The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-14
TUESDAY. JUNE "a. 1904.
The Labor Question Again.


ton is paid to that branch OF busl-
ness than to any other. With the far
mers. patience will cease to be vi:ture.
after awhile, and the demand will be
made that our law making power
must be put into the hands OF the tar
mer They are tired Of half-handed
laws enacted as sort of sop to the
farmer to keep him quiet-they want
laws that will accomplish the desired
results. Meddlesome people at home.
as, we'll as emigrant agents. ought tc
be made. to feel the strong arm OF the
law, and wnen this is done, much OF
the annoyance caused by unreliable
labor will be done away with. II the
last legislature, instead Of making the
penalty \for breaking contract thirty
days on the chain gang, had made 1t
ninety days, such penalty would go
a long way toward remedying the dit
fculty- now experienced by farmers
1t seems that in dealing with this ques-
ton, our law makers have had more
regard for the law-breakers than to-
the employer What the farmers
ought to demand of their representa-
tives is the enactment of laws that
will protect them from the annoyance
and inconvenience under which they
now suffer, and the candidate that
will not promise to work for this end
has no business asking for the suf-
frage of the farmers. Some asplrants
for legislative honors are mighty
jealous about protecting other inter-
ests, but they don't like to be dictated
to in reference to the farming inter-
ests.
This labor question is serious one
with the farmers. and they have a
right to dictate to their representa-
tive as to what ought to be done; nor
will the new emigration law remedy
the evil. With the proper safeguards
thrown around the labor. the negro
is the best laborer on the farm the
south can have. Let the laws compel
the employer to treat him right, with
severe penalties for those who NEEDLE
with him while under contract. and
farming operations would then run
smooth, and everybody be in good
humor, and better returns from the
farm would be the result.-Laurens
Herald
The above is true and yet unjust i''
some respects to the members OF the
legislature. 1t is unjust in that it
charges members of the Legislature
with lack of interest in enacting
laws for the benefit of Our farmers or
such as they may desire on the ques-
ton of labor contracts. Some amend
ments were made by the last leglsla-
ture to the labor contract laws already
on the statute books and all the men,
bers of the legislature. so far as we
could ascertain, were anxious to do
something to relieve the situation and
at the same time do justice and right
The only suggestion our friend
makes is that the penalty be made
ninety days for violation Of contract.
The trouble about that is that unless
YOU amend the constitution so as to
extend the jurisdiction of magistrates
YOU would have to take all these cases
to the general sessions court and nee
estate attendance on these courts
and cause delays.
The law was amended in several
particulars and we think decided i'm
provement was made. A conviction
and sentence of thirty days does not
release the laborer from his contract
and if after service of the thirty days
sentence he refuses to go back and
work c.. =. ot:,:::"ct lie can be
brought T.; :,:;,;a ;:.>,, sc:!t 10: another