The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-05-08
THE LABOR QUESTION.
A New Qestion-Not "1he
Negro in the Wood Pile"
But in the Cotton Mills.

DuC IN the lotion M1llS.
Some of the papers of the white
press discuss, pro and con, the feast
bility of employing negro operative in
the cotton mills. 1t seems that The
Greenville News takes the initiation,
favoring the idea, and The State pub.
fishes the editorial of ihe News and
commends adversely. Both The
State and The News produce some
strong points and, apparently, give
such consideration to advantages and
disadvantages to be derived from such
a scheme. When the capitalist puts
a dollar on the market for sale he offers
it whenever it brings most renumer-
ative return. taking in consideration,
and into the condition of the term :,
skill, and quantity. The negro wa
first tried on the plantation, and for
patient endurance he has no equal; he
has been tried as mechanic and a
mason, and his .jovial disposition
coupled with an understanding faculty
makes him an honest bread winner
and an intelligent laborer. Now
comes the question, sail he be tried
as an operative in the mills? Pub
lie sentiment may thwart the ex
pertinent for while, but demand
and supply will, despite sentiment,
regulate negro operatives. The on,
lockers and moulders of public scna
timent may, at first, prevail upon
the manufacturers to import labor
from the New England States, but
manufacturers arc too conversant
with that class of labor-born and
reared as they are, in strife and
strike-to have them come and SOW
seed of discord, anarchy and com
munism in section among people
whose blood is too hot to tolerate
unmitigated sovereignty where that
class has no capital invested.
We reiterate, time and deHa1d will
adjust the question, anSIsfsll wca Or
any other individual, eSn sly, will
not change the tide one way or the
other.
We, with the State. enter our pro
test against the employment of Negro
labor in the Gotten mills, but q far
different motive actuates us as we
proceed to offer and weigh the object.
ion. This is new epoch, and with
it the negro is beginning ii c race
for citizenship. He sees thGN he is
practically disfranchised, any the
only redemption he has is in t le ed
ucation of his children and thd
curing day by day, small trat is of
land upon which the honest pcI,pir
alton of Toll has blended with the
soil and the elements and makes him
rest contentedly after days vtrk.
Once put thencgro in the mills, ,Sand
one generation will succeed andhcr
in ignorance, and vice and suI Ior-.
stition- His children will no logger
attend the schools, the parent bill !
squander each week. earnings, Ind
fifty years from his entrance thc |
community in which he is employed !
will be stepped in ignorance. and |
citizenship will be lost privilege. |
There is nothing i'll the mlllsto in
s, ire thought and stimulate activity. !
The plantation is by far precrab!e
to the mill. There he works'about
six months in the year, has fee ac
cess to sunshine and air, ha more
time for school than the government
pays for and has the beauty Of atuGc
to elevate rough hcwed thought, and
life of independence and eas' 1t
is for the progress and e!evatin OF
the negro that We say, le. the mitcs
persuc the faith of ignorance and
bliss, and crowd them not the
glittering, deceptive avenues enc
progression. Let them ali be Cawn
from the plantation to the milIsand
an increased demand for laborwill
be stimulated. and tho childremnu
the parents will be benefited mu
rally and financially, and instea of
rearing dwarfed invalids to pc,et~
uate the race they will go for to
labor strong physically y and mcnlly
vigorously, healthy in body and md
under the influence ofnatures I'm
with crude, though hcalthful thou,ts
on the independence of manhood nd
respect for honesty. Let the nGo
stay out of the mills, what say VI!
Piedmont Indicator.
For every quarter in Il mans NcPt