The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-09
SITUATION SERIOUS.
Judge Brawley's Decision Places Land
Owners in Bad fG-lMr. 9. c.
Featherstone Thinks a Con-
stitutional Statute Can
be Enacted to Meet
Case.

News and Courier h;;:; bce4 murA dis
cuSsed bv the thinking men over the
state. The Hon. c. C. Featherstone
of LaurenS, one Of the leading law
vers Of this sale. and one Of its most
prominent citizens. III speaking oi the
matter said:
"There is 10 doubt nul that Bro
iher Bob understands the full slgul-
feance Of Judge Brawley's decision.
The facts that he presents are true,
and he presents them in such way
that any mind should be able to see
the probable disasters to the land
owner. As he has so aptly said in that
article, the decision Of Judge Brawley,
holding the labor contract law Of this
state unconstitutional, has placed the
farmers interests in an extremely Sc
rious perdicament-and the negro IN
the saddle
1.-THE farmer, in order to get hands
at the beginning Of the year, is fore
ed to make large advances in the way
of cash and supplies, absolutely with
out security. The laborer can work
with linn for while and then leave
him in the lurch.
"No more serious situation ever
confronted the farmer. He must have
labor He may get it to start with,
but he cannot hold it in the present
demoralized condition Of affairs.
"What is the remedy?
SIN the first place, l think it is
probable that a new statute can be
enacted by the next General Assem-
bly, that will stand the test of the
Courts.
''The thinking men Of that body
ought to put on their thinking caps
and frame such a statute, and have
it ready for introduction at the meet
ing Of the General Assembly next
January.
GA great deal Of the time Of the
General Assembly is spent in the con-
sideration Of small, frivolous affairs
that cannot benefit anybody-costing
the state annually an expenditure Of
thousands Of dollars. It IS high time
for such nonsense to cease.
"What we want is practical. COM
mon sense legislation-legislation that
will benefit the people along practi-
cal lines. i,
''The labor situation can be reme-
died if it is gone at in the proper way.
Can Stop Theft of Labor.
,,Seeond. If statute cannot be enact
ed that will bind the laborer and that
will stand the tests Of the Courts, one
can be enacted that will, indirectly,
bring about the same result.
F'I mean a statute that Will keep
mans nei@hbcrs from enticing away
or interfering with his laborers.
"The contract between: the land
1or,l and la5orer is all right on the
civil side Of the Court. In a civil
action he courts will Slsta;n it. The
trouble is that, under Judge Braw-
ley's decision, a violation thereof will
not Sustain an indictmcI:-the viola
tor cannot We ounis}e'i eIiminally.
"Of course, as between The farmer
and laborer tkis remedy IS useless to
the land'ord-the average laborer be-
inc without property that can be
reached ',v eSeea::o
";r5 why not punish. and punish
severely, the third parry who either
en;iccs away the la;t1ec or harbors
hlm after he leayeS?
"LaI;crcrS are not going to leave
unless they can get employment else
where.
The Wrong Scr! &c H7eig-7 o-s.
1.-THE great trou';Nio with 90 la1or
sitnaticl? to-day Is that 30 f:"GUert
ly man s :lciclDors are waiting, with
cprn arms r. receive the laborer who
has vl,'a:rn H. contract. SUI! ne:
:;rc II; ne Gar. lous 70 the farming
1nl:rc>:< than !hc negro wj:o violates
his c"ntrac: They are m<re intelli-
gent and know better. One-half the
TIM: they are the eaN>r IF line negro
viulatiH" Lis contract.
'S"rl. Hr.T" <;ealerS ."reht to be
le ut wit. <ev"!c!E We ai'"aiy have
some law ~. :; hi >u3ie"t-more
than we enforce-but, in my judg-
mer-, the law ought 20 be amended
ard made broader and more stringent.
When this Is done and we make up
or minds to enforce such law be-
!ieve that the labor question will be