The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-28
The CASE OF COTTON MILLS.

The efforts Of Governor Tlllman and
his organs to excite prejudice against
cotton factories as manifestations Of a
"money power" hostile to the interests OF
the farmers is one of the most peculiar
incidents of this campaign, says the Co.
lumbia State. Those who have raised
this issue must place very low estimate
upon the intelligence Of the agriculturists
of South Carolina when they expect them
to believe that there can be anything but
reciprocity Of good between, the cotton
planter and the cetton mill.
We have been crying for twenty years,
"Bring the mills to The cotton" and now,
at time when our superlative advants.
ges for the manufacture of our greatest
staple are being recognized abroad, when
capital is preparing to come to the State
for investment in cotton mills, when We
boast that ours il the chief cotton manu-
featuring State in the South, the sugges-
ton, tie insinuation is made that cotton
mills are antagonistic to cotton growers
and arc not to be encouraged by them.
Every bale of South Carolina cotton
which is manufactured in South Carolina
contributes to the industrial independence
of tho State. Every such bale keeps
money here which would otherwise go
out in purchases Of cotton goods, and
brings moneyhere which would not 9TH
erwise'come. Every such bale employs
in its manufacture white people, the
wives and children Of farmers, who
would otherwise havenoemployment, or
less remuneratiEe employment. Every
such bale tends to take the control Of cot:
ton prices from the spectators of Liver
pool and New York, and keePit at home,
subject only to the laws Of supply and
demand. Every such bale means con-
tribution toward the building up of the
State, toward the growth Of towns, the
employment Of mechanics; toward new
school houses and new Churches toward
the development Of truck farms and the
making Of local markets for all the food
products Of farms. Every such bale con.
tributes to the increase Of the white
population Of the State and the reten-
t,on OF citizens who would otherwise
leave 1t.
Without manufactures South Carolina's
future would be.very dark. Our ::capa-
bilities as strictly agricultural State un-
der our present system Of farming are
limited. Our hope is in the diversified
ton of our industries; and the capital
which builds and operates cotton mill
not only brings money to its owners and
pays money to its operatives, but gives
the neighboring farmers higher cash
price for their cotton than they could
elsewhere secure, creates home demand
for all the other products of their farms,
and establishes among them new centres
of education ard enterprise. The North
ern farmer so we'll knows the value of his
neighboring factory town as market
for his products and an enhancer OF the
value of his lands that he supports that
"protection" in which he has no share,
because he believes that it supports those
whose purchases support him, and
whose proximity supports the value Of
his farm.
The South Carolina cotton mill is to the
neighboring cotton planter as sunshine to
his land. Its Interests are linked to his.
Each is dependent upon the other. There
is no possible natural antagonism between
them. There should be no artificial en-
nifty. The Alliance Of Hampton County
recognized that fact the other day when it
unanimously and enthusiastically endors-
ed and commended the project to estab-
lish cotton factory ut the County seat.
And if the cotton mills are the friends
of the farmer, how can their owners and
managers be his enemies. What have
they to look for from the State but the
same low taxes and good government
which the farmer looks for7 They pay as
much on every dollar OF their property az
he does on his, and they cannot pay less.
These are as dependent upon good gov
ernment as he Is. Wherein is an owner
of stock in cotton mill, or an officer OF
cotton mill, disqualified from political
influence or public office? Wherein are
his interests antsgonistic to those OF the
State or any occupation Of its people?
There il not an Intelligent farmer IN
South Carolina who does not know IN his
heart that these things are true, and that