The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-19
TIE LUMBERMEA MEET.
PROPOSITION TO UNITE WITH n.
c. ASSOCIATION CONSIDERED.

| PROPOSITION TO UNITE WITH n.
c. ASSOCIATION CONSIDERED.
Immigration Commissioner Watson
and Mr.. D. w. Alderman Discuss
the Labor Situation and the
Use of Foreigners in the
Lumber Industry.
The South Carolina Lumbermen's
Association met in the Lodge room Of
Masinoc Temple at II o'clock Friday
morning with president William God
frey, of Cheraw, in the chair.
After the meeting was called to or
der the regular reports Of the secre-
tary and treasurer were made and 9TH
er business of a strictly routine nature
was disposed Of.
Mr.. H. L. Scarborough, who was
sent to Chicago as the representative
of the association to attend the meet
ing of the National Lumbermen's AS
sociation, made his report.
The election ofeof6cers was held and
resulted as follows:
President-D. T. McKiethen, of
Lumber.
First vice-President-R. ]. Alder
man, of Alcolu.
Second President-William
Hickson, Of Cheraw.
Secretary and Treasurer. P.
Brunson, of Lumber.
The special business of the meet
ing, the proposition of the North Car
olina Pine Association, whose head
quarters are in Norfolk, Va, that the
two associations be combined, was
then taken up.
The proposition was presented by
Mr.. John r. Walker, secretary Of the
North Carolina Pine Association. He
went into the matter at some length,
explaining why and in what way it
would be mutually advantageous to
the lumbermen composing the asso-
citation that they be combined.
The proposition was discussed quite
generally, the debate developing SEN
timent about equally divided as to ac-
cepting or not accepting the propsi-
ton.
Among those who participated in
the discussion were: r. J. Alderman,
William Hickson, George Burchell, r.
NJ. Cooper. William Godfrey, William
Otis.
Mr.. E. c. Harrell, Of Tifton, Ca,
secretary of the Georgia Interstate
Lumber Association, who was present
by invitation, by request made short
talk on the subject.
On. motion of Mr.. H. L. Scarborough
Messrs. D. T. McKiethen, of Lumber,
T. W. Boyle and William Godfrey
were elected as a committee to meet
similar committee from the North
Carolina Pine Association to go into
the matter more fully and to report
back to their respective associations.
The time and place Of meeting was
left to The committee to determine.
State Immigration Commissioner E.
]. Watson who was present by invita-
ton was requested to give the meet
ing information relative to the posi-
bility of securing immigrants to sup
ply the labor that the lumhermen so
seriously need.
Mr.. Watson stated that since he had
held the Office he had made every ef-
fort to supply every demand for Ia
Dor that had come to him. Finding
when he first went into office that he
was not able with the resources at his
! command to secure the number of i'm
migrants called for, he had endeavor-
ed to secure them through regular Ia
Dor agents, who make business Of
engaging foreign laborers, either raw
immigrants or those who have been
in the country for some time, for those
needing them. These agents charge a
fee or commission varying from 50 to
/ SIS per head, and those who employ
them are expected to pay the railroad
fare from New York to their destina-
ton. If the laborers remain with
their employer SIX months the fare
goes to them as bonus, but if they
desire to leave sooner the amount is
deducted from their wages.
Through these agencies he ha j Sc
cured quite a number of lato.ars for
parties in the state, a case in p oin:. be-
ing Mr.. D. W. Alderman. for wlloin 4
gang of thirty oa3 been engaged at
one time, and that gentleman would