The state chronicle., 1893-02-09
AGAINST OPERATIVES. /.
WORK IN COTTON u.c-
TORIES.
Les'siauon Restricting the Hour. of
Labor Factory Operatives On.
posed To the Harris Bill-Itts
question of Bread and
Meat and Shelter.

.he Harris bill to abolish night work
IN cotton mills. Every mill man
Knows that this would be the ineyita
bic result of prohibiting women and
minors working between the hours of
10 p. m. and 6 p. m.
1t IS to b' assumed that those who
favor the bill now before the leeisla
ture, restricting the hours of labor in
cotton and woolen mills, honestly be-
ileve that the proposed measure will
result in benefit to the lsboring classes
1t must also be assumed that sworn
legislators, the representatives of the
whole people, in their desire to do good
to one class of the people would not be
willing to do an injustice to another
class.
In considering a question of this
kind our conclusions should be based
upon facts, not theories, upon the con-
dltions OF things as they are, not upon
an ideal state that we would like to
see. The object of this article is to
present few facts that have been OBJ
served by your correspond mt.
Your correspondent, I'D. A. T."
has presented some very important
facts bearing on this subject that ap
ply to all the mills of the State and
they need not bs repeated here. But
wish especially to emphasize the fact
that this bill would be a great hard
ship to a large number of mil 8
throughout this section that run at
night. These mills are generally
owned by small capitalists, farmers
and laborers, frequently gotten up on
he assessment plan and so few of
them are fully grown and we'll on their
feet that it would be great misfor-
tune for restrictive law to be passed
at this time. II is well known that
he comparative cost of equipping and
maintaining small mills is so great
that in some instances The business
could not be made renumerative with
out running at night. The fact is,
the bill, as proposed, would not only
reduce the profits of most of our mills
below what the business pays in
neighboring States, but to many of the
mills mentioned it would bring serious
embarrassments.
| cannot believe that our legislators
tor the sake of supposed benefit to
the operatives in the mills, would be
willing to cripple this important indus.
try, and seriously injure the interests
OF large class of good citizens by
whose efforts and industry these mills
were brought into existence. 1t is not
sight for the government to say to the
manufacturer: "Unless your factory
can be made remunerative by running
during certain hours prescribed by
Law, then you must either run at a loss
or let your machinery stand idle, even
though scores of laborers may be at
your door begging for work"
While / do not hesitate to maintain
that the rights Of the manufacturer
are or ought to be just as sacred in the
yes Of the law as the rights of the
operatives, / am by no means wanting
in consideration for the needs of the
Iaborer, and l certainly would not op-
pose any law that might be necessary
for the protection of the women and
children.
he practi ,al point to be considered
is whether the relation between the
manufacturers and their operatives is
such as to call for legislative inter.
ference. Is there any need co. a re.
'tric;ive law and would the proposed
bill benefit even the laboring classes:
Let the facts speak for themselves, and
It may be noted that the operatives
who are engaged in night work are
opposed to this bill because, as one ol
them tersely expressed it to me, "our
meat and bread depend on it." The
experience of the Atherton Mill in
having more applicants than they
could receive is by no means excep-
ional. The superintendent of the
Linden Mill here is constantly receiv.
ing applications for work.
l recolect that about the time our
mill commenced night work several
families came to US who not only had
no homes, but they were in absolute
need of the necessaries of life, were but
poorly clad and but few of them could
read and write. We gave them night
work, and to-day they are living in
comfortable houses, have plenty to eat,
neat, comfortable clothing to wear,
and by means of An afternoon day
school, conducted for their benefit, many
Of then learned to read and
write. Anyone can see that they
are more comfortable, happier and
better provided for than defore they
came here. One father remarked to
me to day that his children were
healthier than they had ever been be-
fore-they had previously worked on
farm. A few days ago the minister
at this place told me that before COM
ing here he had been opposed, on
theo- -etical grounds, to women and
children doing night work in mills,
but since seeing the practical opera
ton of the system, coming into per
sonal contact with the people, and
noticing their improvement in every
way, he had become convinced that in
this instance, at least, night work had
been blessing rather than curse to
these people.
What will these operatives do if we
have to abolish night work? Whal
will become of the hundreds Ct o,hert
in this and adjacent counties? Where
can they get employment when it i:
stated by superintendents that there are
five applicants for every vacancy