The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-01-30
TIE LOCAL LABOR PROBLEM.


throughout the county are hav-
inc considerable difficulty in OBJ
tanning farm hands for the pres
ent wear. and we are also IN
formed that not only does this
condition prevail in Clarendon,
but that The same trouble is ex-
perienced throughout many
other counties. This only pre-
sents phase of the great labor
question which is destined to be
one of the great problems that
the nc2ple OF the South will some
day have to settle. When it
comes to analyzing this farm Ia
bo. trouble il is not so hard to
discern the prime causes Of the
evil. but as to suggesting a rem
edv and plans for its enforce
ment, this involves many knotty
problems.
The prices Of cotton which
have prevailed the past two
wears, have been exceedingly
favorable to the cotton producer.
Making the staple at the prices
which were obtained for the crop
of 1900, considering our present
experience in producingit-whlle
it cannot be termed lucrative
employment, yet can at least be
claSsed as an avocation which
gives more than fair returns for
the energies employed, and it be-
ing an occupation in which any
one can engage with some hope
OF success, we lind everybody
rushing to the industry Of max
ing cotton. The consequence is
that many persons who should
be mere laborerS and working
under the direction of some ex-
perienced farmer, are trying to
farm on their own hook, and are
clearing up the very face OF the
earth. 60 where you Will
throughout the county and you
will see that almost every small
hill by the side Of the road, if it
has not house already upon it,
is under preparation for one to be
built there. The farmer himself
who owns the land, not satisfied
with having just enough Of his
land cleared upon which to sup
port himself, bringing that to a
high state Of cultivation and let
ting the remainder lie out for the
production OF natural growth,
viii give three years use of his
land simply to get it cleared. and
the anxious Afro-American is
there ready and eager. The dar-
kie selects d house spot, and
then when he gets his little
house built just sufficiently to
keep himself out OF the weather.
what next: He wants q horse !.
Off to town he puts to the lien
merchant or the man selling
horses, and if he can rake up
twenty or twenty-five dollars he
can buy a ifty-dollar horse for
seventy-five dollars. one-third
cash and the rest payable next
fall, upon the hope of two bales
Of cotton and the horse as Sc
curity. Upon the commonly ac-
cepted rule that every man wants
to get all he can on a bargain, it
seems a hard matter to tell who
is at fault. The farmer thinks
he is perfectly justifiable in al
lowing all his land cleared up,
thereby creating in the mind of
his tenant the desire for horse
with which to make cotton, and
the merchant on horse dealer
thinks he IS just as excuSable for
selling the ffty-dollar horse for
Seventy-five dollars and taking
twenty-five dollars Of it cash, be-
cause he takes a great risk. The
result is that the man who ought
to be laborer is making cotton
for himself.
This about presents the situa-
ton, and 1t is hard to place the
blame, for under no circum-
stances can the darkie be blamed
for making the most he can out
of the situation. Not to descend
INTO the ridiculous. the matter at
last about resolves itself into the
case of "a nigger in the wood
pie, and how Will you get him
out: We are hardly in position
70 advise how, to get him out just
now. We scarcely intended to