The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09
THE EASTERN
SHORE LABOR
Negroes Combine for Short
Hours and Stated Pay
REGARDED AS SERIOUS
The People All Interested in the Legs
lative Investigation of the Oyster
Grounds-They Expect Baylor
Survey to Be Broken.
Especial From a Staff Correspondents

Especial From Staff Correspondent)
CAPE CHARLES, SOUTHAMPTON
COUNTY, VA, Aug S.-The labor ques-
ton is giving more trouble on the East
ern Shore than in any section of the state
to which l have been. That Is, the FARMERS
are making more complaint about the
scarcity of labor and their inability to OBJ
tain sufficient help for the cultivation OF
their crops.
There is prospect that there will be even
more serious trouble than there is at pres
ent. There has been formed quite recently
an organization of the negroes In Acco-
mac and Northampton, in which the mem
bers bind themselves only TO work a GER
tain number OF hours day, and not TO
work for less than certain sum per
day. The strength of the membership OF
this body is not certainly known, but the
fact that such a movement has been
begun isagiving some Of the farmers un-
easiness. ). q
Norfolk negro Instituted the nrst
union of the kind In this section, One far
nler regretted that they had not driven
him away when he was here, but he In
augurated the movement and got back
home before any Of them knew what he
was up to- as the farmer expressed
It.
Under the rules OF the union farm la
borers must not 90 to work until Z o clock
A. NJ, and the fields must be deserted
at 8 o clock p. Nj. All adult laborers bind
themselves not TO work for a less sum
than Sl.5O a day. The dues from each
member are said to be 81 a month. 1t Is
presumed that there are n sufficient num-
her OF officers to look after the receipts,
and see that there is no great surplus
created.
Some Of the farmers are inclined to
laugh at the idea Of a union of negro farm
hands but have met many who regard
the movement seriously, and who think
that it will yet cause trouble for them
1t would appear that with labor as scarce
as 1t Is at present anything which would
tend to make It still more difficult to OBJ
tain might we'll be cause for alarm
TO BREAK BAYLOR SURVEY.
People OF other sections OF the State
can have no idea Of +, the eager interest
MN MhG rns nhose g, 81 mldew9ter are await
legislative commission TO investigate into
conditions prevailing in the oyster section
the past week have hardly met man
in this section who has not asked an
opinion as 10 the result OF the legislative
tour.
The people generelly, expect the Baylor
pressed the belief that the Hon y G
eIick who is member Of the commits
sion and prominent man IN the Legsia
tlre, & determines 10 break TIE survey
ana sell the lands 10 the highest bid
ders and thai be has enough suppori I
accomplish his object al the next session
TIE COMMISSION,
The commission is composed of Messrs
JQrdaa, a, y. Watkins. Julian Bryant
w. +. cardwell and S, Wilkins Matthews
The Eastern Shore people believe ma
torlty of the commission favors the salt
OF the State oyster rocks.
II Is difficult 70 see how study o.
conditions PREVAILING on the Easter
Shore could fan 10 result IN the convic
tion that II would work IncalGuable hard
ships TO the people of ridewater Virginia
were the survey broken and the Stats
oyster rocks put up and sold.
Every man, woman and child on Chin
colleague Island, for. instance, are direct
ly dependent upon the Stale oyster rock
for a livelihood Captain j, T. ROwley
who buys more oysters and CLANS everN
year probably. than any man IN this en-
tire section said 10 nae that lie had spel
sleepless. nights through worrying ovei
this subject.
at would be hne thing for me, or am.
man with capital, 70 have the BAYLOR sur
yey broken and the oyster rocks sold
said captain RowIey, but 1t would b
suffering IL not starvation to poor PEG
THE OYSTER QUESTION,
II am sure the people oil UPLAND VT
x.nia do not understand The oyster indus