Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-05
LABOR IN THE SOUTH
Its Development and Future D;~-zs 4 by
Mr.. Wright
The Labor Commissioner Talks About
the COlored Question and It's Solu-
ton Cotton as q Basis.

| me LABOR COmm1ss1Oner Talks About
the Colored Question and It's solu-
| ton Cotton as a Basis.
Mr.. Carroll D. Wright. commissioner of
! labor, delivered an interesting lecture be-
| fore the National Geographic Society at the
| National Rifles Armory last evening on the
| subject Labor in the South" For many
years." he began, sit has been asserted
that climatic influences would prevent the
extension Of the factory system in some Of
! the countries of Asia which threaten COM
| petition with western Europe and with the
| United States, and within decade Of years
| public men in our country have insisted
that the factories, workshops and extensive
works using machinery could not be car
| ried on profitably in our southern states.
| have not been one who has shared these
| views. 1 have felt for many years that the
extension of the factory system in the
southern states was simply the work Of
| time and the discovery or development of
| raw materials essential to it's extension. I
! think today the facts warrant this conclu-
sion. and that the development of Industries
| in the south shows clearly that no climatic
influence can stay it's further and magni-
ficent development
This was the text of his lecture, and he
proceeded to elaborate the idea expressed in
an interesting array of facts and figures.
He referred to the condition of the south
at the close of the war and briefly reviewed
it's industrial progress since, paying high
tribute to the sublime patience displayed
by it's people during the reconstruction Pc
ricd, and said that this patience, combined
with an activity and courage in their bust
ness similar to that displayed by them on
the field of battle, had accomplished much
in the development OF the resources OF the
south and the upbuilding of their land.
1.-The first twelve or fifteen years since the
close Of the war might be termed the pc
Rod Of patience, during which the south
was pulling itself together and adjusting it.
self to the new and strange conditions.
The young men of the south have learned
that there are two aristocracies-the one
which their fathers represented, the ever
attractive. honorable aristocracy or blood
and that other aristocracy which claims ad-
miration today, the aristocracy of enter
prise, activity and development-so that
while claiming to be the scions of the one
they have become members of the other
With the pride and ambition which the first
had furnished, they have put their Shout
ders to the wheel in making the newer
aristocracy respected the world over, and
the last half Of the generation has shown
a progress not only remarkable for it's ex-
tent and the diversity of its results, but
magical. as we study its proportions"
Basic Industry.
Mr. Wright said that the first source of
wealth which attracted capital to the
southern states was hidden beneath the
surface-the mineral deposits-and he told
of their vastness. The natural conditions
of thes, mineral lands, he said We're guar
antees for favorable and economical min
ing and for cheap and comfortable living.
The southern Appalachian region is Won
derfully favored by its topography, and Mr..
Wright predicted that existing dlsadvan-
too in he TRANSFORMATION
seen be .ully overcome. The prosperity OF
the south in Its iron industries naturally
indicates prosperity in all other industries,
it being the basic industry of any country.
In the SOUTH however, the raising Of cotton
may be regarded as the basic industry and
per maps its cultivation more truly indicates
the Industrial growth of the region than
does the development of the iron industry.
AS showing the rapid progress In the de-
velopment of the cotton industries in the
south he said that the product of the cot
ton mills had increased from sd ,OSS. 712 in
1880 to SAG 81 SOB in 1890.
The lecturer gave number of interesting
facts to show that the prosperity of the
south is real, and not merely on the sur
face, and also that the south is keeping
pace with the times in the matter of edu-
cation The extension of deep water IA
cilities is essential to the south, In order
to enable her to meet the growing demands
for her products.
The Negro Question.
Inc negro question:, Win respect TO It's |
laticn to the Industrial progress Of the |
country, received considerable attention at |
the hands of the speaker. He said that |
there was no forcible solution of the negro |
question, and that it was absurd to think |
Of colonizing the negro either at home or |
abroad. According to him. the negro can |
no more be colonized than he can be made |
a Caucasian THE only true policy he |
commended, lis to do the best that can be |
n q hes nd
the very best Indian out of the present |
negro and Indian, and make Of them in |
dustrious and intelligent citizens. Educa-
ton by the book Is all very well, but it is |
not sufficient. What the negro needs is |
what the Indian needs, and that Is, to be |
taught how to do something fairly WELL"
He believed that the negro could not be as
simulated with the white race. and that the |
whole negro question must be considered |
along Industrial lines. By so considering |
it, he thought the solution would grow |
more apparent, the status Of the negro
more satisfactory, and the welfare Of the
more thoroughly assured. While
slavery is the simplest form Of labor, as
despotism Is the simplest form of govern
ment, the moment freedom comes indi-
vidua1 rights become prominent and social
political and industrial affairs correspond
ingly complicated resulting eventually in
strikes. lockouts and other struggles be-
tween labor and capital. His belief was |
that the aristocracy Of brains made up
from the best minds Of the two elements |
will solve the questions between these two
forces whenever they must be solved.
Golden Rule.
The labor question could not be solved
now, because the very conditions which
make the system Of competition a neces-
sity prevent it's solution. 1.-THE wage sys-
tenn which now exists in all parts Of the
land" said he, must hold sway until the
leaders Of industry and Of labor are ready
basis golden |
that is, when capital is ready to associate
itself with labor, not as its controller. but
as it's fellow, and when labor is intelligent
enough to accept the fellowship" He pre-
dicted that industrial education and owner
ship Of lands will secure industrial peace
in the south and freedom from iconoclastic
socialism. There was no need to fear So
ciGlism anarchy. Industrial progress,
Mr.. Wright said, kills DESTRUCTIVE. social
ism and aids aud furthers constructive so
cialism. He had no sympathy with those