The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-03-06
AndersonIc county,oets Much Free
Advertising
SENATOR TlLLMAN TALKS
He Rightly Thinks That the Citi,
zsns of the Entire State
Should Not be Held
to Account.

ANDERSON county. MS was Drought
about by the recent occurrences which
led to Judge Benet's charge to the
grand jury to Investigate the matter.
Mr.. Geo. X Prince of Anderson, a
member of the general assembly and q
very prominent lawyer, was in the city
yesterday and stated that the grand
Jury is composed of men who will do
their duty, and the people can rest as.
sured that the conclusion reached will
be proper finding.
Another gentleman recalled that over
two years ago, Judge Gary presiding.
the grand jury of Anderson had some
hing of the kind called to it's atten-
the session of the general as.
~ ,nbly Capt. Banks. of Newberry in
troduced bill to provide for a oonsti-
tutional amendment to increase the
jurisdiction of magistrates in cases of
violation of labor contracts.
Mr.. Wolling Of Fairfield opposed the
measure vehemently and exclaimed
that in Anderson county a veritable
system Of slavery exists, that men are
bought and sold as chattels.
This WAS Indignantly denied by Mr..
X. b. A. Robinson, and the two mem
bers of the general assembly nearly
came to blows.
Mr.. Wolling's repeated charges pre-
pared the Legislature for the announo-
ment. not a week later, that Judge
Benet had had the matter called to his
attention by an anonymous letter and
that he had given the grand jury in
struotions to investigate the matter.
The Philadelphia North American,
after the court had ordered the investi-
CATION, sent staff correspondent to
Anderson and now claims to have made
an exposure" Half page illustra-
tions fill up the front page of the paper
and the Anderson slave tarffic" is
depicted in phosphore scent colors.
There are columns upon columns of
interviews with preachers and others
and the staff correspondent, writing
from Columbia, describes the condi.
tions as he saw them when in Ander-
: son.
Among the festures of the eek
pOsure" TUESDAY were numerous inter
views with congressman.
The following is the story Of the
Washington correspondent.
Washington, Feb. 25th.
The North Americans exposure of
the revival of slavery in South Caro-.
lima was read with amszement by con-
gress.
That such condition could exist in
that part of the United States in this
day was almost beyond the belief of
senators and representatives., and they
said The North American had done a
public service in making the facts
known.
The form of the contract which the
negroes employed by the cottoA plant
ers are required to sign was perused
with special interest. Wonder was
expressed that South Carolina should
have tolerated such a plot for a mo-
ment.
CAN CONGRESS INTERFERE?
On the question as to to whether con
ground that it was in violation Of the
thirteenth amendment to the consti-
tuition, opinions differed.
A great many lawyers In congress
refused to give an off. hand opinion,
declaring that the matter was too seri-
ouss but all agreed that, whether con
,ss acted or not, The North Ameri-
continue its work by max
ing the peopl, familiar with the details
OF the criminal wrongs involved in the
pernicious system.
The North.American secuted the fol-
lowing expressions from Represents-
tive Asbury @. Latimer, of Bolton,
Anderson county, s. @.
eyes, we sell negroes in SoDth Caro-
lnia.
II see nothing SO inhumsn or out
rageous In this statement OF facts
When / say we sell negroes, wish it
distinctly understood that not ono Of
the better class of the race is sub jected
to this treatment.
Here the South Carolina represents
tive of the slave district stopped, and
for several seconds looked at the head
lines Of The North American.
Il wish to say" he said, that |
don't approve of the PRACTICE as it is
now carried On. While the lF.rciplo
Of selling men to make them pay for
violations of the law may no. be wi oily
wrong; / do think that it is now car
ried too far. The governor and the
courts of South Carolina have, and are,
investigating the matter, and feel as
sured that Justice will be done.
SHOULD THEY RUN FREEP ~
''I think the people of South Carolins
realize that the manner of treating
these unfortunate wrongdoers has
gone too far, and that more just pro.
s cedure will be hereafter followed.
I'VE are censured for not allowing
negroes to run fee. Are they not law
breakersP Should we allow them to
run loose2 1t is not customary to al
low convicts ali the privileges of com.
munity. While all those confoed may
not be convicts, every one of the men
has been guilty Of somo offeose again 81
law and society. The question will be
settled, and | know that the results
will satisfy the American people"
SENATOR TILLMAN.
Senator Tillman in an interview said
II am surprised that a respectable
newspAper-and / consider The NORTH
American one Of the most respectble il
this country-should lend itself TO any
sensational assusations against the pee
pie Of q State of this character.
"The existence in one county o
South Carolina Of an unlawful system
Of contracts had already been called t
the attention of the grand jury Of tha
county by the presiding judge, whC