Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-04-24

For several weeks the farmers OF
the county have been worried because
of the constant desertion of their
farms by negroes. Early Monday
morning evidence was secured and
steps Immediately taken to put stop
to the expectation of laborers from
Sumter county.
Labor agents, it is alleged, are lit
orally promising the negroes "the
world with a fence around it," it is
said, furnishing them with transpor-
ration, either directly or indirectly;
loading them here, at Oglethorpe and
other points, and dumping them in
Atlanta. 1t is understood that from
Atlanta the negroes are being shipped
to construction camps in the Caro-
linas.
So intense has become the feeling
in the city and the county that this
morning number of farmers, bank.
ers, merchants and others took def
mite steps by the employment of at
torneys to put stop to this illegal
proceeding.
One white man an alleged labor
agent, who was arrested at Ogle-
thorpe on warrant sworn out in
Americus Monday evening, it is said,
has divulged to attorneys much of the
information needed to apprehend
others, who it is alleged, are en-
gagged in the illegal transportation Of
labor from the county. r.
"The condition in the county is
very serious" a prominent planter
said to the Times-Recorder Tuesday
morning. at takes labor, fertilizer
and land to raise cotton We've got
the land, we've put our money into
fertilizer, and unless we have suffic-
lent labor to carry on the crop from
now until harvest, it means ruination,
not only for the farmers, but for the
merchants, bankers and every other
business in Sumter county. Our la
Dor is satisfied, are well taken care of
and no trouble would be experienced
but for the activities of labor agents,
who are consistently doing eyery-
thing in their power to cause dissat-
isfaction among the coIored people,
in an effort to induce them to leave
their present employment to engage
in public work elsewhere.
Seldom has the community been So
worked up over any condition as was
evidenced today in gathering of
those interested. No stone is going
to be left unturned to apprehend and
prosecute those Illegally interfering
with labor conditions, attorneys rem
resenting Interested parties stated to
the Times-Recorder.
The local labor agent apprehended
at Oglethorpe last night is out on
bond today. He appeared before at
torneys and promised not only to re-
turn those negroes whom he had in
duced to leave, but says he will not
engage in this practice again. At
torneys declined to divulge other in
formation which is thought to be in
their hands now regarding the ques-
tion of others engaged in labor emil
grafton.
1t was learned on good authority
today that farmers residing near the
Dooly county line are determined to
break up the activities of the negro
labor agents who for some weeks have
been coming across the Dooly county
bridge on Sundays and Mondays and
carrying back an automobile load of
negroes. It isn't known positively
for whom this negro is soliciting.
However, it is stated that the feeling
in the eastern end of the county is
intense.
Report to Sheriff
It is requested that the farmers of
the county report to Sheriff Harvey
anv activities observed in attempts to
induce their labor to leave. The
sheriff and his deputies will immed-
lately follow up clues furnished them
by the farmers
"There isn't a section of the South
where the negro laborers receive bet
te,. treatment than right here" one
Of the farmers said in meeting this
morning. "Our labor is satisfied un-
iii one o these follows promises him
everything under heaven. However,
he does not tell him of the intense