The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-25
SOUTH'S NEED Of
LABOR DISCUSSED
Senator Simmons Speaks
On immigration.
ADDRESS BY SCHWAB
Permanent Organization Effected BY
EIecting Governor Glenn Presi-
dent and Choosing Other Officers,
R. S. Reinhart One OF the
vice.presidents.
(By the Associated Press. }


cussian of immigration and an ad-
dress by Gustav H. Schwab, of New
York, on Foreign Commerce and
Ocean transportation were the fea-
lures of today's sessions of the South
ern Industrial Parliament. The immi-
grafton question was discussed by Sen
ator Simmons. of North Carolina, and
Commissioner General Frank p. Sar-
gent. OF the immigration Bureau.
Permanent organization was erected
by the election of Governor Robert
Glenn. of North Carolina, as presi-
dent. and other officers as follows:
w. c. Murphy, Washington, d. c.,
secretary; ]. p. ThaXton, Columbia,
5. c.. treasurer.
Vice-Presidents- William
Richards. Columbia, S. c.; 7S9O$.
Richards. Huntsville; Georgia, w. O.
McGowin. Hoffman: Mississippi, Hen
ry Kernoghan, Jackson; North Caro-
lima. r. S. Reinhart, Lincolnton; South
Carolina. E. j. Watson, Columbia;
Tennessee. Robert Gates, Nashville;
Texas, Joseph Schwartz, Corsicana;
Virginia. C. L. Holland, Danville.
Executive Committee-W. I. Brown,
Ragland. Ca; P. ]. Holiday, Wash
ington. Ca; Miss ]. S. Mccarthy,
Batesville. S. c.; j. A. Brown, Chad
bourn, N. c.; Albert Akers, Nashville,
Tenn: e. C. Robinson. Houston, Tex;
j. S. Browling. Pocahontas, Va; H. l..
West, District of Columbia.
In the absence of Governor Glenn,
w o. McGowin, of Georgia, presided.
AT today's session Gustav H. Schwab,
OF New York, spoke on the subject
of Foreign Commerce and Ocean
Transportation"
Senator Simmons Speaks.
Senator Simmons, of North Caro-
lima, spoke on the subject of immi-
grafton. He said that as a result OF
the agricultural commercial and in
dustriaI activity and expansion in the
South, there was a demand for labor
which would not be supplied from its
own population and that in conse-
quence the South was struggling with
a labor famine.
Nearly every other section CT the
country, he said. had claimed and OBJ
tanned d share of the enormous immi-
grafton to the United States from
abroad during the last Twenty-Five
years. The failure of the South to
get a part of the newcomers net only
accounted for the present labor fam
inc in that section but in many other
ways. he said had been disadvantagI
eous to the United States. The kind
of labor the South needed, he said.
was a debatable question. He de-
scribed the system of wages in the
South as being almost universally on
the share plan. and advised those act
ually engaged in efforts to induce emil
grafton to the South from other sec
tions or from foreign countries To
present that plan and not be misled
into a comparison of wage scales. II
laborers for the present could not ne
gotten from this country it was GER
tain he said that with proper effort
the right kind Of men could be OBJ
tanned abroad.
labor in the South and of the adj
vantages of the "share plan" in farm
ing. Senator Simmons said:
Il think it is generally conceded
that we need and must have more
labor in the South, but it is debata-
BILE question as to what kind of Ia
Dor we want and where we can get
it. OF course we would prefer to get
them from among the States-from
among our kith and kin-but can we
get them to come in anything like
adequate numbers? 1t is suggested
that while agricultural conditions in
the South are perhaps, as favorable.
if not more favorable, as in the West
and Northwest and that while under
ordinary conditions the farmer of
these sections might find opportuni-
ties for farming i'm the South attrac
tive he is so prosperous where he is
he feels little disposition to go else
where, and there is much force in
the suggestion. 1t is also suggested
that the wage scale is higher in the
West than in the South and that the
wage Garner does not leave higher
for lower wages. 1t is true farm
wages are somewhat higher in the
West than in the South, because we
do not use and cannot, for physical
reasons, employ on our lands and in
our crops as much machinery as they
do, and because for other reasons our
farm labor is not as efficient. but
this comparison of wage scales is not
the true test, nor is it fair to the
South, because, while the wage sys-
tenn obtains in the West. it is not the
system in the South, except to a very
limited extent. The system almost
universally in practice in the South
is what is known as the share plan.
The land owner furnishes the land,
house to live in and fuel, horse to cul-
tivate crop and food for him, farming
the work and has one-half of crops,
or, if the landlord furnishes only land,
house and fuel, the tenant gets two
thirds crops, aud in some sections
three-fourths of the cotton
"a tenant farmer under this plan
with the same industry, frugality, and
an equal amount of work will, / be-