The Donaldsonville chief., 1914-03-28
INEXCUsABLE LAWLEssNEss.


From the standpoint of good citi-
maintenance of law and
order, anda decent regard for the
rights of the poor and helpless, there
can be nothing but condemnation and
regret evoked by the remarkable in
cident that occurred at the Donald
sonville depot of the Texas and Pa
cific railway last Monday night,
when a small party Of Well-knoWn
citizens and sugar planters from low
er Assumption, armed with rifles,
shctguns and pistols, invaded the
colored waiting room and stampeded
a crowd Of some thirty negroes, mem
women and children, who were as
sembied for the purpose of embark
ing by the west-bound passenger
train, most of them on their way to
ST. Joseph, La, under agreement
with labor agents to work on planta-
tions in that vicinity.
The details of the affair are given
in our news columns, and it may be
safely stated that this account rath-
er falls short of than exaggerates
the facts and circumstances attend
ing the l4Wless demonstration. While
it is true no one was seriously hurt,
it is easy to conceive what differ
ent result might have ensued it any
of the defenseless victims had been
armed and had shown a disposition
to resist their assailants. In this
event there would have been danger
to the lives and limbs of persons in
the adjoining waiting room for
whites, and imminent peril to Wo-
men of nervous temperament and
delicate health had any such CHANGED
to be within sight or sound of the
encounter. -.,-.
The manifest object of the raid
was to put a stop to the exodus OF
negro labor from this section, but
even those who sympathize most
earnestly with the purpose in view
will not be able to conscientiously
defend the means employed to ac-
complish it. The planters of lber-
vile and other parishes have been
confronted by the same problem and
solved it by dealing directly with
the labor agents, a much more man
ly and effective method of procedure
than bulldozing ignorant and inoffen-
sive negroes.
1t was not the fault of either the
laborers or the agents that the i'm
preston got abroad that there was
a surplus of labor in the sugar re-
gion by reason of the depression of
our leading industry. The RESPONSE
bility for this belief is primarily with
the sugar planters themselves, par
ticularly those who have proclaimed
their intention of abandoning or cur
failing their operations. Hundreds
of laborers were given to understand
that they must shift for themselves
and seek employment elsewhere, and
surely they cannot be blamed for try
ing to insure a livelihood and bet
terment of their own condition and
that of their dependent families.
The sugar planters of Louisiana
have been beset with the misfcrtunes
of unfaVorable weather conditions,
disastrous floods, Improbable prices
and adverse tariff legislation; andI
if in addition to all these drawbacks
they are to be confronted with a
shortage of labor for the cultivation
and harvesting of their crops, they
will face very serious situation in
deed. However, a remedy for their
plight is not to be found in a resort
to laWlessness. The Chief has
championed and defended their in
terests in and out of season, and
hopes to be able to continue this
course because of the justice and
merit Of the claims of the domestic
sugar industry to reasonable pro-
lection, but it cannot be expected
that any reputable newspaper should
feel called upon to condone such a
gross breach of the public peace and
violation Of community and individ-
lal rights as the armed invasion of
Monday night constituted. Overt
acts c, this character are sure to
10 more harm than gool to the
cause and the persons in whose be-
la1f they are committed, and an in
lication of this fact is to be found in
he general feeling of indignation
prevalent in this community over
his reprehensible and unfortunate
occurrence.
COMMENDABLE PUBLIC SPIRIT.
It is a source of sincere pleasure to |
The Chief to note the commendable /
.l,3.- ..sl IL r