The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-11-06
Night Riders Out
Several Farmers Who Are Re-
ported to BE Paying More
Than a Dollar for Picking
Cotton Visited

! II is stated on what appears TO he
good authority that a committee ot
| farmers (hfty or more), who are
! strictly observing the agreement IN
pay one dollar hundred for cotton
| picking and No more, made a trip
| through the county in the vicinity
/ OF sumter Monday night calling on
| thosc farmers--several whites and
! heEroes--who are reported to have
refused 10 recognize the agreement
liking the price OF cotton picking at
one dollar a hundred and have been
paying more--in some cases as much
as much as $3.50. None of,the com
mittee was disguised as white cap-
pers or otherwise and no effort was
made TO conceal their Identity. No
threats are said to have been made,
and the farmers who were visited
were simply urged to fuIl ujo line and
cooperate with the ma JOIIty in paying
no more than a dollar for cotton pick
| ing. This is the statement made by
one who claimed to have reliable in
formation respecting the action ana
purpose OF the committee.
Mr.. Murray Griffin, who lives on
the Rocky Bluff road, about four
miles from the city, states II an ad-
vertisement today, that his place was
visited by party last night and warns
visitors not to come on his place in the
night in future, on penalty of being
shot without notice,
Mr.. Griffin states that he was arous-
ed about l O'Clock a. m. by some one
knocking on his front steps. He got
up and looked out of the window and
saw two men standing at the steps
He asked what they wanted and they
replied that they wished to talk to
him. He asked who they were and
one of the men gave his name, which
Mr.. Griffin says was correct as he rec
ognized his voice He told the men
that If they wanted to talk to him they
could come into the house and do So
They said they were not coming in, anu
after standing in the yard a few min
utes, they left. Mr.. Griffin says he saw
number of automobiles standing in
the public road i'm front of the house
while the men were al his door steps,
but saw only two men. The men said
nothing about cotton picking and
made no threats, nor did they say any
thing except that they waned to talk
TO him.
Mr.. Griffin says that his family were
terrified by the occurrence, especially
his aged mother who has been in a
critical condition for months as the re-
suit of heart trouble of q serious ma
ture, which the least excitement ag-
gravates, and that she was very i'll all
the balance OF the night.
There are the two sides of picture.
Those who are in sympathy with the
movement to secure complete cooper
alton in the fixing OF the price for cot
ton picking are satisfied that ii is le-
gitimate for a COmInittee to make
visits by night To persuade or induce
those who are not cooperating to fall
into line with the majority of tho
community. Mr.. Griffin feels that his,
rights have been infringed AMI tnat
ne has been the victim of injustice
Notwithstanding the fact that no
violence was done, nor threats made
II all depends upon the point OF
view. But a calm, dispassiOnatc con-
sideratiOn of the circumstances and
conditions, leads ia the conclusion
that visits by large committees or
committees Of any size is unwisc and
ill-adviscd at night. Ii argument or
persuasion is the only purpUs" of these
visits the desired end is much moro
likely TO be attained by n free, open
and above board discussion i'm the light
OF day. Night riding is too likely to
lead to trouble, no matter how good
the motives or how peaceLble the i'm
tentions of those who participate in
the night visits to the premises Of
those who 10 not agree with them. 10
be lightly condOned.