The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12
THE LIEN LAW.
LoWndesvIlle. S. c., Feb

LowndesVllle, 5. u, FeD. l, l9Uo.
Editor Press and Banner:
With your permission to publish the same,
will say som ething more on the lien law.
Every sober-thinking man knows that II
the egislature repeals the lien law that they
will lay down gap for combination OF the
rich against the poor. We understand rom
The newspapers that there has been delega.
ton at Columbia working with the members
to repeal the law. claiming that the rereal Of
the law IL demanded by the Farmers Union.
can not understand how snch demand could
come from the Farmers Uuion, when, II II
their names on the roll in this western part
OF AbbeviIle county, nine out OF every ten
would vote agaiost the repeal. and from the
best Information can get. II the legislature
ment OF majority Of tie Farmers Union. l
base my opinion on the sen ntiment In the
Lowndesville Farmers Union. have been
told by more than two-tnirds OF the members
lien law, and some OF them went 80 far as TO
say that they would never sgain vote for any
mem Der Of the legislature who would vote
for the repeal of the law.
Senator B. r. Tillman, In his speech before
The General Assent bly, said that Immigration
was what We needed 10 solve the race pro-
blem. Sen ator Tilman se-s pretty we'll with
bis one eye, but he looks the wrong way this
time, when be recommended the repeal Of
the lien Iaw-if he ever expects 10 get immt-
grafton to South Carolina.
In my way OF LhiuKing, no good, honest
working people from other states or nations
will ever immagrate to this State without a
single law 10 protect labor, and when the lien
law is repealed, the only law TO protect labor
is gone-and when we have not single law
10 protect labor We can not hope 10 secure
ioreigu labors that are desirable In this State
and so long as our legislature makes op-
pressive laws TO opprt, % labor.
II has long been the policy OF the dominant
party In the north TO keep all the best class OF
foreigners that come TO over shores away
from the southern states. The minds OF The
im mmigrants are filled with horrible pictures
Of southern barbarism, and the new corners
they can convert them Into material that
votes and fights against the south.
We will say 10 the good working white
people that the question OF q law that gives
them the means OF credit 10 get bread for
their children, 10 them is the most important
Tue jingle OF shack les Is always heard by ma.
tions that make laws to oppress labor and
robs the laborer Of the fruits OF bis toll TO pay
| the debts OF others.
We hear great hue and cry about q poor
man hunting rabbits and birds, and that he
can not be gotten TO do days work because
| be has given lien 10 some merchant and has
the chance OF leaning on his lien. II poor
mau gives lien 10 m erchant for sufficient
| am oun Mt to feed him year, and he does hon.
est labor enough to max @ q crop, or hires for
money enough to pay the merchant the just
and honest debt that he contracted on his
lien, whose business is 1t? and why should
should anyone complain or how Is he com.
pelIed TO work for some one else the remain
der OF his time? And II there should be a
law made 10 compel him to do 80. where is
civil liberty ?-where Is equal rights TO all ana
special privileges TO none?
| Respectfully,