The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1915-01-21

The following prst prl1c WAiiiai''s
letter on farming was written Dy
w. T. Christopher Of Central Set
Element, for the Progressive Far
mer. The article applies to Mr..
Christopher's former home and
county, Montezuma and Macon.
Mr.. Christopher has studied farm
work for many years and is ac-
ouainted with many good traits
along the line Of farm life. The
article appears below;
while the negroes are not gain
inc any inland ownership in my
county, they are exqalling the
small white farmers in this respect.
And when they once get possession
Of a farm, big or little, the rule is
that you can't buy it. 1t is lost
for good to the white race.
Again, when the negro once gets
farm, not only is his own labor
lost to the white man, but other
labor az we'll, as he can hire FIVE
hands to work for him to the
white mans one. In their lodge
halls all over the country they
have their secret meetings and
stick together like leeches, while
white farmers work against one
another by buying negroes"--
that is, paying their debts and
moving them to their farms. This
is going on all over Georgia.
There is not much mixing Of
the races in the country, but mu-
lattoes are plentiful in the towns
and cities, and nowhite man is os-
tracized on this account, il he has
money. AT the same time there IL
no such thing as social equality,
and / have never heard of a white
man marrying a negro woman, as
the laws OF our state will not tole-
rate any such thing. At every
session II our courts numbers Of
negroes are punished for nearly
every crime in the decalogue, from
hog-stealing to murder. and these
Offenses are on the increase all the
time.
It is q regrettable fact that the
negroes are more determined t.
have an education than the poorer
class of whites, and there are sew
eral reasons for this. % The
whites are compelled to have the
help of their children in the crop
at certain seasons, ~ In some
sections in the black belt where ]
live there are no white schools con-
venient on account Of the scarcity
Of the whites, and an abundance
Of negroes. CD The negroes
live on a lower scale than the
whites and will send his child to
school with nothing in his dinner
bucket but small piece of corn.
bread and a maypop.
As q people they are democrat
ling to any community. Their
women as a rule have no regard for
virtue or chastity and court the
favor Of young white men. All
the blind tiger business is run by
bookkeeping negroes who reside on
the farms. They come to town on
Saturdays, go to the express Office,
get case Of half pints, pints and
quarts Of mean liquor and sell it on
the sly, and it is impossible for
officers to catch them. In many
sections farmers move to town or
other parts Of the country in order
to Eet school advantages, social
privileges. and protection for their
wives aud daughters.
Generally negro tenants are
better treated than the white ten
ant. The negro tenant makes
small crops and is satisfied if he
pays the landlord, who generally
takes all he makes with the excep-
ton Of the store account, and the
negro wants q clean record at the
store, 80 he can buy more food on
credit at any old price.
Landlords prefer negro tenants
to white aud give them advantages
xR..x Ef...- ,..ss .s,,.l.. -. 4