The Greenville times., 1905-04-15
JUDGE TRIEBER'S CHARGE

The charge OF Judge Trieber, of the United
States District Court OF the State of Arkansas is |
arousng no little interest in Washington county |
and the rest OF the Delta, where If appears that the
charge affects certain very necessary laws for the
protection of planters and employers against un-
reliable, dishonest criminal labor Judge Trieber's
definition of peonage is follows:
"Peonage is the holding of person to service
labor for the purpose of paying iq,1idating an
indebtedness due from the laborer or emp1oye to
the employer when such employe desires to leave
or quit the employment before the debt is paid 1t
is wholly immaterial whether the contract whereby
the laborer is to work out an indebtness dull
from him to the employer is entered into voluntar-
lily not The laws of the United States declare
all such contracts null and void, and they can not
be enforced, 1t is immaterial whether such a
tract is made in consideration OF pre-existing in
| debtness or for loan made at the time the
contract is made. The law prohibits them; and if
made, declares the contract null and void and any
person who holds arrests, returns causes the
| turn, in any aids in the return
of any person condition of peonage, is guilty
of offense against the laws of the United States
| and subject to indictment by grand jury of the
district in which the acts are committed. If man
enters into such contract with another the laws
of the United States say that it is null and void
and he may any time he desires leave his en-
ployment although the debt is still unpaid; anC
any attempt the part of the employer to to pre-
vent him from leaving, either by force threats in
timidaton, or by guarding him and locking him III
to prevent his escape, is within the meaning of the
laws of the United States an offense The fac
even that the laborer entered into that contrac
voluntarily and with full knowledge of the cond-
ton of his employment is excuse for the Law
says that person shall enter into such contract
Al =
ates his contract he is liable to a civil action TO
the breach, but he cannot be compelled to a per
formance continuation of the contract"
There is no doubt that under this dihntio1
t peonage has been practiced ignoranty in the Delft
and in many other parts of the South and by mel
who thought they were acting strictly within thei
rights and in conformity with law. There is scarce
ly State in the gulf tier in which breach of agri
cultural contracts has not been made msdemean
d or. in which some law has not been passed TO
= the protection of the planters against the we'll
/ known swndle of Jumping" a crop and contrac
n and leaving the merchant-planter stuck for good
and money furnished and perhaps also for the valu
; of the abandoned crop.
t To guard against such conditions the law agains
d obtaining goods under false pretenses has bee
r invoked and special statutes covering breach c
: contract have been enacted, and have operated a
partial protection against robbery by unscrupu
: lous labor Judge Trieber's definition of peonag
S takes away almost the only remedy the planter ha
: against this imposition 1t leaves him practically
e the mercy of class of laborers who recognize n
: moral obligation, and many of whom make de
iiberate profession OF practicing this swindling.
d It has become of the most serious objec
+ tions to the employment of negro labor and one
IS the most fruitful of loss to merchant an
planter. The adverse decision OF Judge Trieber wi
N be reason for welcoming the tide OF whit
n labor pouring into the Delta and which
destined in few years to revoinionize the country
se industrial methods.