The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-10

1 W 4S~A
/ and not understanding our language,
they were of no value as laborers on
| the farm the first two months
After the first month I gave them
| SIS per month, they to buy their own
provisions. This arrangement SEEM
ed to be the more satisfactory all
around, as they could purchase such
provisions as they liked and was re-
lieved of the trouble.
However, another element now be-
gan to appear. Heretofore they had
been very prompt in getting out to
| work. both morning and noon, and
keeping closely to their work during
working hours. Now, as more labor
was employed, they began to copy the
habits to large extent Of the negro
laborer. Instead Of being among the
| first to appear for work they began to
hang back and wait for the negro to
take the initiative. When time came
to knock off they were among the
first to stop In the field, no matter
with hoe or asparagus knife, their
gauge and criterion was usually the
slowest hand in the gang. Notwith-
standing they were getting double the
| wages Of most of the darkies, they
seemed to think they should not try
to do more than the cheapest. In or
der to keep them employed during
the slack work I had to hunt up all
kinds Of jobs, such as mending tools
and harness and whitewashing the
| buildings They we're not handy,
however, and haG to be constantly
shown. Finaliy they had it put into
their heads by some Of their country
men, think in Charleston, that they
| were working too hard and doing too
| much for their money; that they
could do much better elsewhere,
make more money and have easier
| times. So at the end Of four months
they all quit to get better jobs, they
thought, but I doubt it.
During the time they were with me
they cost about twice as much as to
have had the same labor done by ma
tive help. There is no telling the
amount Of annoyance and trouble
they caused me, not to speak Of the
monetary loss in superintendence.
They seemed to have no gratitude or
appreciation of the many favors done
them, or no realization Of the fact
that they were by far the best paid
help on the farm for what they ac-
complished. AS an example Of their
sense of justice I will mention that
during asparagus cutting time had
colored man, whose duty it was to
follow the hands, see that they cut
and handled the asparagus properly;
in fact to keep the gang at work and
in proper order Any one who has
followed a gang of laborers knows
that this particular superintend-
ent had no sinecure and must be
| q pretty competent man to be en-
trusted with so important a post 1
paid this man 75 cents a day by the
year
The immigrants complained to
| NE that this foreman got rs cents a
day and simply walked along behind
| the hands while they cut their row
with the rest and only got 81 a day.
They seemed to think the superin-
teadent was worth far less than than
those he superintended, because he
did not perform as much manual Ia
Dor. They could not, however, real
ize that. while they w.re receiving 81
a day, they were very particular not
to do stroke more or better than
the laborer alongside OF them who
was only receiving so cents a day.
Another thing I wish to say is,
these immigrants hear through their
friends or otherwise Of the scale Of
wages prevailing in different parts Of
the country. No consideration is ta-
ken Of the cost Of living.
Generally speaking, where wages
are highest living and rents are high
est, the one necessitating the other.
consider. all things taken into ac-
count man can clear rs much mon
ey in South Carolina, and probably
more, than in any of the northern
States. The reason Of his, because
the cost of living. and rents, clothing
and fuel is much less here than in the
cold northern State~
Through the desire to encourage
the immigration movement I tried to
make my emigrants comfortable and
happy. paid them more than their
services were worth, and yet I could
not satisfy them. The foreigners who
came here without understanding our
language or our requirements, ex-
pecting to get big wages, no expenses
and light work, are naturally disap-
pointed and unsettled, ready to shift
from place to place trying to improve
their condition.
Until our immigration bureau brings
different class, those who come with
a fixed purpose and fully understand
ing the conditions confronting them,
and not the shifting tide, so ready to