The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
The Labor Trouble.


Mr. John II. Dent, of Georgia, writing 10
the Southern Cultvator says if there Is a de
ficlency Of labor. there are but two ways OF
remedying it. One IS r. supply the dehclehcy
by importing labor: and II this cannot De
done. the next is % curtail our crops 10 the
quantity Of labor we can secure. II we can
only have labOrers enough TO cultivate one
hundred acres. the crop must be reduced 10
one hundred acres That IS a settled problem.
There is labor enough in the country If II
could be procured. but q large amount OF
that labor IS lost 10 the farmers: they have
branched out and are employed at
other occupations. and where highest
paid for their labor. there is where they Will
work That il but natural. and 1t is what the
farmers must count on. The farmers are now
brought into competition with other pursuits.
and If they cannot afford - pay the same
prices that Others pay. they must expect 10 pe
short Of hands Heretofore no class of men
have ever procured labor rs cheap as the
farmers have, hence, when brought IN COM
petition with other pursuits, and the proc OF
labor Is raised upon them. they think they
cannot pay such prices. As such. the farmers
must calculate on having To pay higher wages
in future. and consequently they had best be-
gin 10 arrange the mode Of farming to meet
those conditions.
Mr.. Dent says he has no suggestions NJ 10
the changes that must be made as tins Is o
thing that every individual farmer must study
out for himself He must lay plans ~ meet
his own circumstances; but this he feels war
ranted IN saying: High-uricel labor demands
extensive farming and diversity ot crops
that can be cultivated and harvested with
machinery With the young men OF the
country both white and black the tendency
Is 10 leave the farms and seek other occupa-
tion. They seem % have an aversion 10
farming. and Will accept employment where
the work Is harder the situation less inde-
pendent and more combining, and monot-
Ony and drudgerv is the daily routine.
And why So. Because the wages they
are offered do not compensate for the labor
performed. Thus, they can live on less and
dress ~ we'll as the boys employed IN the
cities. but six and eight and even ten dollars
a month seems very small. and lessons ms oc-
cupati0n ~ his own estimation when he hears
of the city boys getting ten, fifteen and twenty
dollars a month that work no harder than he
does. and less exposed 20 the weather The
pride Of youth. when he starts out 10 Work
for himself is the expectancy 20 make some
thing for himself, and become enabled TO
make rs good an appearance IN the world rs
other youths do who are also at work tor
themselves Seeing others who work at
other pursuits more prosperous than him.
self. he becomes discouraged at farming and
il in for a change that will better his condl-
ton.
The time is fast approaching when, 20 q
great extent. negro labor Tor the farms Will
have 10 Doe substituted By white labor. Ii Is
now being done in some Of our southern
States. Doubtless the thing must eventually
become general. There Is q great evolution
going on in all temporal matters just now.
What the end will be there IS no prophet
among rs 10 make q revelation. but change
must take place from what now exists, and the
farmers of the South will now experience It.
Would it not be- best for more of our farmers
70 encourage their sons 10 become farmers
and choose farming for their occupation: We.
in writing farming mp. speak Of 1t as noble
pursuit, and say it affords Us the best and
most independent homes, pointing 10 the hap
piness in the surroundings of farm life. yet
at the same time we are educating oursons for
other pursuits There seems 20 be some IN
consistency in this, as we are not carrying out
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