New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
PEONAGE IN THE SOUTH
Origin of the Cruel Practcs-
Abuses 1t ConceaIs.

THE recent Indictment OF thirty-six whlts m,
Of Alabama for holding negroes in a state OF pec
age. by the federal grand jury sitting at Non.
gomery, recalls the fact that Alabama is one Z
the States that have adopted constitution IL
avOwed purpose of which is TO deprive the usy
OF his political rights under the federal ConsHn
tion." says a writer in THE independent
"PeOnage is defined to be that condition OF afaa
in which the debtor is held by the creditor IA qua
fed servtude TO work out debt This eondiHu
has existed in Mexico for years When the presz,
Territories of Arizona and New-Mexico came mis
the Jurisdiction OF Congress it was found that Il
local laws and customs recognized the system. l
it continued until 1867. when Congress Cby n a.
approved March of that year. abolished ps1sa
in the United States and the Territories tzsoi
The law this subject IS found IN Sections -
1881, 5.526 and 552T OF the Revised Statutes III
condition OF qualified servitude IS prevalent IN as
South. and in some places the horrible aroc1a
perpetrated have led to the Indictment and puse
cutiOn OF few offenders for violations OF thss
statutes.
During the last few years the prosperity Of the
South has rtvalIed that of any other section Ths
demand for labor has been phenomenal and en-
ployers, especially in the naval stores industry ami
on the plantations. have had great difficulty IN s.
curing workmen. Owing TO this scarcity OF work
men there has been a great demand for eouHa
labor. In many instances persons, white as vel u
black apparently without money friends. hals
been arrested by the local constable and arraignst
before the police or justice of the peace court A
this point it has been customary for a employs
agent of a large employer of labor 20 appear o.
the scene and induce the prisoner to plead g1Lr
to a trivial offence, with the understanding tai
the employer CwhO is quite often IN couspra1
with the court, officaIs) would pay the fine an
prevent an Imprisonment. \ written acknOEls1s
ment OF debt is generally secured from the yicil
in which he agrees to work for the person payns
the hEe either his plantation or IN his l2o
labor. and finds that he IS guarded there Ike
convict. II he turns to and works diligently 9 =
with all kinds OF goods at high prices and the ds
Is held over him for an indefinite period " -
down, arrested without process, returned . q
private prison, and probably beaten bruJaly, ~ q
cause many of the contracts provide for all or =
Another way OF securing victims IS Tor ne e. e
ployer or his agent TO proceed 70 some town or -
and to hire lot OF labOrerS, agreeing 70 pay -.
/ Of labor. and to advance them provisions from u
company store. or, as IL is commonly calee - -
COmmissary. The labOrers arrive. and az the 0-ls
are indebted TO the employer who sees that ~
trade out their wages at the cOmmissary, ana Z
many instances. by a system or ceQuctolS = =
petUaIiy in debt If The iaborer b9s tamly.
much the better for the employer. they NUS -s
out Of the cOmmissaTy and il the laoorer r -
away his family is detained at the camp -
I writer has known OF employer WllAl-l-ss
/ young children from both father and moths,
the purpose of forcing the payment Of a deol z
the labOrer escapes. the machinery OK ne ~ -
criminal law IS put in motion 20 arrest anc c,ss- ss
and swindling; or. in the State Of Elorida -. -
the law relating to false promises u tns --s ru-s
is arrested he is seldom tried before the o.
The arresting officer, often in the pay Or us.s- us
plOyer, induces the victim 70 return Co WolA -
than go 10 Jail, and so he returns % ooadass y
heavier load OF debt 70 carry. Tor tle 60 90 y
pursuit and arrest is charged % hinl J..5- =
process is issued for arrest. but the enlp-9 =
rests without process. returns the prlsonsl S,,~r
labor camp and lnhlctS severe chas-s seile-~ q. -
Of the labor contracts contain PROVISIONS = srsr
effect that the labCrer consents 70 - q
himself TO be locked in sroCkade ar uign5s - :,
any other time when the employer sees Il = =
this. sa
The writer has seen a whole family oi W
persons. including young children Iofcau e. 81 2
muZZle OF gun to leave their home ana - - -
I the swamp labor camp Of the fathers 'ola.- 3
plOyer. some miles distant there 20 renlaA -
small Indebtedness due the rarl9ysr vas -is
out by the father at wages wAica tAs 1--s'
arbitrarily fixed