Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-30
1Yo T.anor pronIem in the south.

The Labor Problem i'm the south
That the complaints of the unsatlsiac-
tory character of colored labor are IN
creaslng in the Southern States, there IS
no room for doubt Communications in
the newspapers, suggesting remedies
for improving the labor or for get
ting rid of it altogether, are not lnire-
quent. In one state a law is advocated,
/ inaicring a heavy fine upon an employer
/ for breaking contract with laborer,
and severe penalty upon
laborer who refuses to live
up TO his contract. 1t is evident that
law of this kind would be productive of
endless trouble. The courts would have
more to do than they could attend TO.
The only effective penalty that could be
imposed upon the laborer would be I'M
pri5onment. 1t would be useless to i'm
pose a fine, because he would never be
able to pay it. The jalls therefore would
soon be full to overlooking, and large
percentage of the negroes would rather re-
main in Jail and be fed at the expense OF
the public than to work To put them in
the chain-gang and make them work on
public Improvements would be made the
basis Of a political charge that the negroes
were being virtually put back into slavery.
The plan to enforce labor contracts
through the courts would not be success
full. The taxpayers would soon get tired
Of bearing the burden which increased
court and Jail expenses would impose
upon them.
Annfhnp 10 RI aarn a
immigration of white labor, and gradual
ly force the negroes out. But where will
they go? They are not desiredanywhere.
There is no doubt that the growth of the
South would be far more rapid than it is
if it contained only thrifty white people.
The negro, however, is here to stay, and a
way must be found to utilize him to better
advantage than at present.
1t is noticeable that there is compare
lively little fault found with negro labor
ers by those who work them in gangs and
pay them in cash. Phe complaints come
chiefly from the agricultural dis
tricts, where the laborers get little
or no cash. They are paid in
provisions and in orders on stores. They
object to receiving their wages in that
way. but their employers haven't the
cash. The prices they pay for what they
get leave them nothing at the end of their
years work. They discover that they are
no better off whether they work six days
in the week or three, and so they work
only enough to get what they want to eat
and wear. They become thKiftless and
unreliable and every year less satisfac-
tory. Is not the credit system to a great
extent responsible for the unreliable and
Enthusiastically character Of negro labor
Ask a railroad man what he thinks OF
negro labor and be will answer that il
suits him. 1t is cheaper than any other
labor that he can get, and it serves his
purpose. There is no DOUBT that negroes
who are paid promptly and in cash give
far better satisfaction than those who see
little money from one years end to an.
other.
But neither on the plantations, on the
railroads nor in the towns do the negroes
show much desire to improve their ma
terial condition. They appear to be with
out ambition and thrift. Doubtless better
education facilities will do something foI
them in time. What they need is moi
such an education as high schools anC
academies afford, but such as is obtained
at the lower grade common schools
When the majority of them know how tC
read and write there may be such ar
awakening among them as will result II
making them better laborers and better
citizens.