The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-08
About "ContrOIling Labor"

Wednesday, Jan. 8, lSUo.
About "ControIling Labor"
Much has been said of late about "controll-
ing labor, ;" and 1t seems that some land-oWn-
ers cannot divest themselves OF the Idea that
they have property rights In people who
work for others or who rent land. Ever
since we can remember we have heard that
renters ruined the land. But the land and
the renters are here yet And then there are
many of us who can make more money rent
ing land to others, even II they do ruin 1t,
than we could make out Of the land in any
other way.
long time ago we were told that we would
havethe poor with us forever. Well, now
will our Legislators ruin the credit OF such
men as have no other security than can be
furnished by lien? or course we all know
that the effort to repeal the lien law is
meant as a direct blow to the negro. But In
the effort to enslave the negro is not the
credit and manhood Of the poor white man
involved?
At present 1t would appear TO an on
locker that we have the best law for the land
owner that could possibly be enacted. He
has the first lien for the promised rent. And
then the merchant usually furnishes the
necessary provisions to make the crop. And
the merchant generally saves the landowner
from all risk in making the crop. Isn't 1t
little strange that men will talk about "con-
trolling labor" under such circumstances
when they have hired nobody7
As q rule, the very expression about "con-
trolling" anybody is not consistent Id
Democratic country like this.
In 1859 this editor went into the printing
business on his own account. Very soon q
little boy was bound" to the firm for three
years. We soon learned that the responsible
party was bound" and that the boy was free
to do as he pleased in giving trouble and dis
pleasure TO his employers. Later when 1t
was sought to annul the trade which "bound"
MS, the arrangement was quickly acceded to,
and from that time to this, the editor Of the
Press and Banner has made no trade for the
ser vice Of any man which might not be
rescinded at any minute that either party
. desired. The result has been that we have
had little or no trouble or unplsasantness
with employees. In nearly fifty years as en-
ployer we have had no desire to control any
body. No man who was known to be dis
loyal was retained In our service. And we
have never knowingly employed q man who
preferred to work for another. No thought
of"controlling labor" was ever entertained.
II the .tIa bor'' didn't suit, he would 60 else
where, and If he did not like bis employer he
had immediate right to quit work.
This editor has paid to laborers OF various
kin ds, thousands OF dollars, but he wants no
Law that will enable him TO control" any
body. The minute laborer doesn't fill the
bill he must quit our employ. Even II we
did want law, whereby labor could be soon
trolled'' we would not acknow ledge our ina
bility TO conduct our own business.
The poor in any land. and under any oir-
cumstan cea, have q hard time OF 1t, and It
would certainly be q cruelty to make them
subject to the CONTROL OF anybody.
The idea OF anybody desiring 20 control"
by law a poor and helpless brother is repul-
sive.
"Honor and shame from NO condition RISE
Act well your part, there all the honor lies"
This is land OF freemen. The day for the
enforced slavery Of the poor man in this
country we hope may never come.
Let us carry the control OF labor" q little
further.
Suppose Mr.. Minshall who is building the
Court house and the City hall should admit
that he could not control labor. and apply
to the Legislature for law which would
practically make his employed men his
slaves. He employs hundred men.
Suppose again: That the cotton mills
should admit their inability to control labor.
They employ thirty thousand people in this
State.
Suppose the railroads should acknowledge
their inability to run trains unless the Legis-
lature should give them proprietary righta
over the men In their employ. They; employ
many thousand men.
AS We understand. contractors are such be-
cause Of their ability to control labor. II
they had not that ability wherein do they
rank above the hod carrier?
The superintendents Of cotton mills are
chosen not only because OF their ability TO
run machinery but because of their ability
to control labor. When they fall out with
their employed people their own jobs are
gone.
What shall we say about the running of
railroad trains which must be kept moving
every hour in every day and every night?
What should you think II the managers Of
this most important work II they went
whining to the Legislature, admitting their
inability to run their trains II the Legisls-
ture did not give them authority TO enslave
their employees?
Ifmen can be found to run railroads with
hundreds Of trains and thousands OF en-
ployees. II men can be found to run cotton
mills with q multitude Of people in their
employ; II contractors cap be found compe-
tent for any work and capable to control all
the labor they want, II does SEEM that al
most anybody could develop sufficient ex-
ecutive ability to run a one-horse farm. And
the world would likely think that the Legls-
lator who would enact q law which would
enable one man to control another against
his will was lacking In something. The men
at the head Of great enterprises, managing
thousands Of men have never acknowledged
their inability to attend to their own busi-
ness. They turn off men at their own mo-
tion, and they hire others In the same way.
We venture to suggest that there is not a
farmer in this country who could not control
all the labor he wants, II he will pay for 1t.
Capital MS.