The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-12-16
LAURENs. 8. c., Dec, 10, 1908.
Abolish the Lien Law.

The lien law should be abolished by the
general assembly at tie approaching
session. At least legislation involving
its early abolition should begin. The
necessity is immediate. 1t is urgent.
1t la here.
The farmers Of South Carolina should
be permitted to control their w la
Dor. The labor question has in recent
years come to be the vital one with the
people who plant. 1t is Of more ard
nearer Importance now, at this mo-
ment, than even the price of fertilizers
or, for that matter, than the price OF
cotton. The efficiency of negro labor
has sadly deteriorated. Moreover, it is
comparatively scarce. For years it
n command higher wages for the
plain and positive reason that higher
wages do not enhance its value to the
employer. Higher wages to white
men as q rule result in larger produc-
tion. 1t is unfortunate but it is true
that higher wages, whether paid In a
larger part OF the crop or by lessening
rent, to negroes multiplies loafers and
strikers and adds to the sales of whis-
key.
Any able bodied white man who is
industrious and honest can obtain Gre
dit. There is NJ reason to fear that de-
serving white farmers, no matter how
poor, will find difficulty in ,"getting
along" without giving liens.
The lien law is running the morals of
our people. A young man with no capt.
tai begins to farm. He gives q lien. II
the crop partially fails, the lien holder.
to protect himself, must sieze all the
produce in sight. The lien merchant
is compelled to sell at high ''t'me"
prices. The risk requires it. The
young man, after being "sold out" has
debt over him for the coming year.
The debt increases. 1t bears interest.
He becomes discouraged. He sees no
relief in the future. He grows desper-
ate. He begins to dodge creditors. He
pays none say the lien holder and
pays him only because he cannot dis
pose of the crop without risking a term
on the chain gang. The sense of OBJ
legation has left him. His conscience
is blunted to the fact that a promise to
pay binds his honor. This is not by
any means the history of every man
who gives liens but it is the history OF
a large proportion. Consequently, the
lien system hus developed q class of
people whom nobody will trust for q
nickel unless they are held in the
clutches of a lien or chattel mortgage.
These people are for the most part not
to be banned. They are the victims OF
a system which may have had some ex-
cuse for it's existence 30 years gone.
That excuse has passed away.
The young farmer who begins life
determined to build upa reputation for
meeting his obligations and lives up to
1t will always be welcomed by the gro
Ger and the dry goods man.
THE ADVERTISERS purpose is to
thoroughly agitate this question in
Laurens County. We wish that it may
be a live issue in the campaign for
senator and representatives next year.
We have privately discussed it with
leading farmers during the past ten
days and without exception they say
that the liens law repeal is the best
remedy at hand for improving the la
Dor situation. We do not know the
views Of our present senator and re-
personalities but we greatly hope that
they agree with THE ADVERTISER
and that they will earnestly endeavor
to correct the evil at the next session
OF the legislature. 1t Is at least in
their power to commence q discussion
that will spread throughout the state.
Meanwhile, THE ADVERTISER in
vites the citizens of the county, the
farmers especially, to express their
views through THE ADVERTISER. A
dozen or two brief letters published
ovar the names of honest men would
do a world of good. AT any rate it
shall not be The ADVERTISERS fault
II the matter Is not freely and fully
discussed. 1t is possible that the sys-
tenn should be ended gradually, that a
sweeping Act of abolition should not
be- enacted to take instant effect, but
legislation looking to final and com.
pete abolition is sorely needed. The
labor situation demands it.
We repeat that the poor white man
will be a larger gamer in the long run
than the large planter, should this
view prevail. 1t would not DO long be-
fore the country would hav. ten men
whose names would pass OF the bank
where it has one now.
Salaries Should BE Reduced.
In last weeks Herald is q letter
signed Greedy, the general burden of
which is that the interests CT the farm
ers are being neglected in matters of
taxation, that taxes are too high and
that the conservatives" are RESPONSE
BILE for 1t, and moreover, that the Con-
~servetlyes should be watched. Re-
formers should be sent to the legisla-
ture next year. 1t contains other sug-
gestions which may or may not be
good.
In 1890 the farmers were promised
lower taxes. The Farmers Movements
n1ooka1 IN