The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

regularly, 1t is said that while work.
ms only tour-tifthg of the time they
do more work than the foreigners
working fun time. a contractor en-
pioying negro labor keeps n full cnmp
all the tinc. thereby assuring himself
full force. After each payday there
is considerable falling off OF tho
negro labor for two or three days
during which time the worlttnon gam
bic, drink and spend their money at
The commissary. After having spent
all their money they return ana work
regularly until the next payday. An
other respect in which tho negroes
surpass tho foreign labor is the ease
with which they are handled on tile
work, They do not resent rough treat-
ment as readily as the foreign labor
ers. nor do they unite TO leave when
one OF their number is discharged.
Stiil another. and probably the strong
est reason for employing the negro. Is
as has been stated, his inclination to
spend his entire earnings in the COM
missary.
Low ana Order In Southern Camps.
The maintenance of law and order
reIts solely with the foreman or walk
ing-bosscs, rs the camp superintcn-
dents arc called Local authorities
never Interfere. unless there Is some
pie outside of the camp They are oc-
casionally called in when the contrnc-
tors wish to detain transportation men.
but rarely to settle trouble in camp
among the men.
There is characteristic feeling
among these walking bosses that to
ask for the assistance OF the local au-
thoritics Is to acknowledge their own
ineficicncy.
In all camps where immigrants are
employed. beer. Or some substitute
which Is practically the Same thing,
has to nc supplied In order 10 keep the
men. 1t is handled by the padronc or
contractor. who has Ii shipped to the
camps In barrel lots, consigned to diff
ferent men In the camp. so as to get
around the prohibition law where such
are supposed to be in force. II Is then
sold nj the commissartes with a pro-
fit. In many; Instances the men DO
actually order it for themselves by the
keg or crate. and 1t is the existence
of this practice that renders 1t possi-
Bile for the commissaric5 TO handle IL
without molestation from the author!-
ties. When the sentiment OF the
neighboring population Is too strong
against this practice, n contractor sHls
an Imitation beer as substitute.
This is often cheap grade Of beer in
bottles bearing a label OF IA malt en-
tract
The Middle stntcs.
The conditions Of work and living
are practically the same in constsuc-
tionnl and other seasonal work in the
Middle States, or New York. Delaware,
Pennsylvania. and New Jersey, as in
the South. Laborcrs are secured by
means Of regular agencies, and the
padrone system is also followed. The
housing facilities are also the same
as In the South, with the exception
that In cases where the work Is he
Ing carried on near larger cities and
towns the workmcn often provide their
own quarters. Because the country is
more thickly populated. the laborers
also frequently buy provisions In tho
stores OF the towns and cities situat-
ed near the work but in tho more re-
mote localities the commissaries arc
always found. Tho negro, OF course
does not form such large proportion
of the labor force in the North rs in
the south and the contractors mainly
depend upon the recent Immigrant