The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-14
WAR ON TIE COTTON MILLS.
Citizen Josh Ashiey's Factory Bill is Dis
cussed-A Meeting OF the Committee In
Coiumbia-A Very Plain Statement
for the NSiII Men.
News and Couriar.7

sideration of Josh Ashley,s bill to reg
ulate the hours of labor in factories
was the feature of to-night's legislative
doings. At the invitation OF the judi
ciary committee of the House, repre-
sentatives of the leading manpfactur-
ing establishments throughout the
State appeared before the committee
and presented their views on the
pending measure. 1t was difficult
matter to secure a quorum, and it was
$50 o'clock before the meeting was
called to order by Chairman Brazeale
in the ball of the House Of Representa-
tives. Eight members of the commit
tee were present, and the following
mill men: Col. J. L. Orr, president Of
the Piedmont; Capt. E. A. Smythe,
president of Pelzer; Col. R. L. Nc
Caughrin, president of the Newberry
Mills; Allen Jones and John R. Lon
don, Of the Rock Hill Mills; O. Barber,
of the Chester Mills, and the following
from Spartan burg County: Capt. J. II.
Montgomery, president OF the Spartan
Mills; DR.. D. e. Fleming, president of
Whitney Mills, and Capt. D. E. Con-
verse, large owner of Pacolet, Clifton
and other mills. The clerk of the
committee read Mr.. Ashley's bill,
which provides for ten hours work
day or sixty hours a week, with one
hundred and ten hours per year to
make up for time lost by accident to
the machinery and time to clean up
the machinery, violation of the law to
be punishable by fine OF fifty to one
hundred dollars, one-half to so to the
informer.
Mr.. Ashley said be had agreed to
have the number of hours changed to
eleven per day or sixty-six week.
Capt. Smythe said be had not op-
posed the eleven hour law prepared by
Mr.. Wilson two years ago, but was
opposed to a ten hour law. The man
ufacturing industry in South Carolina
was then in its infancy, having four
teen mills with $1,000 spindles and
1900 looms. Now there are 100000
spindles and $1,000 looms. In Georgia
there is an eleven hour law; in North
Carolina no law. Competition was
great with che Northern mills and
those in the neighboring States, and
the growth of the mills would he re-
tarded by shortening the hours of
labor. The wages of laborers would
also be reduced, and taking selfish
view of the matter the mills already
existing would, with less competition,
in the State, be better able to control
its labor. Such a law as contemplated
would reduce the annual consumption
of cotton in the Pelzer Mills four thou
sand bales, and the reduction in the
State would be from twenty-five to
forty thousand. The wages of the op-
eratives would be reduced $4,000, and
their comforts and luxuries according
" decreased. It has been asserted
that the farmers wished such a law
passed in order to keep laborers on the
farms, but ne believed that the Legis-
lature would not act on such reason
as that. The Northern mills worked
ten hours, but owing to the unskilled
labor in the South that would be equal
to eleven hours in the Southern mills.
DR.. Sampson Pope spoke at length
in favor of an eleven hour law and
said he wished to see the factories
make money, but not out of the sweat
and blood of women and children.
The law two years ago would have in
cluded only women and children and
the factories would consequently have
filled their places with men.
Capt. Smythe replied that only chill
dren could he employed in the spin
ming department owing to the lowness
ofthe machinery.
DR.. Pope spoke at length, declaring
such an Act constitutional and hu.
name. The operatives wanted such a
law and it would not hurt the facto-
ries, but benefit them.
Col. Orr spoke at some length, de.
claring that ten hour law would ruin
every mill in the State. They were
home institutions and should not be
reckless1y injured. The factory EN-.
pioyees in the State are now worked
from sixty-six. to seventy-one hours 8
week. Three-fourths of the operatives
are paid by the piece work and are op.
posed to the shortening Of their hours
of labor. He had often been asked to
run his spindles through the noon
hour. If a law was passed there
would always be a disposition on the
part of politicians to tamper with it.
The mills in this State pay more
freight to get their cotton and get
their goods to market than do the mill
men of New England. Col. Orr ad-
dressed himself to several features OF
the bill.
He was followed by Mr.. Blease, who
insinuated tha5 the factory men bad
gone back on the Wilson bill two years
ago.
Col. Orr replied that he was ready to
stand by the Wilson bill now, and it
seemed that Mr.. Blease and his friends
had gone back on it.
MI. Blease did not think they had
gone back on anything, and advocated
sending the factories from the State if
it is necessary to preserve the lives
and the health of the women and chill.
dren of South Carolina. my God,
yes" he exclaimed, "if we have got to
buy capital by numbering women and
children, for Gods sake let it 60, let ii
CO."
Col. Orr: "There is no sense in that
sort Of talk and [ don't think it ought
to be encouraged by the committee.
1t IS not true ana ne knoWs IL as Well
as he knows anything"
Mr.. Smythe said his remarks had
been directed to ten hour law and he
also was willing to stand by the Wilson
bill. He denied that he had gone back
on that compromise measure.
Mr.. Blease said as he understood the
matter the gentleman had not acted in
good faith, and he was responsible in
and out of the hall for what he said.
Mr.. Blease proceeded to make flow
cry speech.
Mr.. Waters, of Edgefeld, said that
the committee wanted facts, not an
appeal to a jury.
Mr.. Blease said be would discuss the
measure in the House, where he would
be free from interruption. He said
the operatives by their vote for Till.
man and Gary against the factory rep
resentatives had declared they wanted
such law, and read a letter from DR..
Latimer, of Greenville, factory man.
ager, in favor of such bill.
Some wrangling took place and MIR.
Ashley took hand. 81 amt in favor