The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-01-15
Cotton Mills.
Editor otthe Press and Banner:

"He
many persons accept as veritiea whatever
they .see In the papers," / am hopeful that
your views on the lien law will not be accept
ed by the majority OF your readers ano,
question az 1t applies to the iniqulties or tne
Lien Law. as view them.
Doubtless Of the time of the enactment OF
this law conditions warranted some lrglsla.
tion To meet the exigencles Of the times ano
the poverty of the people. The lien law must
have b, ell favoraby considered by our law
max ers and by our merchants az good rem-
edy Tor existing evils, at the time OF its en-
act mep,; and, IL is very simple process "
critcise The wisdom OF It's framerr, at TINS
date, with the iniquity OF It's results eVloenI
to every careful observer.
I charge g the following 1amentable condl-
tions tn the Lien Law ofSouth Carolina.
lst. 1, has Impoverished the poor and en-.
rched the rich through gv,seoS the usur'ous rates
| 2ud. 1t has driven our young men ana
| many old men from the country " clties ana
factories because farming was not.prontabe,
the prices charged for supplies furnished on
| lien, absorbing the balance aiter Inc fen's
sd, II has impoverished the "honest"
moor by forcing them to make up, through
the exorbilant prices charged, the Losses III
curreI BY the improvident negroes ana dis
honest whites and blacks.
| 4ih' II has done more 10 elevate the negro
and depress the white OF moderate means,
than any other known cause, and is the main
factor producing the alarming illilerac3 Pre-.
whites, because Of It's poverty producing pro-
visions. - ,.,,o.,
influence In in-pirils and fostering % hopes n OF
"sooial quality" amongst our negroes pe'
cause, through Its provisions, having ootaln-
ed a ellen, negro "Liener" becomes de-
sirable customer and ia shown much atten-
tion, bordering at times, on oosequloas3ess.
by those with whom he trades, especially II
| he has paid up and has some money 10 DIS
credit in the hands OF the merchant.
9Th. charge lastly. that our lands nave nave
| out and Improbable, because. under the lien
law no liener will improve lands which ne
| may cultivate for the year only, seeing tnat
change their homes after only one years oc'
10 su6stantlate the charges have made In
the order they are recorded, l lnVlte replies
| rom merchants who do what Is known as q
"lien trade" as to The difference between
| "cash" prices and time" prices; the ialter
applying to their "lien trade" The differ,
ence, according to Information volunieesea
by sundry parties during my residence IN
t6is place, will average 80 per cent; and as the
liens are many Of them PAID Withln SIX
average profit above the cash price will be
approx lmately rs per cent NO onsln ess or
occup alton can stand such drain; anu lnele
is abundant evidence OF the ruin tnus
wrought by the lien law, In the NUMBER OIL
white cltiZeus " ho, starting with landed es-
tatea, have been despoiled OF them under tne
foreclosure OF NJ ortgages, Incurred TO SATISFY
rapacious creditors, whose claims have been
legalized, under the Vicious provisions for
usury, tolerated and endured under The lien
law. . 49,,
assisted their parents In the cultivation OF the
old homestead have seen their parents grow
Ing poorer, year by year, until the inevitable
mortgage has despoiled them OF their dearest
their fortunes au TO assist the old paren ts In
their struggles for existence. In our own
county poor house. have seen men VINO
days in abject poverty and supported by pub
Iic charity, Some OF, II not all such cases,
hnd the sole cause TO have been the lien law.
edae. a' have left agricultural pursuits and have
gone to cotton factories as q oernler resort
10 keep ont OF the poor house and seek pre-
carious existence, by consigning tneir ,n minot or
health and deprivation OF even the elements
of rudimentary led ucation. The shorter bours
gradually being enforced by law, WILL event. |
uaIIy, relieve this disgrace. while the age
limit at which children can bs emp yed In |
factories, will permit and stimulate education
OF the children of this class.
their goods, are excused because OF the "risk"
IN carrying such accounts. Because OF this
risk" ext1rtion is practiced. The honest
poor must pay the debts OF the dishonest ana
unfortunate. An able'boded negro. with
yeariing steer and plow, obtains "lien" on
the same terms as The most honest poor |
white man." and why? Because the poor
deHcit In the collection OF the negro's at
connt, II he "jump ps bis lien' or. through
lag ness, falls TO make sufficient 10 satisfy the
"lien." 1t Is no "Jumping at conclusion" to
charge this as q regular "trIck Of the trade" |
Thus, the honest, hard working, saving but |
poor v hlte "liener," is taxed yearly, to the
extreme limit OF endurance. and, frequently
beyond that limit. to make up the dafclt ncy
Incurred by orediting rome worthless, vaga-
bold negro, who tkps yearly from one mel |
chant to another, falling TO receive credit for
more than one year from any one OF them.
until his reputation becomes 80 savory. he
,kIps to some other locality, to deceive others
IN like manner. ALI credit business must be
done with an allowance for "bad debts: ln
the lien business. such allowance Is iar IN ex-
and cite the difference In the rates CD harged
for "cash" transactions and time" sales. II
even so per cent is charged. that makes an
allowance OF nearly the same per cent for
cover legitimate 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 mas
ter. II means, 10 him. the liberty TO Work
when he wishes, and not at all, II he is thus
minded. That was the way bis former mas
for, now that he is free Few OF them appre-
ciate any obligation to provide for more than
daily or hourly wants. with large families
QeDGDQeQL on 6uOulu Ouo VI Iuoul "aut
paltry dollar, he Will not hesitate TO vio- !
late commands and secure bis .peremptory |
discharge from a permanent and remunera-
tive Job. utterly careless about the future a.
IL applies to him individually or bis depend |
ent family. This spirit prompts them to &C.
cure a "lien." With supplies assured while
the Drop Is being planted and growing. there
ia q spirit OF Independence engendered;
Work II he so desires, rest when he gets "good
and ready" quit absolutely II 40 Inclined and
bis "lady" wishes 10 go TO meeting" or he
wants to "go to town" AS the season ad-
come in season. Fishsng "ls good" and pic
MICS are galore" Has work any attraction |
for him, while sturgeon are running and
conse uence follows: Short crop, under little !
or no cultivation. Lien Is not paid and mer- /
chant may be compelled to gather what little
there NAV be- Does the merchant lose any,
but be has provided for that contingency by
taxing some poor old honest white man, be-
yond bis natural ability; but, being honest,
many needed articles OF dress; his children
along the same line and has Kept them from
school to cultivate the crop and also TO mar
vest II, 30 be can MAINTAIN n,s repu1atlHn aor
tion he has continued In the class best de-
scrI bed thus: "An honest man ls the noblest
work OF God" He has slaved personally and
has epslaved bis wife and children, TO pay
what the law negro has failed TO pay, while
he has posed as one who don't have 10
work." has not worked and will not WORK, as
long as be can "run lien" and be "like
white man." While the poor, honest white
man has kept his children from school IN
maintain his hon esty by working and gath,
ering the crop. the worthless negro "liener;"
has been sending his children to schools. sup
ported largely by taxes paid by whites and 10
part by the very individual who has kept his
Children at home, because OF mis- poverty and
honesty.
The Inevitable consequence OF the system
OF cultivating lands under the lien law, is
constant deterioration, through unwise or