The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-09-06
DISCUSSES LABOR CONTRACTS
y. q. Fearthstone, Of Laurens, Tells
How to Prevent Viola
tions.

some weeks ago, has caused much
discussion among the people Of this
community and the ideas advanced
have not been fully comprehended in
some instances. Acting upon these
suggestions the New and Courier cor
respondent called upon Mr.. Feath-
erstone at his office and asked that
he offer the people some definite sug-
gestions as to the remedies he pro-
poses. In this connection Mr.. Feath-
erstone says:
"Since giving you the interview
relating to the labor contract law
have received a great many messages
from farmers, in different sections,
assuring me that they think that my
suggestions were along the right line,
but asking that l go somewhat into
detail as to the remedy suggested in
my former interview.
"It will be remembered that l
suggested that the remedy was to
punish the men who employ the lab
orers violating their contracts, and
the men who induce laborers to vio-
late their contracts, and thus force
laborers to remain in the employment
of those with whom they have con
tracted.
eff such a plan is practical and
legal it meets the whole situation
for the laborer must have employ
ment, and if he knows that he can
not get it, after violating his con-
tract, the inducement for him to VIC
late is gone.
In the great majority of cases la
borers are induced to violate their
contracts by direct or indirect persu-
aston on the part Of others, or by
knowledge Of the fact that they will
have no difficulty, after leaving one
man, to get employment with an
other. If they were let alone or if
they knew that they could not get
employment elsewhere, the majority
Of them would stick.
"Punish the man who interferes or
who employs them after the violation
and you strike at the root of the diff
ficulty.
"Our criminal statute already pro-
vides punishment for the man who
i entices laborer from the employ
ment of another, or who harbors one
after notice that he has violated his
contract with another.
"The trouble is to prove that he
had notice of the first contract. The
violator of the contract is not going
to notify him, and the man who is
mean enough to deprive his neighbor
of the laborer is not apt to admit
knowledge.
"The difficulty, therefore, in the
enforcement of this statute has al
ways been the inability to prove no.
tice.
GLOW can this difficulty be remov-
ed? In my judgment it can be done
very easily.
"Require all contracts between
landlord and laborers to be in writ
ing. Then require all those who
want to be protected to index their
contracts in the Office of the clerk Of
court. Make the indexing Of such
contracts conclusive notice to the
public, so that if A employs a lab
orer after B has indexed his contract
with said laborer and fails to release
| him upon demand then make A liza
bic both civilly and criminally.
"And not only make him liable but
| fix minimum amount of DAMAGES
for which he is liable, say not less
than $500. And on the criminal side
or the court make the penalty a hea-
w one, and let it be imprisonment
| and not fine.
Zone great trouble about the en-
forcemcnt of most laws is that men
can get off by the payment Of fine.
The average man cares little about
paying a fine. IF the offenders were
sent to the chain gang violations of
law would decrease, and that, too, at
a rapid rate.
"The law that 7 have suggested
can be passed and, in my Judgment,
! will stand the test Of the courts.
cit may cost the landlords little
something to index their contracts
but the expense will be little compar-