The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-02-21
THE LABOR TROURTF


Ihe present situation with respect
10 this class of workmen at Coium-
ous. causes the Savannah Morning
News to make the following edito-
rial remarks in recent issue:
"FOr some time there has been a
scarcity of labor for the farms, the
steamboats, and the mills, neverthe-
less, the streets are filled with able
bodied colored Loaf tprs, who should
be at work, but wi prefer to have
their meals handed put of back doors
OF white mems houses by the colored
cooks, or gain livelihood by pilfer-
ing and committing petty crimes.
Columbus, by the way, is not the
only municipality thus afflicted.
There is probably not a community
in the South that has not its element
of colored loafers and "spOrts," who
make -tenths IF the business for
the police and theYcourts.
"In connection with this vagrancy
question, Justice Lore, of Delaware,
Is strong advocate of the whipping
post for that offenBe,. as well as for
wife-beating ana several petty
crimes. Justice Iore says the whip
ping post is a most effective instru-
ment for ridding community of
undesirable population. In forty
years of his experience, he says, one
third of the criminals of Delaware
have been NONRESIDENT. When
ever these have been sentenced to
be whipped, he has not heard of a
single instance Of one returning to
Delaware"
Columbus, We are further in-
formed by the News, is to have a
''crusade against. vagrants," hoping,
of course, to get relief by that
action. 1t is doubtful, however,
if it will succeed. That class
of colored people who make night
hideous with their brawls and sere-
nades, and live on "hand outs" from
the white mans back door, have be-
come so hardened, from a moral
standpoint, that the light sentences
of confinement for vagrancy have nc
terrors for them. It means simply a
few days rest, we'll fed, and with
better sleeping quarters than they
are accustomed furnished with.
out price. Then, at the expiration
of the term, they go back to their
old haunts something of heroes, re-
ceived with open arms and more
firmly entrenched behind their breast
work of vagraucy than ever.
Judge I4ore's theory, however
presents a remedy that, in the opin,
ion of the TALLAHAssEEAN, would be
far more effective. Of course there
are those in every community-amone
all classes, conditions and races
who will throw up their hands in
holy horror at the bare suggestion
of the whipping post, even as pun
ishment for vagrancy and wife beat
ing. They will exclaim, barbarian
ism" with all the VeHemence and
agonized despair of one possessed
ofa evil apparitiOn but what matters
that? E4cept the brutal fog
ging of the "better half,' which
the Judge would have punished
in the same way, nothing sa
vors more of barbarianism thar
the deliberate execution of de
termination 10 live by the sweat o.
another's face, by filching the sub
stance Of hard days work via the
back door, through the conniyanct
and assistance of an unworthy, bu
trusted servant.
"The hair of the dog" is said tt
be "good for the bite" We there
fore commend to our coming Legis
lature this species of punishment
by whatever name fanatical phiian
thrOpists are pleased to call it-t'
rid the couptry Of loafers and supply
the farrus with labOrers. Beside
the above, the element Of cheapnes
should appkal to the legislators. Tn,
present m{thod Is no punishment