The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-06-23
WHITE OPERATIVES
mAYATTAcK NEGROES IN CHARLES
TON COTTON MILL.

MAYATTAcK NEGROES IN CHARLES
TON COTTON MILL.
The Skilled Lsborers Shut Of from Means
of Earning Bread and Barred Out OF the
NewspspeTs.
8 dispatch to the Columbis State
from Charleston says the white ope
ratiyes who formerly worked in the
Charleston Gotten mill before the re
cent reorganization, have not yet be.
come reconcileG TO their displacement
by negro labor. There are about 800
white operatives, who have been n
the city ever since the mill shut down
last fall, who are out Ct employment
and absolutely without means OF
subsistence. They are skilled opera
tives and are St for no other vocation
OF life. The determination OF the ne"
management not to give employ ment
to these operatives, who are without
the necessary means Of leaving tie
city and seeking work else where, nat,
uraliy excites them, and the strained
relations which are now existing be
tween theoe pecple and the negro
operatives should not be wondered at.
Since the mills resumed operation,
it has been necessary to keep de.
tail of police officers IN the vicinity OF
the mills to preserve the peace. The
white operatives continue TO threaten
the negroes, and even the owners OF
the mill and the property itself, that
trouble OF some kind is liable to break
out at any time. This state Of affairs
is not destined to give the new man
agement any peace OF mind They
wish to continue the employment OF
the negroes at one third the rate for,
merly paid to the white operatives and
reap the consequent profits, out the
attendant danger Of violence On the
part of the operatives makes the ex-
pertinent one of great risk and
source of much alarm to the manage
meat.
The operatives recently presented q
communication to the local newspa-
pers, which was refused, SIS are many
matters relating to the employ menI
and the substitution OF negro labor
for white. The operatives are deter.
mined to present their cause to the
public, and this afternoon the opera
tives are distributing the letter IN the
form of bills about the streets. They
are hung in the street cars and at dill
ferent public places. The affair has
created something OF a sensation.
The letter is csustic, to say the least Of
it, and furnishes interesting reading.
Here it is:
MIR. Editor: a few days ago the old
familiar whistle that has been silent
50 long orc ke the industrious lethargg
that has prevailed for many months
in this beautiful part of our city. 1t
awakened mapy from tried and en-
forced indulgence in idleness, but IN
stead of Joy and gladDess it brought
sadness and tears to the cheeks Of
large and respectable portion Of our
community. II sounded the death
knell to al their hopes and patient
waiting; it strucL NOT their ears as the
harbinger OF the sesce, prosperity and
better days they wese looking long
ingly for and praying TO come, but .as
the advance signal OF continued in
activity and want.
Some had applied and been refused
employment because their complexion
clearly indicated they were not tinged
with negro blood. StIl they could
not reahzs that evidences Of amalga
nation and no long years Of expert
ence were prerequisite to procure en-
ployment in the lately revised Charles
ION mills. But doubt Was dispelleo
and truth flashed over their minds as
they watched the negroes move in the
direction of the mills. Seetbing con-
tempt for the propagators Of this d,a
boilcal conspiracy against white Ia.
Dor of the south fred the cheeks,
dried the eyes and filed feminine
hearts with indignation, and had
their voices been equal to the mills
blast, MIR. Witte would have quakeo
upon his luxurious couch of ease, and
sworn by ali his gods nothing is less
desirable than mongrel cotton MIL
presidency.
Indeed, the unexpected has happen
ed. VINO could read the history OF
Charleston and predict she would De
the first city Of the western world to
produce a negro-loving cotton mill
president: the hrsI to issue manifesto
declaring it to be bona holders rul-
pose TO mix whites and blacks II
Ill southern mills; the first to repuoi-
ate social distinction IN labor and sub.
ject the young, beautiful and innocent
of our soutnlaGd, on whom fortune
mas not smiled, to competing for
bread at the side OF the uncouth Afri
cans, whose great physical powers
adapt them FOR mc-e arduoUs and
equally needy pursuits.
Our objection, as operatives, to al
mlttlng culored people 10 Inc textile
industries is an ADMISSION OF their "a
paollity to become skilled oser&llv IS.
If, as some say, they aIe ineasaDIe oi
acquiring the knowledge Necessary III
this branch, tnen We operatives lave
nothing TO apprehend, opt 1t is our
opinion they are as susceptible here as
elsewhere, and 1t Is we'll kno1n IL
every craft where they have acquired
knowledge that deterioration OF wages
setln. h'or this reason, boncholderS
are willing 10 spend $40, 00U or $50, 900
tor educating Them, claiming II 20 oe
an investment Certain to yield large
1iyidendS.
1t is currently reported that Super
intendent Hayd entered lnlo con
tract with The mill company 10 fur
nIsh them 800 thoroughly efficient
colored operatives IN one year, or
forfeit all claims against tie company,
but II he succeeds Is 10 have IS Fer
day and bonus OF $4,000 Tor
his years services. In aaGlu0n to
otner expenses Ibis seems to o5 fao-
ulCUS sum. But it is reasoned among
1hem no 5ISfrih,,rrpr TINS Stk can