New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ~SLATERT" SYSTEM.
HOW IT GREW FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS INTO A
GREAT ABUSE.

Columbia. S. C. March l6 CSpeciaD.-J. S. Fow-
Ter, originator Of the Anderson slavery" system
says the plan itself not at fault, but il has
been abused He had no idea. he says, that it
Illegal. il grew out of the application TO him By
negroes in jail 10 pay their fines take them out
on bond. To secure himself he made them sign
ironbound contract, and put them TO work with
conyicts ne hired from the State. He began this
system five years ago. The officers of the law
Sheriff, clerk and magistrates-were necessarily
aware Of his methods, and never suggested irreg-
ularity For debt of so he would work a negro
for a year, feeding and clothing him.
But, according to Mr.. Fowler, others who adopted
this manner Of getting labor abused il. Negroes
got from Jail were charged for clothing, board,
etc, and fined for infractions Of rules till they
Were placed perpetuaIly in the debt Of the land
lord Then others who had committed crime.
but had charges trumped up against them, were
heightened into a compromise" by signing con-
tract, and they similarly held captive. When
ever negro owed a debt he was taken TO the
stockade 10 work il out On the landlords terms.
The license Of lawlessness continued until when
1t was considered safe 10 Go negroes were seized
by force and taken 10 the private prisons
Last year prosperous tenant on one small farm
bought guano from Fowler on credit. His crop
tailed, and ne could not pay. Regardless of the
iact that the law does not permit Imprisonment
ior debt, this negro, his wife and nine children.
ihost o. them OF working aee, were carried TO the
SoosH@oe and set 20 work At the same time the
g.
cn, cor me debt. These persons were made TO sign
Sohuacts, and as these contracts permit them to
% sg uaasierred from one landlord TO another there
- - instances where the contract for the husband
slu % "a lhef has been made farmer, while
- We ana clloren held and worked by
Sllollef. The system of arrest for debt had
SpIeao ana was abused that house servants
ouuels and cooks-in the town OF Anderson were
SaEEled on from their work TO the stockades be-
-".e ule mistress OF the house was informed.
as originally begun the plan Of working the ne
e-oss had mutual advantages. II irregular
bs bne Hega 20 take prisoner out of jail and give
a n9.o Tor his appearance At court and work him
- alM court met Still, II paid for his services
Nieie was certain advantage te him But IL fol-
hmNta mat 10 hold the prisoner he must be guarded
-. men with guns b. day and locked up al night
sHel was a stan greater infraction of the law
- the exercise OF that power had its sequence in
@a., Nhlppings Once beyond the law, there was
no hnlit 10 the lcerse and the farmers extended
80, 90 system 10 men not taken from ial but who
eouia be persuaded or frightened into signing con-
HsaeIs Then 10 those who had fallen into debt and
ssl!aly 70 any who could he safely captured by
.,..e- 1He continuation OF the license which per-
i,tec guards and stockades resulted in the use
OF heavy balls and chains
-. n local of1clals do not 10 have given any
- eseehtlon 10 the matter. The negroes worked
=. "a large plantations far in the country and out
- me puolic eye. But for the exposures the sys-
o osm would have within few years spread all
''ei Anderson and into many other counties.