The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-05-23
KIND TO BELC|ANS
New Immigrants are Well
Treated in the South.
INVESTIGATION is MADE
Baron Moncheur, Belgian Represen-
tative at Washington, Makes
e., Special Tour and Gives
Out Good Report.

Baron Moncheuc. tho Belgian min
lister, who has just returned to Wash
ington from visit TO South Caro-
lima, where he Went TO investigate
the condition OF the Belgians who
came over on the Wittekind, finds
the south a good place for his peo-
pie
He finds, after ten days of inVesti-
CATION, that the reports OF dissatls-
faction have been exaggerated, and
that the Belgian immigrants are very
we'll satisfied and have no complaint
to make. The baron commented on
the lower wage scale in the south as
being the only possible ground for
dissatisfaction. His investigations
did not cover the cheap cost of living
ia the south, and he was not prepared
to say that lower prices OF COM
modities balanced lower wages:
In the party brought over by Com
missioner f. J. Watson, Of South
Carolina, last winter there were about
300 Belgians, who are now employed
in the cotton mills, and in various
trades in South Carolina. Since then
South Carolina and other southern
states have sought to induce new i'm
migrants, and particularly Belgians, to
come in.
Speaking of these Belgians in South
tCaroiina, Baron Moacheur said: L
saw all of them except a few who
are scattered, and they had very lit
tie complaint to make OF the treat
ment which they are receiving. Of
course, there are few who are not
satisfied but they are very few. l
visited them at their work i'll the cot
ton mills, and they told me that they
were pleased with their labors and
the treatment given them. -
Il have no criticism to make OF
the work they are doing in the mills.
1t is not hard work at all, and they
make very fair wages. 1t is the kind
OF work which would suit a large
number of our people, especially those
having families A boy or a girl II
to IA years Of age and upward can
easily make 50 cents a day and more
in the mills.
"Of course, the masons and car
penters earn better wages Those
who come over and follow these
trades are experienced men, and
good, steady workmen. They find
plenty of work to do, and are paid
we'll, as I have found.
I! .It would be a great deal better II
there were a good sized colony in
the state, such as there is near Rocn'
ester, n. Y. Our people there are
getting along nicely, and are salts
fed, and it is particularly because
number Of them are together"
Concerning those who left South
Carolina dissatisfied, Baron Moncheur
said that the number was not very
large. \"Those who left would proba'
bly not have been satisfied under any
circumstances he said. The proper
tion that has left South Carolina dis
satisfied is not any. greater than thai
which has left other states. We nave
had some complaints from the imml'
grants who went there, but not many.
On the whole, they have gone to WORK
there and are contented.'
Several reports have been circuiat
ed since the Baron returned to Wash:
ington to the effect that he was ad
yising, or had advised his people
against going to the south on account
of the negro. Baron Moncheur SAID
that this was entirely erroneous. y
see no reason why the negro should
deter anybody. My observation is
the white people and the negro II
the south do not associate, either so
cial!y or at work. They do not work
together in the cotton mills or IN any
other industry. The one way in which
the negro is at ali to be considered
in this connection is that the ne
eroes in the cotton fields and else
where on the farm can work tol
cheaper wages than our people, anc
hence our people could scarcely ex
pect TO compete with these laoorer:
on the farm. Otherwise, the negro
has nothing to do with the case, ane
if YOU hear that have advised any
of our people not TO SO south, you ma!
say tor me that il is simply not, SO
l nave never advised anything OIL th'
kind 'anyElere.'