The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-24
The Farmers Win a Victorv

The vote of two to one by which
the State senate passed the bill tn re-
peal the agricultural lien law, already
passed by the house of representa-
ives by an overwhelming majority.
assures the ending of an unnatural
system which has been an obstacle to
progress in South Carolina for forty
.ica.s.
The law permitting farmers to give
liens on their crops for advances be-
fore or after they were planted, had
its origin in the design TO provide
negroes who were not land owners
with a basis of credit, and was first
enacted by Republican LEGISLATURE
few years after the close of the War
Between the States. The intention
was to divorce the negro as a laborer-
from the white farmer, and to make
him Independent, and in a sense that
object was accomplished. Thousands
of negroes were enabled to lease
lands and to be their own masters"
at least in respect of their labor. I'm
rarely exceptional cases. however, did
the system inure to their real advant-
age, for the sufficient reason that the
negro was as a rule unable to make
farming profitable without the white
mans direction and supervision, and.
the merchant, furnishing the advan-
ces, was compelled to exact tremen-
dous profits on goods sold and money
loaned. Contrived as it was to bene--
fit the recently emancipated negroes.
the law soon became popular with a
large class of white farmers and ope-
rated not only to hold non-landowners
in poverty, but accelerated the i'm
provement Of many white men own
ng lands who were unable to adapt
themselves to the changed conditions
brought about by the war. The sys-
I'm has never been popular with tina
majority OF the thrifty, rnoney-mak-
ing and successful farmers, and its
retention for at least two decades has
been against their protest. This class
has rapidly increased in numbers and
influence during the last seven or
eight years, and at last the legisla-
ture has concluded that its demand
should no longer be ignored.
In our judgement the repeal will re-
suit in new stimulus to agriculture
in South Carolina. A year or two will
be required for adjustment. after
which there will be wonderment that
the system survived for so long.
Changes in the laws relating to agri-
cultural operations are viewed with
exceeding jealousy and are difficult
to effect. When, following the restor-
alton of the Democrats to power In
1876, a law was suggested recurring
pasture lands to be fenced i'm rather
than the cultivated fields, it excited
violent protest and Indignation
throughout the State, but there was
complete revulsion of opinion with
in few months after its enactment.
Except in limited localities whore by
special exceptions cattle are still al
lowed to run at large, the people
would regard return TO the OH s,s-
tenn as preposterous. In the mstter
of the lien law, it is highly probable
that the history of the fence law"
opposition will repeat itself.
1t should be said that the passage
of the repeal bill is largely due to
the intelligent and persistent efforts
of Representative John G. Richards,
of Kershaw County. Not only in the
Legislature, but on the stump and
press he has directed the fight and
the agricultural interests of the
State are under large obligations to
him.-News and Courier.