Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-19
pIscoNTENT IN PANAMA.
Gloomy Picture of Conditions In Ca
nal Zone.


gives the following gloomy picture OF
conditions in the canal zone:
It would perhaps be difficult to find
any spot on the face Of the GLOBE
with the possible exception Of Russia
where discomfort reigns so supreme as
on the Isthmus Of Panama
Converse with any one Of the en-
ployes of the canal commission, no
matter what position he occupies, and
he will begin at once to recite to you
his grievances.
At the present moment, unfortunate
| ly, there appears to be no remedy. Ihe
retiring commission leave without a
single word said in it's favor
They have proved themselves utterly
| incompetent to solve the problems
that must confront the builders Of the
great projected waterway, nor with
but few exceptions have they been
able to place into their respective po-
sitions, men competent to fill them.
All hopes are now centered on the
three men, Messrs. Shonts, Wallace
and Magoon, whose arrival upon the
isthmus we trust will take place with
the least possible delay.
We feel confident that these men.
who have been chosen by the president
of the United States. will be found
able to clear up the apparently hope
less mess and muddle that exist.
The intelligent American will admit
that. so far, the United States has not
distinguished itself In its dealings with
the foreign countries which have come
under it's control for the reason that
1t has apparently been unable to ham
die the foreigner with that success 1t
has achieved in the states themselves.
One of the difficulties appears to be
| that the American makes no effort to
understand the foreigner abroad or
respect his ideas and customs. In this
respect, for instance, the Americans
have not made themselves popular
with the natives here. The Panama
ians have given them every opportu-
nifty and facility to carry out the gi-
gantic project they have in hand and
naturally expect that they be treated
with ordinary courtesy and consider
alton In return.
Thus it is that the discomfort has
spread to others than their own race.
The treatment recently accorded to
the Jamaicans in their employ is but
another instance Of the disregard to
the feelings Of other races and has
resulted In the further spreading OF
discomfort.
1t should be realized by those sitting
in offices that the canal will have to
be built with something else besides
the pen and type writer. Thousands
of able-bodied men are needed and In
order to get the greatest amount of
energy out of these they must be
treated in other ways than as animals
ill-fed, under-paid and badly housed.
| To do so Is not only foolish from an
economic standpoint but is a violation
of the laws Of humanity.
The British government was very
reluctant to allow these men to leave
Jamaica, where labor Is just as badly
needed as here. but owing to the mis-
representations made to the men they
became so anxious to get here to work
that 1t was finally necessary to allow
them to do so, but we feel sure that
had the British government any
knowledge of the treatment that would
be accorded them they would never
have been allowed to come, as its care
for those under its protection Is con-
ceded by all nationalities.
The Jamaican laborer has been OF
great use In the constructing OF I'M
provements In countries In which the
white man is practically useless for
manual labor, but in order to get the
greatest benefit from his labors 1t Is
necessary to treat him with that con-
sideration which Is given to him In
his own country. Once the seeds or
discomfort are sown usefulness Is sad
| ~ impaired.
He has been proven to be of nat
urally peaceful nature and although he
possesses a tendency to indolency
great deal can be got out of him by
| judicious treatment.
The successful contractor usually
finds it to his interests to make his
men contented as by so doing, al
though 1t may cost a little more, he
obtains a far greater amount OF work
from them. Therefore he takes care
that his men are properly housed and
fed and promptly paid when their
weeks work Is done.
The men here, however, have MOTH
ing but grievances against their en-
ployers. They are left to the tender
mercies of the contractors who desire
only to make as much profit as they
can at the expense Of the poor worker,
and when payday arrives no money Is
forthcoming. 1t Is a most shameful
act on the part of those responsible
to keep these men waiting two or
three weeks for the small wages due
them. Many have wife and children
in their native land dependent upon
portion of their earnings here. We
understand that 1t has several times
occurred that the pay rolls, owing to
lot of useless red tape, have not
been completed until another payment
had become due.
In the United States and In other
countries there are hundreds of con-
Germs employing more men than there
are engaged on the isthmus and at
12 o'clock on Saturdays. when their
work Is over. they form In line ana
receive their pay either up to the hour
of leaving or at any rate up to the