Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-23

who work. Just how, all honest people
may not exactly understand; but 1t is
a fact. A dozen idle loafers constantly
loaflng around store, generally means
that the proprietor is carrying more
than he knows. Housewives who are
not especially careful in giving out
their meals to the cooks, frequently feed
from three to half dozen idlers with
out being aware Of the fact. People
who leave articles Of more or less value
lying loose around their houses and
premises, frequently contribute their
value to the purchase Of tobacco or
other luxuries to idle Negroes without
being aware Of the fact.
No otner country under the sun,
probably, has ever been infested with
so many useless parasites. The situa-
tion has grown upon us until we have
begun to accept 1t as a matter Of
course. Many of us are not inclined to
realize that the position is one Of the
gravest danger, and that the tendency
Is from bad to worse. This vampire of
idleness that is feeding upon the ener-
gy and lifeblood Of this whole section
is not the kind of thing to realize re-
sponsibility. 1t takes no thought Of
tomorrow. It is not concerned with
the fear that the carcass may eventu-
ally be consumed. Like a thing Of
appetite and action without brains, 1t
merely continues to suck and suck
And how long are we going to con-
tinue to stand this kind of thing? How
long can we stand it? Are we going to
be such idiots as to allow 1t to continue
forever? Knowing as we do that bread
can only be produced in the sweat of
the brow, are we going to continue to
sweat for such a worthless horde as
this. If we look at the question hon.
estly, most Of us will have to admit that
we ourselves are to blame Surely we
are not willing to confess that this
horde of idlers Is to ride on our should
ers forever and that we have no ability
to help ourselves. Surely we are not
willing to confess that we are less
powerful or less intelligent than such
a crew.
There is a remedy. All the idlers in
the county now are supported by the
body polite; but the taxation levied for
the purpose Is somewhat inequitable.
At any rate, it is not levied in accord
ance with the regular legal machin-
cry. Let us support idlers by taxation,
and make them pay for their support.
by giving service on the public roads.
In other words, let us send them to the
chaingang.
There are now on the statute books
laws against vagrancy. A vagrant is
an idle loafer who Is without visible
means of support. The people herein
before described, are vagrants. Then
let the law be enforced. Let every
community begin work at once arrest
ing and taking before magistrates, all
the loafers Of their respective neigh
borhoods who are without visible means
Of support, and have them sent to the
chaingang. They need not confine
themselves to Negroes. There are
few whites who are just as trifling, and
these should be dealt with in the same
manner.
A few years ago, under the terms of
an ordinance enacted for the purpose,
the Charleston police made the rounds
Of the city and asked each loafer they
came across, the question, Where are
you working?" In cases where the
answer was not satisfactory. the loaf
er went to the chaingang, and that in
stitution was strengthened within a
few months by several hundred re-
cruits. The only trouble was that with
in few months the good work was
discontinued, and the situation again
grew as bad as ever. A similar ordl-
nance and similar enforcement are
needed in Yorkville, and in all sur
rounding towns. How and why has
already been shown. Removal Of the
drones will give the workers chance.
It is our opinion that we already have
all the law that Is necessary to cor
rect the evils pointed out above, except
local ordinances. and these may be cas-
lily supplied. If we have not got the
law, then by all means we should have
it, and have it quick. Notwithstanding
the fact that the state legislature has
just adjourned. this matter is Of suffi-
cient Importance to warrant the call
ing Of an extra session at once, and If
at the end of 40 days a satisfactory So
luton of the problem shall have been
arrived at, then, in the future, we shall
have q right to say Of the session that
it was the most valuable that the state
has ever known.
MERE-MENTl0H.