The condition of affairs to which
this planter alludes should be one in
which every municipality in Georgia
should earnestly interest itself. The
south has many times through the
press complained that it can handle
its labor and negro problems, two
questions that cannot be separated,
if other sections would only cease
to interfere and meddle with matters
in which they have no interest and
knowledge. Doubtless this is true,
but we cannot hope to successfull '
deal with this serious question un
less those laws already on tb n
statute books are rigidly enforced
throughout the country. There is a
way to make men work in Georgia.
There are laws sufficient and officers
to enforce them. What we app
to need is a better realization of the
consequences of inactivity along tins
line, and unless we do realize the
harm that may result the effect may
be even worse than is anticipated by
those who are most affected.
Here in Augusta we are not im
mune from the same conditions that
obtain in other parts of Georgia. The
Herald believes that many more loaf
ers might be caught in the net of
our vagrancy laws if a serious and
continuous effort in that direction
were made. One of the best ways in
which Augusta can help the farmers
of Richmond county and the sur
rounding territory will be Io inaugu
rate in this city an energetic cam
paign against vagrants and loafers,
lasting from July to July or from
December to December. It is the
long period of “let up” that makes
loafing possible. It is easy enough
for the vagrant to hide out or dis
guise his laziness for a few short
weeks, but it cannot be done the year
round.
