Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-27
NEGRO VAGRANCY.

Because 1t is presumably in reply to
our anti-vagrancy remarks of last Sat
urday, and because it would be unfair
to refuse to grant to the other side Of
the question reasonable showing, we
give space in another column, to a COM
muncation on the subject by r. A.
White, of Manning, whom we presume
is a fair representative Of the first
post -bellum generation Of Negroes.
Although the points made by White
may appear to be plausible enough,
there is nothing new in them. All of
them have been advanced before. We
had most of them in mind when we
gave utterance to the suggestions al
ready made; but were not on that ac-
count deferred from conscientiously
setting forth what we have had to say.
The suggestion that the worthless
ness Of Negro labor Is due to poor pay,
may sound plausible in theory; but in
the light of the facts it is without
force. Dissatisfaction with wages is
complaint that is characteristic Of all
laborers. The question, however, is
regulated by an infallible law that
knows few variations. Take the case
of a laborer, white or black, who, in
stead of concerning himself about the
hours he shall work, or the pay he
shall receive, devotes himself to the
sole aim of looking after the welfare
of and pleasing his employer, and 1t
will be found that this laborer does
not continue to work for Sc month.
The laws Of supply and demand affect
his case as positively as they do any
other condition Of life. He is sought
by all employers. They hold out to him
inducements of better pay and either
retain him at advanced wages, or en-
able him to secure an increase from
the party for whom he is working.
The longer he pursues the policy indi-
Gated the easier becomes his lot in life.
and such a man never becomes a va
grant or criminal. Argument of this
fact is unnecessary. There are too
many living examples on all sides.
Of course, it is very natural to as
sumo that with all the avenues Of
skilled labor, the trades and profess
sions, open to the Negro, his lot would
be easier. 1t is always natural for
any kind of people to want what they
can't get. We do not claim that the
Negro has anything like an equal ad-
vantage in the trades and professions
as the whites. 1t is not worth while
to argue here his inferiority. But it
may be stated as a fact, that the slow
progress Of the Negro in the trades is
due to his inefiiciency and incapacity.
The man, whether he be white or black,
who is but an Indifferent farm laborer,
for want Of industry and stamina,
stands very poor show Of becoming
reliable factory operative OF successful
lawyer.
The excuse offered by White for Ne
gro vagrancy about towns may possi-
bly, have a slight foundation in fact.
but not much. It has not enough
founda tion to warrant its use as an ex-
cuse and is not worthy of discussion.
But whatever may be the cause Of
the growing tendencies and evils of Ne
gro vagrancy, as we have said before,
the producers Of the country owe it to
their present and future welfare to
put a stop to it. 1t is not theory by
which we are confronted, and the prob
lem cannot he solved by theorizing.
1t is a condition that is troubling us.
and it is condition that we must
deal with the trouble.