Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-30
THE PEoNAGE SYSTEM.
Government Making Great Effort to
 Stamp It Out.

WuSnlnStON, July oU.-StrenuOuS el- forts are being made by the govern ment through the department of jus tice, to stamp out the evils of the peon- age sysem. For many years the sys- tenn has fourished, from the lumber camps of the northwest to the turpen- tine camps of the far south, but the hot-bed of peonage is in the south.
 While the evils of the system are recognized clearly by all who have studied 1t, no doubt exists that it has grown out of the ingrained worthless ness of many of the victims. That worthlesness may not be legal, but it has been regarded as a practical req son for its existence. Many laborers particularly blacks-have entered into contracts to work for contractors or corporations and never have hesitated to violate those contracts at their will. Out of such a condition, peon- age has developed to an extent that is little realized by the people of the country.
 Thousands of men, both whites and blacks, are held in virtual slavery In various parts of the country. They are guarded in their camps and at work as if they were convicts and if they succeeded in escaping from the bondage in which they are held they are followed, captured and compelled to return to their labor. Attempts are made to justify the methods of the em- ployers, because of the conditions stat ed here, but the federal government proposes to eradicate such methods, if possible, and to see to it that the rights of all citizens under the law are full ly protected. Within few days Napoleon Bona- parte Brownard, governor of Florida. in which state peonage tiourshes to greater extent, probably. than in any | other state of the union, has been in conference with officials of the depart ment of justice concerning the prose- cution of peonage cases. He is one of the few southern executives who is in cordial sympathy with the govern ment in prosecuting individuals and corporations engaged in this sort of slavery practice.
 Governor Broward is a man of pow erful Individuality and, although he faces the opposition of powerful in | fluences in his own state in making his fight against peonage, he does not hesitate. Prior to the Hispano- American war, he was the owner and master of the filibustering schooner Three Friends, and is accustomed to take all sorts of risks, physical and otherwise.
 It is likely that the government will institute, in short time, more prosecutions for peonage in North Carolina and, while no information concerning the nature of the cases is disclosed, the conviction of those against whom the prosecutions are directed is declared to be almost cer- tain. Cases of a similar kind have been investigated by the department of justice in West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Off, cers of the secret service were de- tailed to collect the evidence and their reports show an astonishing sit uation. In railway construction camps, in turpentine camps and in mines thousands of men are held in abject obedience to the authority of their bosses. They are held in sub jection by armed guards and are fore ed to their work as if they were on chain gangs.
 The white men thus herded togeth- CT come principally from northern cities, being induced by flattering of fers to them made by agents of the contractors or corporations, to enter upon employment that they are led to believe is very desirable. Once em- ployed, they are not allowed to get away and their situation becomes more and more onerous. It has been determined that all the power of the government will he used in putting an end to such a condition.