The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-03-13

We found no evidence to connec,
Mr.. Fowler in any way with the whip
pings OF these laborers, but he was q
parry to these cotraots which provided
Tor the illegal imprisonment and work
ing under guard of the laborers and il
responsible for these provisions being
enforced and that presentment Should
Go made against him therefor.
We submit herewith the me m oranda
OF testimony which We have taken
which will show to TIE court and solio.
itor moro fully the facts which we have
reported and will enable them to get
the names Of the witnesses to prove
such facts. 1t is proper that we should
add that much Of the abuse has alresd y
been corrected as result Of this in
vesllgstion and that some of the par
ties have been to us with the assurance
that they would Immediately correct
thu evils existing on their farms to
y Aich We have called attention.
, Owing to the widespread influence
and fl ct that follows any public dis
cussion of the question Of fsrm labor
In this State aud the result that many
follow presentment such as we pro
pose 1T is proper that we should in clos.
ing this report enter into brief dis.
cussion Of the influences that have
brought about the evils reported and
make suggestions as to tho remedies
therefor. We have hoard 1unors that
this Investigation has already created
widespread interest and that the con-
ditions have been is,uased with some
feeling but we have as far as possible
avoided reading anything published or
said In this respect In order that we
might pursue our Investigations without
any influence or bias from any quarter.
The question of farm labor in this
State is o very difficult one and the
present laws regulating the same are
insufficient.
The negroes whom We found con-
fined In the stockade were composed
largely of clas, of shiftless debtors
who are subject t. indictment for potty
ottense, and who could not be success.
fully worked under ordinary contracts.
They are men who have no property,
and men who evade their debls unless
compelled to pay them. Against them
the process of q civil court is worth.
less; that Of the criminal court under
existing laws is inadequate. Some
thing should be done by the legislature
to grade the punisbmen of this class
according TO the offence Bat the worst
trouble has not been in the defect of
the provisions of the law SO much as
its enforcement. 1t has come to be 8
settled policy in this county that in.
a ~ lnnnf fnr tyia1ati4. e
for disposing of property under lien
should be compromised, aud not tried.
We are convinced that this is wrong in
principle and dangerous in practice.
Whatever injustice may be done an
individual by disposipg of property on
which he has lien, or by the violation
OF contract by one of his employees,
and whatever force might be given to
the etfeot of penal statutes to ipduce
payment of debts or fujfillment of con-
tracts that never has been the true in
iSluaulu - -
They are enacted prevent public
wrong, and when a prosecution has
once been instituted and the powsr of
the criminal court invoked, the ques-
ton Of private recompense should dis
appear, and the public interest alone
should be considered. While this may
result in occasional hsrdships, it is the
only safe policy. Abuses will other
wise grow up until the criminal courts
are degraded into machines for private
gain, and often for eItortion and op-
preston. In our judgment it should be
q crime to compromise any case after
indictment found with view Of pri-
vate gain.
Nor can We condemn too severely
that other fruitful source-in fact, the
origin of the abuses herein reported
the leasing out OF conVicts to work on
private farms. Evils already detailed
are too eloquent to necessitate dis
cussion to prove this. Such a system
should not be tolerated after its results
have been exposed as in this county.
We have heard 1t intimated that our
Investigations and exposures would
disturb the labor conditions 10 such an
| extent as to create trouble in this
State. We do not believe that it is
true, but if it were we would not hest
| tate 10 declare the evils we fine and to
! demand that they should be alb oli. h ed
The duty of this body is plain: We
must stop the violations of law that
now exist, aud if others begin on the
part of the laborers themselves, ther
we will unite with the law abiding
citizens of the county in Furnishing anc
terminating these evils.
The result Of our investigations show
that the system Of working them II
stockades does not exist In this county
further than We have reported. Pfob
ably not as many as twenty men, eithe
as principal or sgent, either directl!
ar indirectly, have been engaged il
this abuse. On the other hand, tn
numbers of laborers and lienors VIII
have violated the law will double tha
number many times.
We therefore reiterate that the in
fuence Of this grand jury, and we d
not hesitate to fay of the court also
will not be extended to enable any ma
to avoid just contract, and that W
have found that most Of the labor con
tracts of the county are legal and just
If violat ons of just contracts begin as
result OF the investigation VIC hGV
made, We suggest that warrants b
sworn out and prompt punishmen
given. We have not undertaken to as
sumo the responsibility of prosccutin
the laborers who have violated thei
contracts, because the position and IL
fluence Of the landlord makes thei
fully able to do that without assistanc
from us. This special report hiss bee
brought about because Of the orpres
sion and abuse of men who were to
rnnr Inn friendlnss tnn innnrant an