The Washington times., 1907-12-02
SLAVERY EXTENDS
OVER ALL SOUTH,
PROSECUTOR SAYS
Legislation by Congress
Needed to Put End
to Peonage.
Russell Denies any At
tempt to Injure Rivals of
Northern Concerns.

Slavery exists In many States extend
ing from West Virginia TO Florida and
is found in such numerous cases that
legislation should be had by Congress
70 put a stop to IL. according TO the
special report made public today by
Charles w. Russell, Assistant Attorney
General. relative to peonage in this
United states
Mr.. Russell promises that the Depart
ment Of Justice viii not permit anything
10 slacken its industry In trying 20
wipe out peonage. which he describes
as one Of the worst forms Of slavery.
He refers. IN his report, TO cases OF
peonage found in West Virginia, North
Carolina. Florida, Mississippi. and other
Southern States.
Law Somewhat Obscure.
In regard to the statute on slavery.
he says
There is a dearth Of decided cases
under r. S. 5525, and it Is cOntended that
technical legal slavery, ohatteI slavery,
established by or dependent upon law,
is the only thing prohibited by this sec
tion; but IL seems to me the first two
lines OF it indicate that involuntary
servitude' was the condition intended.
and the word slave was used to sig
Nifty any person IN that condition. But
II would be very easy for Congress. by
the insertion Of a few words, 70 re-
move all chance Of disputing about
this
1T is hoped that an enlightened self
interest and the demand for labor made
necessary by the expansion OF old indus
tres and the introduction Of new will
lead 70 the amendment or repeal OF the
State laws which are the chief support
Of peonage practices.
These State laws take various forms
and are used IN various ways to uphold
peOnage and other kinds Of involuntary
servitude. Some of them are vagrancy
laws, some are contract labor or en-
ployment laws some are fraudulent pre-
tense or false promise laws, and there
are divers others. Some few OF those In
question, such as absCOnding debtor
laws, labor entiCinsg. and bOard-bil laws,
woTkmen; but in view Of the use to
which they are put, need amendment
in order that they cannot be so abused
Juries Easily Swayed.
These laws are used to threaten work
men who, having been defraUded into
going TO an employer by false reports
as to the conditions Of employment and
the surroundings. naturally become dis
satisfied as soon as they find how they
have been defrauded. They are used
before juries and the local public TO hold
the poems up as lawbreakers and dis
honest persons seeking to avoid their
Just obligations and to convince patrl-
otic turles that the defendants accused
Of peOnage should not be convicted for
enforcing, still less for threatening 10
enforce, the laws Of their State.
Whether constitutional or unconstitu-
tlOnal, they should all be wiped out or
so amended as to be harmless for the
purpose Of enslaving workmen.
THE new vagrancy law in Florida, rs
amended in 1903, is used TO place peO-
pie IN peOnage and upon the convict
camps, and Is admirably adapted TO ad-
just Itself 70 the case Of a fworklngman
whom it is sought TO place or keep in
servitude.
Would Nullify Constitution.
1T is questionable whether the large
supply Of convict laborers obtained by
liberal use OF this pretended criminal
statute come within the exception Of the
Thirteenth Amendment, neither slavery
nor involuntary servitude except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted II a
a
meaning OF this amendment whatever 1t
chooses 10 call crime, II can nulllfy
the amendment and establish all the
involuntary servitude It may see tit.
AS have already suggested, whether
constitutional or not and whether origf-
nally intended 70 be used as they are
these laws have become a trap for the
enslavement or white wOrkmen. as well
as black, and ought TO be repealed. or
amended with that fact in view. Some
rn hon Tgs.a
passed to force negro laborers to work:
but II 50. they are now affecting other
persons. and the States formerly de-
pending upon negro labOrers exclusively
need twice as many hands, and are re
sorting TO every means to obtain them
from Europe. directly or Indirectly.
some three months ago the Depart
ment OF Justice asked the Comptroller
or the Treasury for an opinion whether
any OF the appropriations under YOUR
control could be used before the com
missioner Of licenses OF New York city
to obtain the revocation OF the licenses
Of dishonest labor agents. He held that
they could. Several such licenses have
been revoked and II is proposed to con-
tnue attacks upon these agents 50 long
as they mi6represent conditions to which
they are sending workmen-
Denies Prosecution.
Interested persons Sometimes seek to
make Il appear that the prosecution OF
peonage cases is the result OF a desire
20 injure Southern Industries in favor
OF rivals in the North.
Il think the course pursued by the
Department Of Justice Is, the best that
could be taken for the benefit Of the
South and its progress. II is a familiar
course for those who are committing
violations Of the law and common Justice
and right to seek to cast the blame for
whatever evils attend the putting an end
70 such conduct upon those making
the efforts instead of those guilty of
the conduct. Peonage and similar evils
have been proven 20 be prevalent by the
numerous indictments and less frequent
convictions The thing 10 do IS not TO
invent defense or excuses or TO raise
false cries but 70 get rid OF the evils