The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-11-26
Won't Bring The Negroes.
Alto. La. NoY. Sd. 1889.

ALTO. La, Nov. Sd, 1889.
Editor ashland Tidings, ashland,
oregon.
DEAR SIR:-In my letter last winter
to Gen. J. NJ. Mccall, / proposed to
carry a few families of negroes back
to Oregon with me, the women 10 do
house work, and the men as laborers
on the farms and in the orchards.
Since that time 1 have received several
letters from friends there asking me
to carry them such help. Now, after
spending year here among them and
observing them closely, l have con-
cluded not to carry any OF that kind
of labor to that country with. me.
Now, if you will allow me little space
in your valuable paper, will give my
reasons for not carrying them. In
the first place, they are not as reliable
as the Cinnamon. If you employ one
to work for you, you have to give him
the half of every Saturday or you
can't lire him. At the time you
need him most in the crop he is
liable to get up and leave you TO do
the best you can. They have their
regular gambling dens, where they
meet nearly every night in the week
and gamble and drink all night
Consequently they are unfit for the
next days labor and if yoa sa; any
thing to them about it they are then
ready to leave you, no difference
how much yOu need them. They
induce the white boys into their
gambling dens and gambling with
them. Ii you take one in as a share
hand on the farm, he will not work
his crop as it should be worked, and
he will draw from the merchants
twice the amount of his crop, if you
would let HIM do it; long before he is
ready to gather it, then he will tell
you that he will not make anything,
and he does not care whether he gath
eres it or not. And when you settle
up with him if you bring him out in
debt. he will tell vou that you have
sWindled him ont of his sammer's
work: aud lie is then ready to set
fire to your gin house and destroy
your cotton crop. Such an act has
been committed here in this parish
this fall There are but few of the
women that care to work very long
at any one place. They like to stay
around the towns, dress well and do
as little work as possible. 1t is true
there are few exceptions, some few
of the older ones do very we'll and
try to get along, but the younger set
now growing up-are entirely
worthless. [ thing that Oregon has
plenty Of such characters in the
heather Chinese. without introduc-
ing the negro. who is equally as OBJ
jectionable. | look upon Oregon as
being purely white mans country,
and for Heavens sake LET us keep it
as such.
While writing now, | am in hear
ing of large crowd of them, congre.
gated and gambling, which can be
| heard very easily half mile away.
1t seems that the laws of the country
take no notice OF snch conduct
The white people here are to blame
for it, J. G. the farmers in general are
the ones 70 blame for such conduct.
/ They are the ones 10 blame for such
cOnduct. They are pulling and haul
inc against each ftrer for labor and
consequently tine ones that allow the
negroes the most privileges get the
most hands.
They talk here about the wild, IN
civilized west, but there is no portion
of the west but that Is far ahead of
this portion of the country for civili-
zation. The first four weeks that l
was here they averaged one a week.
midnight assassinations.
Excuse this lengthy scroll, but it is
not one half that can be said about
it. Respectfully,
GEO. W. PRAYToR.