21 



the Spanish regime it was the cause of serious complaint. Echauz ^ 

 treats of this particular phase of the labor problem together with other 

 troubles of the hacendero. His remarks, although somewhat lengthy 

 and poetically expressed, are worthy of quotation as showing that the 

 sugar grower had much the same difficulties to contend with then as 

 now. The following is a free translation from page 83 of this book : 



"The planter, compelled by the harsh and imperious law of custom and of 

 lack of capital, a law more forceful and obligatory than any officially sanctioned 

 and published, is at once farmer and manufacturer; he cultivates the fields, 

 and busies himself with making sugar by short and simple methods, operations 

 in field and sugar house during certain months in the year being carried on 

 simultaneously, conditions which force him to pay out enormous sums of money 

 and to borrow at usurious rates. Not until there shall be established central 

 haciendas on extensive estates, until the farmer be allowed to remain farmer and 

 the manufacturer to occupy himself solely with his factory, will the sugar planter 

 prosper as he should, notwithstanding the fertility of our soil, the cheapness 

 of labor, and the large yields obtained here as compared with those in the Penin- 

 sula (Spain). 



"But these difficulties are as nothing compared to one of greater moment, 

 which most prejudices the farmer's welfare, which, unless an energetic remedy 

 is taken, or a law set forth binding on everyone, will put an end to agriculture 

 in the Island of Negros — the question of laborers. 



"This island, for its cultivation, already so intensive, for its progress, ever 

 greater, needs a multitude of laborers. Enough, perhaps, dwell within its bound- 

 aries, but will not work, preferring to enjoy the abundance of plains and mountains 

 plentiful with fruit, of rivers and of seas, which for slight effort yield to man his 

 daily sustenance. The lack of laborers on the island makes it necessary to seek 

 them from other provinces. 



"The month of September arrives, and the planter gazes with admiration on a 

 bountiful harvest; his complacency is without limit; passing from field to field, 

 he thinks of the number of piculs he is on the point of harvesting, but, in the 

 midst of a state of mind so satisfactory, a doubt assails him, he is perplexed by 

 one thought— laborers are needed— and to remedy this difficulty, thirty or forty 

 thousand pesos are sent off to the Island of Panay. November comes ; December, 

 January, and the promises made when he sent off the money are not yet fulfilled. 

 Neither the nimiber of laborers agreed upon nor the pesos advanced to them put 

 in their appearance. 



"Twenty or thirty well-clad individuals present themselves at the sugar house, 

 speak with the foremen and express a desire to go to work, because, as they say, 

 they know the planter has a kindly disposition and treats his men well, demand- 

 ing, at length, after a large amount of talk, from seven to t«n pesos apiece, which 

 they need to buy cedulas, pay taxes, or to support their families. The hacendero 

 grasps at this unforeseen opportunity, builds up new hopes on the strength of the 

 reinforcement, and hands over the money, and the surprise comes next day when 

 he finds himself without workmen and without coin. The laborers who presented 

 themselves the day before have disappeared during the night. 



"This actually happens in Negros, and there is urgent need of a speedy and 

 efficacious remedy for an evil which, if allowed to spread, may ruin the work of 

 many years. Regulations should be made regarding hours of work, wages which 

 must be paid, rations, voyages, time of stay in each hacienda, but, at the same 

 time, let some guaranty be" given to ciapital, some security to the pla nter." 



' Loc. cit. 



