The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-03-15

PaAOy w tuObo OulIdUtb lWuICl prOvluoU
for tho illegal imprisonment and work
ing undor guard Of the laborors and is
responsible for those provisions being
enforced and that presentment should
be made against him therefor. 4. # 53 s
We submit herewith tho memorable
of testimony which we havo takon
which will show to the court and solic.
itor moro fully tho facts which We havo
reported and will enable them to get
the namos Of the Witnesses to prove
such facts. It is proper that we should
add that much Of tho abuse has already
boon corrected as a result Of this in
vcsiigation and that some Of the par
tics have boon to us with tho assurance Q
that they would Immediately correct
the evils existing on their farms TO
which We have oalled attention.
Owing to the widespread influence
and IF ct that follows any public dis
oussion Of the question Of farm labor
in this State and the result that many
follow q presentment such as wo pro.
poso it is proper that we should in clos.
ing this loport entor into brief dis.
oussion of tho Influences that havo
brought about tho evils reported and
mako suggestions as to tho remedies
thorofor. Wo have hoard rumors that
this investigation has already created
widespread interest and that the con-
ditions have beon discussed with some
feelins. hu> wo havo as far as possl bic
avoided loading anything published or
said in this respect in order that We
might pursue our Investigations without
any Influence or bias from any quarter,
Tho question of farm labor in this
State is a very diff Quilt one and tho
present laws regulating tho samo are
insufficient.
The negroes whom wo found con-
lined in tho stookado were composed
largely of q GLASS of shiftless debtors
who arc subject t6 indictment for petty
oitenso, and who could not bo SUCCESS.
fully worked undor ordinary contracts.
They are mon who havo no property.
and mon who evade their debts unloss
compelled to pay them. Against them
tho process of q civil court is worth.
less; that Of tho criminal court under
existing laws is made quato. Some
thing should be dono by tho legislature
to grado the punishment of thia GLASS
according to tho otfonco, But tho worst
trouble has not boon in the detect Of
tho provisions Of the law so much as
it's enforcement 1t has oome to be
aettlod policy in this county that in
dictment for violation Of contract and
for disposing Of property under lien
should be compromised and not tried.
We are convinced that this is wrong in
principle. .and dangerous in practice.
Whsteyer injustice may be dono an
individual by disposing Of property on
which he has lien, or by the violation
OF Q contract by ono Of his employees,
and whatever force might be given to
the etfoot Of penal statutes to induce
payment Of debts or fulfillment Of CON
tracts that neverha boon the true in
tent and purpose Of tho penal statutea.
They arc enacted to prevent public
wrong, end whan1 a 4 prosecution haa
once been instituted and the power Of
tho criminal court invoked, the quos:
tion OF private rocompense shouid dis.
saappoar, and tho public interest alone
SHOULD be considered. While this may
result In 900 oasiohal lhardships it is the
only safe policy Abuses will other
wise grow up Untilthe criminal courts
are degraded into machines for private
gain, and ofton for extortion and op-,
preston. In our judgment it should be
Q crime to compromise any caso aftor
indictment found with a Wow of pri !.
vato gain.
Nor can we condemn too severely
that other fruitful source fact, tho
origin of tho abuses horoin reported
the leasing out Of oonviots to work on
private farms. Evils already detailed
arc, too eloquent to neocssitato dis
oussion to prove this. Suoh q system
should not bo tolerated after its results
have boon xposed as in this county.
We have heard it intimatod that our
Investigations and exposures would
disturb tho labor conditions to suoh on
extent as TO oroato trouble in this
State. We do not believe that it is
true, but If it were we would not hosi
tate to declare tho evils we e no and to
d, demand that they should be abolished.
The duty of this body is plain: We
must stop tho violations Of law that
now exist, and if others begin on the
part Of tho laborers themselves, thon
wo will unite with tho law abiding
citizens OF the county in Furnishing and
terminating those evils.
The result Of our nvostigatious show
that the system Of working them in
sstookades doos not exist in this county
further than wo have reported. Pfob.
ably not as many as twenty mon, either
as principal or agent, either directly
ar Indirectly, have boon engaged in
this abuse. On tho other hand, tho
numbers of laborers and lionors who
have. violated tho law will double that
numbor many times. SIS
We therefore reieeratc that the in
fluenco of this grand Jury, and we do
not hesitate to tay Of the court also,
will not be extendcd to ocable any man
to avoid o just contract, and that We
have found that most Of the labor CON
tracts of tho county arc legal and Just.
II violations Of just contracts begin as
result Of tho Investigation wo have
made, wo suggest that warrants DO
sworn out and prompt punishment
given. We have not undertaken to as.
sumo tho responsibility Of prosecuting
the laborcrs who bayo violated thoir
contracts, because tho position and in.
fuonco of tho landlord makes thom
fully ablo to do that without assistance
from US. This speoial report has boon
brought about booauss OF tho opprea
0yn - II - 4 i : -I.iEf