Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-04
THE SOUTHERN LABOR SITUATION.

The south stands in deadly fear of the
labor agitator and organizer. So far
that section has been practically free
from strikes. and labor difficulties con-
sequent upon disagreement between
employers and workmer. The Chatta-
statement that four minor disagree
ments constitute the sum of the labor
difficulties in the south during the past
year. The iaborhng classes are con-
tented, according to the Iradesman, and
generally satisfied with their wages. but
there is a fear that organization will
to have settled over the industrial south.
There are many reasons why wages
may be lower and labor content in the
south when the north is torn with
strikes and industrial complications.
The south remains largely agricultural
and its workers are moro laborers than
workmen. Strikes have never directly
disturbed the agricultural districts OF
the north, because farm labor has been
unable to organize on account of its
segregation. Were it possible for the
northern farm hands to o,ganiZe strikes
would be as common with this class as
they are among those trades where men
are congregated and organization thus
facilitated. The factory workers of the
south are largely of the negroes and the
uneducated whites. Tie factory pay
suffices them for a living better than
they can obtain in any other way. They
are largely recruited from country dis
tricts and pleased with the movement of
ment there. They and the negro fac
tory hand have lived always in poverty
and largely without hope. The cheap
wages are an Improvement upon their
previous condition. They are unsys-
tematfc and thoughtless of the future.
1t is no tribute to the intelligence of the
southern factory hand that no organi-
cation exists and that no movement
toward a higher scale of wages has
been made.
Organization is test Of intelligence.
The labor organizations of the north
are tributes to the capacity of the men
who have made theim effective to their
betterment A labor union guided by
good business sense and not by preju-
dice is an educator and an aid to har-
mony between capital and labor
The union is certain to flourish in the
south with the growth Of its manufac-
turing industries. What effect its in
PRODUCTION among its mixed and pecul-
lar working people maS have is not
easily to be foretoId. TIE whites may
be organized readily. but the negro is
another question. His individual ten
dency is to get the most for himself
with the least exertion. 70 induce him
to divide his earnings or his opportu-
mites with other workers whom he has
never seen will prove q difficult task.
1t may be that the labor unions TO be
organized in the south wi.l find a force
OF non-unionists ready to the hand OF
employers in the negro population. La
Dor disputes would thus he accentuated
by racial prejudice and strike in the
south take on an aspect unknown in the
north except in those rare instances
where employers have attempted to inn
port negro labor to take the places OF
strikers. 1t is unlikei, that the en-
ployers would draw tie color line
against colored labor when it might
prove more profitable than white. In
the south an attempt 10 fill strikers
places would create serious trouble.