Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-12
The Labor Question,

The labor question especially In Sc
far as 1t relates to domestic service
has become a serious matter through
out this whole section and seems TO De
growing more so daily.
A few years back 1t was no trouble
to secure domestic help at almost any
price the home management was will
ing to pay; but since then the situa-
ton has gradually but steadily grown
tenser and tenser until now the family
that finds itself out Of servant has
great difficulty in repairing the loss.
The situation is the same with re-
gard to domestic labor Of all kinds
Chambermaids are as hard to get as
cooks, and 1t is getting so that house
wives have to beg and plead to gel
family washing done even for liberal
pay.
AS to how the existing situation has
come about 1t Is hardly worth while 70
consider 1t is probably sufficient 70
recognized conditions as they exist ano
let them go at that. 1t Is not dincul'
to understand, however, that In the
midst of so much plenty as obtains
throughout this country, people who
are able to help themselves otherwise
are unwilling to perform domestic Ia
for for other people even for pay.
Formerly the negroes Of this country
were absolutely dependent upon the
whites. It was for that reason that they
were pressed into service for all kinds
Of domestic labor. During the past
few years they have been becoming
more and more independent, and a
large per cent Of them has now reacn-
ed a point when they are unwilling to
continue to perform domestic labor ex-
cept for themselves.
Various remedies are being consld-
cred for the situation. The most COM
mon idea is that we should at once
turn our attention to the matter OF Sc
curing domestic help from abroad
This idea is not altogether Impractical
bile. If the help can be had 1t can
ana Will DC lllduS " dhS"SA'
probability is that in the first place
such help will be difficult to get ano
in the second place it will be equally
difficult to keep. White domestics other
than dependents, whether they be Oh
this or a foreign country, cannot De
depended upon as permanency excep'
In families that are either very rich
Or very tactful.
The only solution Of the problem as
it presents itself to the people OF this
section, according to our view OF the
matter, lies in the policy Of meeting In
dependence with independence. In
other words, those families which find
themselves unable to get domestic help
must arrange somehow to do the do
mestic work themselves.
That this solution Of the difficulty
will not prove generally acceptable, we
are well aware; but that 1t Is the cor
rect one there is no question. Hun
dreds of families have already begun
to put it into practical effect. and 9TH
ers are dropping into line every Day
not so much because they like to as
because there Is no other way for 1t.
We would be glad to be able to think
otherwise; but as we see it, turning
point has been reached in domestic
conditions, and the number Of families
who will be able to hire domestic help
of any kind will grow fewer and few
er while the number who will be com
pelled to do all their domestic work
will become greater and greater.
1t is probable also that the sooner
this fact is generally realized the bet
ter 1t will be for all concerned.