The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-05-19
NO. a

be, think, on large plantation even
better results come from a different
course. While all negroes possess
points in common, ii would be a grave
mistake to suppose that there are not
gradations of excellence amongst
them. Some have more executive
capacity and acquisitiveness than
others. Select those possessing most
of these qualities and rent them large
areas, from 100 acres upward, adyanc-
ing TO them neeessasy mules and inn
plements. Allow this renter to hire
hand for each mule under contract to
work till crops are laid by at agreed
wages, One-half payable at the end of
the hiring, the hand to lose all time
not put in, and with the further stipu-
lation that his wife and children are to
do day work in the crop when needed,
payable weekly. Ii is astonishing how
rapidly the renter will ripen into an
efficient boss and prove exacting in his
demands on his laborers. While the
retained wages cures migratory habits,
once each week all credit customers
should draw their stipulated rations,
and it is well to allow them all the dis
cretion possible in the selection, as
this course reduces the meat consump-
tion. The renter soon realizes that
his interest and yours are identical and
his efficiency win prove surprise. lie
will secure laborers that you would
never hear Of The wages hands under
the eye of the renter puts in full time |
and do good work, and his wife and |
family at intervals make good wages |
at day work. In this way the plows
run by regular hands, cultivate their
proper part. And in my opinion reg
ular, careful, brisk ploughing is the
most important feature of cotton culti-
walton. Ii does away in largo part
with the day hand system, which is an
abomination unless resortcd to for
short emergency. The labor is
brought under the constant supervis-
ion of the renter who controls his
hands. The manager sees them twice
each day and gives his orders, and the
planter exercises such supervision as
he deems necessary. II Is of cardinal
Importance that the manager should
have nothing to do with the supplies.
Few of them can understand the inn
portunities of their hands. Questions
of favoritism arise, which lessen his
influence, and losses result. The
planter should never surrender the ex-
elusive control Of this to any one. In.
stead of ten mules scattered at the diff
ferent cabins, each with its night rider
all ten are kept in comfortable pound
properly cared for and their work lin.
tied to the plow. The system pleases
the renter and laborer. If you get IN
! the grass II Is easier to get out, as you
have an organization which Is efficient
and contented, and this attracts Other
laborers.
After the cotton has been laid b,
and YOU have charged the renter
account with the wages of his hands, q
critical survey of your business Is pos
sible. The renters account represents
to you the cost Of growing the crop
| and his cotton crop Is the sole assets :,
discharge II and refund to you the cos
of picking and ginning. Up to thi'
time the planter crrs in my opinion tc
give any thought TO cotton picking
lie should be most diligcnt in thorough
cultivation, but not to pick the crol
until the cotton opens. The picking
should be done exclusively for money
1 and the plckers distributed to the vari
Gus crops so that the picking will pro
coed with regularity. While | regart
commissary or store as q neccssar,
annex to large planting and SHOULD
be made source Of profit, still planta'
tion merchandise should always b,
kept only as an aid to planting, ant
grow out of IT, The shelves had best
be poorly filed from March TO Septem
Der, and temptations to buy kept at q
minimum, and at all times the Negro
should feel himself without restraint
to spend his cash where II buys the
most. This feeling secures labor, in.
creases the picking and at the same time
makes trade for the plantation store
IL is idle to suppose that merchandise
will secure cotton pickcrs when cash
fails, and there is no faultier course
than to support lot of drones from
March till September in the hope that
they will pay their debt in cotton
picking. If the crop has been
properly cultivated and the pick
ers are fairly treated and honestly
paid, they may leave at intervals to
enjoy their debaucheries, but will sure
ly return when "broke," as they soon
are, bringing other pickers with them.
The negro's estimate of the planter
who gives him work and pays him
honestly and promptly for II, differs
widely from the one who pandcrs TO
him, and is favorable to the former. |
do not pretend that this system, thus
briefly and imperfectly sketched will
bring individual success. doubt II
any system, however good, could do
that. Of two men equally vcrsed in
the same learned profession, one sue
cccds, the other fails. And any at
tempted analysis of the different re.
suits cannot proceed much further than
that "success Is to succeed failure is
to fail.n That glittering result Sue
CESS IN LIFE' represents forces even
more subtitle and rccondite than
human thought, and formula for Its
production in any vocation is out Of
the question. At most VIC can devise
plans conductive TO that end but tho
achievement is pre-cmincntly the worl
of the particular individual. To the
planter | believe the system promises
greater efficiency in his labor, more
regular and better work, less outlay
and Is conducive to the application ol
strict business methods to cotton plant
ing. TO the renter IL offers returns il
keeping with his capacity: If compc
tent he earns more than he otherwis'
could if incompetent. The planter
risk is at minimum. 10 the wage
worker and his family IL con
tains many lessons for their bet
terment. II supplies to them {
stimulus to honest effort, where no,
there is practically none; it teache
! them the cost of living, the value Q
their labor; il requires them TO liv
within their means and subjects thef