeivi
zion, or rather direction, and depend
emit on extra eXertion to obtain more
than the mere necessities Of life, otter
rises to the occasion and becomes q
permanent and valuable tenant,
At the risk OF occupying more Of
your space than proposed, l will ado
that know q gentleman who resides
on bis own plantation, where he has
made himself comfortable, with hi.
garden, stables and other arrange
ments entirely separate from his farm
ing affairs. For years he strove to make
ENDS meet by share cropping, hireC
labor and other methods 10 vogue, bu
the net proceeds from his coo acres o
cultivated lands yielded him little
mora than a bare living until he trieC