Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-17
LIEN LAW CONTROVERSY.
AbbevilIe Man Presents Other Side Of
the Question.


The following from the Abbevllle
Press and Banner Is probably the
strongest presentation Of the opposition
side of the lien law question that has
been published during the present dis
cussion:
Editor Of the Press and Banner:
Your editorial on 1.-The Lien Law" In
your issue Of the 18th instant, invites
an answer, because there are two
sides to every question" We are all
inclined to individual belief and many
persons accept as verities, Whatever
they 'see in the papers" l am hope
full that your views on the lien law Will
not be accepted by the majority Of your
readers and, through your courtesy.
propose TO argue the question as 1t ap-
as 1 view them.
Doubtless at the time Of the enact
ment of this law, conditions warranted
some legislation to meet the exigencies
of the times and the poverty OF our
people. The lien law must have been
favorably considered by our law max
ers and by our merchants as a good
remedy for existing evils, at the time
Of its enactment; and, 1t Is a very sim
pie process to criticise the wisdom OF
it's trainers, at this date, with in In
iquity of it's results evident to every
careful observer.
l charge the following lamentable
conditions TO the lien law of South Car
olina.
1st. 1t has impoverished the poor
and enriched the rich, through the usu-
rious rates permissible under its pro-
visions.
Ind. It has driven our young men
and many old men from the country to
cities and factories, because farming
was not profitable, the prices charged
for supplies furnished on lien, alb
sorbing the balance after the rents
were paid.
3rd. 1t has impoverished the hon
est" poor, by forcing them to make up
through the exorbitant prices charged
the losses incurred by the improvident
negroes and dishonest whites and
blacks.
4th. 1t has done more to elevate the
negro and depress the white Of moder-
ate means, than any other known cause
and is the main factor producing the
alarming nliteracy prevalent in our ru-
raj districts, amongst the whites, be-
cause Of its poverty producing proVis-
ions.
5th. It has been and is still, the
mightiest influence In inspiring anc
fostering hopes of social quality
amongst our negroes because, through
it's provisions, having obtained a lien,
a negro "lienor" becomes a desirable
customer and is shown much attention
bordering at times, on obsequiousness
by those with whom he trades, espe-
cially If he has paid up and has some
money to his credit in the hands of the
merchant.
9Th. l charge lastly, that our lands
have become (and are yet becoming
more so) worn out and Improbable
because under the lien law no lienor will
improve lands which he may cultivate
for the year only, seeing that most OF
them are negroes and frequently change
their homes after only one years oc-
cupancy.
To substantiate the charges I have
made in the order they are recorded,
invite replies from merchants who dc
what Is known as lien trade" as to
the difference between cash" prices
and time" prices, the latter applying
to their ''lien trade" The difference
according to information volunteered
by sundry parties during my residence
in this place, will average so per cent;
and as the liens are many Of them paid
within six months after the goods are
delivered, the average profit above the
the cash price will be approximately 7s
per cent. No business or occupation
can stand such a drain; and there Is
abundant evidence Of the ruin thus
wrought by the lien law, in the mum.
Der Of white citizens who, starting with
landed estates, have been despoiled oi
them under the foreclosure Of mort
cages, incurred to satisfy rapacious
creditors, whose claims have been le-
galized, under the vicious provisions
for usury, tolerated and endured under
the lien law.
Young men who have lived on farms
and assisted their parents In the culti-
vation Of the old homestead, have seer
their parents growing poorer, year by
year, until the inevitable mortgage has
despoiled them Of their dearest posses
sion; and have gone to cities to seeh
their fortunes and to assist the old pa
rents in their struggles for existence. Ir
our own county poor house, have seer
men who once lived on their own
farms, ending their days in abject pow
erty and supported by public charity
Some of, II not all such cases, find the
sole cause to have been the lien law
Many older citizens, to my personal
knowledge, have left agricultural pur-
suits and have gone to cotton factories
as dernier resort, to keep out OF the
poor house and seek a precarious ex-
istence, by coasigning their minor chill
dren to a serviSude, involving loss OF
health and deprivation Of even the ele-
ments of rudimentary education. The
shorter hours gradually being enforced
by law, will, eventually, relieve this
disgrace, while the age limit at which
children can be employed in factories
will permit and stimulate education OF
the children Of this class.
The exorbitant prices charged "lien-
ors" for their goods, are excused be-
cause Of the risk" in carrying such ac-
counts. Because Of this risk" extor-
ton Is practiced. The honest poor
must pay the debts Of the dishonest and
unfortunate. An able-bodied negro
with a yearling steer and a plow, OBJ
tains lien" on the same terms as the
most honest poor white man." and
why? Because the poor white man is
charged enough to offset the deficit In
the collection Of the negro's account, If
he Jumps his lien" or, through lazi-
ness, fails to make sufficient to satisfy
the lien" 1t Is no jumping at con-
clusiOn" to charge this as regular
trick Of the trade" Thus, the honest,
hard working, saving but poor white
"lienor," Is taxed yearly, to the extreme
limit Of endurance, and, frequently be-
yond that limit to make up the def
cheney incurred by crediting some
worthless, vagabond negro, who skips
yearly from one merchant to another,
failing to receive credit for more than
one year from any one Of them, until
mis- reputation becomes so savory, he
skips to some other locality, to deceive
others in like manner. All credit busi-
ness must be done with an allowance
for bad debts" In the lien business,
such allowance Is far in excess Of the
legitimate necessity Of the trade; and
cite the difference in the rates charged
for cash" transactions and time"
sales. If even so per cent Is charged,
that makes an allowance Of nearly the
same per cent for bad debts" as the
cash price is supposed to cover legiti-
mate profit on such goods.
The acme Of the negro aspiration Is,
to be like the whites. Freedom, to them,
means more than emancipation from
servitude-constant labor under the eye
Of the task master. 1t seems, to him,
the liberty to work when he wishes,
and not at all, If he Is thus minded.
That was the way his former master