Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-01-15
OBJECT no LIEN Law,
Sea Island Cotton Men Met Desire
Repeal OF Labor Statute.

v
Charleston, s. O., Jan. S..--Two
important questions came before the
Sea Island Cotton Seed Association
yesterday, at the second session,
which followed the very excellent
luhcheon at the Commercial Club.
1t was decided by the association
board to insert the word cotton"
into their name, and so expand the
of the association to the
wide3t degree, and the matter of
endorsing the repeal of the lien law,
which is just now being generally
agitated In this State, WAS not for-
mally passed upon by the members
of the association, but very gene
rally favored liz the expressions
made at the second session.
We would have endorsed the re-
peal movement in the lien law ques-
tion," said the Hon. 70. Mitchell Sea-
brook, "but for the fact that this
action did not seem relevant to the
functions of thesassociation. There
is no. doubt that the sea island plant
ers favor the repeal of the law, and
for three good reasons.
First, the repeal of this law Will
help us solve our labor problem to
some extent. Many worthless ne
groes mortgage their crops and stock
to one or two merchants or factors,
and then find themselves unable to
meet their obligations after the crop
is ready for picking, simply because
they have been unable to apply them
selves diligently to their farming.
AS a result these worthless negroes
leave the islands, and go to Florida
rather than to face the music. Their
flight leaves the mortgagors in the
hole, and takes just that much labor
out of the long staple districts.
Second, the city Of Charleston
will be benefited by the repeal OF
the lien law. A negro working for
himself will only produce, as rule,
about one-tenth the cotton he VIII
cultivate under intelligent direction
of the white planter. Working him
self he cuts down the cotton Yield,
but as a iaborer for the whi.e olan-
ter he Is ten times as valuable. TIT,
will help Charleston to receive more
cotton.
Third. we believe that the really
worthy negro will be benefited by
the repeal. The good negroes who
plant cotton in this territory are
we'll known. They may get assist
menUs or the lien law, and will not
suffer from its repeal. With the
credit afforded them by the white
planters and merchants, they will be
able to plant without the lien law
hugbear threatening them"
The attitude of Mr.. Seabrook was
heartily endorsed by President I. j..
MikelI, who did not hesitate to state
that the association as a whole was
against the lien law, and would sup
port its repeal.
The matter Of inserting the word
cotton" into the title of the asso-
citation is very important. The in
sertion of this word will be submit
ted to the individual vote or will of
every member Of the association, who
will be given an opportunity of ap-
proving of the change or OF reject
ing it, when the papers necessary
for it's adoption are presented to
them for their signatures.
When the Sea Island Cotton and
Cotton Seed Association in force the
planters could as body act to-
gether in any movement looking to
higher prices for their products.
Their association would become
more general in its scope, and would,
it is thought, make the long staple
planters here more formidable fac
tor.