Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-19

obviously, II South Africa's annual
contribution of almost $200,000,000 is
to be interrupted, the worlds total
would fall very sharply.
But the general strike can not last
long you may. with propriety, re-
ply.
True, but Il the native workers in
the mines are repatriated. they could
not be brought back in full strength
within a year. perhaps not within
several years.
Some 100000 boys as the South
African natives are called. work on
the Transvaa mines. or eight times
the number of white miners. With
out the natives the mines could not,
of course, be run (under existing con-
ditions).
Now. the great post bellum prob
tem which confronted the African
mine owners was how to obtain an
adequate supply of natives, A Gov
eminent commission Nrestled with
the task for months. ! attended many
of the sessions and listened to vol
umes Of evidence, from mine boys to
mine owners. Every nook of Africa
was searched, every acre of veldt was,
so to speak, combed for boys The
mine owners had an association which
employed an army OF agents, runners
| and What-not all over the land to in
| duce natives to sign on as mine work.
| ers. The cost of securing labor was
big item in the total cost of pro-
Gucing gold,
The natives sign contracts and are
kept, usually. in compounds" They
are not, of course, allowed to leave
until their contracts expire. when
they are conducted home If they 10
not re-engage-which only. limited
number choose to do.
The uncivilized African native
leads the simple life, literally His
one ambition is to earn enough money
| to buy enough cattle to pay for
enough wives. There is no such thing
as courtship, The girls have not a
word to say in the matter The ma
| tive who has served a period in the
| mines looks around when he returns
and II he sees a girl he fancies he
goes TO her father and bargains for
| her. The fat ones bring the highest
prices. II Iue NATIVE can q
| giantess, he proudly buys her-he ma y
| pay anywhere from a few to a score
OF cows for her, II he pays down Only
| part of the price and agreed to hand
| over the balance at a specified date
| in the future the father. in case VI
! default, an Gale his delinquent SON
| in-law in court and get verdict. The
| purchase price is called labola, and is
a strictly legal debt.
Polygsmy is permitted. though it is
| slowly falling into disfavor. in sem
| civilized sections. The native whI
can boast OF three wives does not do
stroke OF work. The wives are alb
| ject slaves. They not only attend t.
the rudimentarY cooking and other
| crude duties inside the miserable
kraals dwelling places), but look aft
| er the cattle and sheep till patches
| of ground for the production of Indian
corn, brew a simple brand of beer for
| their lord and master, and cater 70
| his Unborn laziness.
This life is for the native paradise
! The mines are as hades.
| Therefore. should the 100000 M
| tives be repatriated-some of then,
come from hundreds and hundreds
| OF miles distart-the mine owners
will not be able to get them back IN
hurry.
Ny belief : that trade uniont~ "a
! has not reached stage throughout
South Africa that permits Of pro.
tracted general strike.
/ Should. however the extreme st -
| of repatriating the native mine work
ers become neec ssarN, the whole world
] VIII have 10 take moline