The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13

We found
NO EVIDENCE TO CONNECT MR.. FOWLER II
ANY WAY WITH THE wHIPPINGs
OF THESE LABoRERs,
but be was party to these contracts which
provided for the illegal imprisonment and
working under guard OF the laoorers ana IL
responsible for these provisions being en-
forced and that presentment should'be made
against him therefor.
We submit herewith the memoranda ol
testimony which we have taken which will
show 10 the court and solicitor more fully the
facts which we have reported and will enable
them TO get the names Of the witnesses u
prove such facts. It Is proper that we shoulo
add that much OF the abuse has already been
corrected as result OF this In vestigation and
that some OF the parties have been TO US win
the assurance that they would Immediately
correct the evils existing on their farms 10
which we have called attention.
Owing to the widespread influence and
effect that follows any public discussion OF
the question of farm labor in this State and
the result that may follow a presentment
such as we propose It is proper thst hrso; WE
discussion OF the influences that nave
brought about the evils reported and make
suggestions as to the remedies therefor.
WE have HEARD RUMoRs
that this Investigation has already created
a widespread interest and that the conditions
have been discussed with some feeling but
we have as far as possible avoided reading
anything published or said In this respect In
order thai we might pursue our investiga-
tions without any influence or bias from any
quarter. The question OF farm labor In this
State ia q very difficult one and the present
laws regulating the same are insu fiicient.
The negroes whom we found confined IN
the stockade were composed largely OF q class
of
sHIFTLEss DEBTORS
who are subject to Indictment for petty Of
tense, and who could not be successfully
worked under ordinary contracts. They are
evade their debts unless compelled TO pay
them. Against them the process OF civil
court Is worthless that OF the criminal court
under existing laws Is inadequate. Some
thing should be done by the legislature to
grade the punishment OF this class according
to the offence. But the worst trouble has not
been In the defect OF the provisions OF the
law so much as Its enforcement. II mas come
dictment for violation of contract and for
disposing of property under lien should be
com promised, and not tried. We are con-
vinced that this is
WRONG IN PRINCIPLE AND DANGEROUS IN
PRACTICE.
Whatever injustice may be done an in
he has lien, or by the violation OF a contract
by one OF his employ ees, and whatever force
might be given 10 the effect of penal statutes
to induce payment Of debts or ulhllment OIL
contracts that never has been the true In
tent and purpose of the penal statutes. They
are enrated TO prevent public wrong. ana
when a prosecution has once been instituted
and the power OF the criminal court invoked.
disappear, and the public interest alone
sh on Id he considered While this may resu u
In occasional hardships. It is the only SAFE
policy. Abuses will otherwise grow up untll
machines for private gain, and often for eX.
tortiou and oppression. In our Judgment II
should be a crime to compromise any case
after indictment found with q view oi
private gain.
Nor can we condemn too severely that
other fruitful source--in fact. the origin ol
the abuses herein reported-the leasing oul
of con victs TO work on private farms. Evils
already detailed are too eloquent to necessl'
tate a diRcussIon 10 prove this. Such q
system should not he tolerated after lis re-
Its have been exposed as In this county
We have heard it intimated2 that our IN
the labor conditions to such an extent as tc
create trouble In this State. We do moi
believe that IL IL true, but II y were we WoulC
not hesitate to declare the evils we lind and
to demand that they should be abolished
The duty OF this body Is plain:
WE MUST STOP THE VIOLATIONS VI LA"
that now exist, and If others begin on the
part of the laborers themselves. then we WI
unite with the law abiding citizens OF The
county In Furnishing and terminating tnese
evils.
The result of our Investigations show thai
the System of working laborers under guard
and conhning them in. stockades does mol
exist in this county further than we nave
reported. Probably not as many as twenty
men, either as principal or agent, either di
rectly or Indirectly. have been engaged In
this abuse. On the other hand, the laborers
and lIenors who have violated the law Will
double that number many times
We therefore reiterate that the influence O
this grand Jury, and we do not hesitate tc
SAY OF the court also, Will not be extended 10
enable any man TO avoid just contract, and
that we have found that
MOST OF THE LABOR CONTRACTS OF TIE
COUNTY ARE LEGAL AND JUST.
If violations of just contracts begin as re-
su of the Investigations we have made, we
suggest that warrants be sworn out and
prompt punishment given. We have mol
undertaken to assume the responsibility Oh
prosecuting the laborers who have violated
their contracts. because the position and IN
hueice OF the landlord makes them fully
able to do that without assistance from us.
This special report has been brought about
because Of the oppression and abuse OF men
who were too poor, too friendleSs, loo lg
pOrant and often too degraded 10 ncl LOT
themselves, but who are ncveress entitled 70
the full protection of the law and who be-
cause of their weak ness have peculiar claim
TO our protection. -
All OF which IL respectfully submitted.
The way of the world is to praise
l,,l ooinfc ,pI ,,or.aplltp and liVjnO