The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-03
PERNICIOUS LAW.
The Legislature Interfering with
LabOrers While Allowing Migrants
TO Have their Own Way.

10 Have their Own Way.
The General Assembly of South Carolina
will not be so foolish AZ TO interfere with the
honest labor of this Stale. while allowing va.
grants to do rs they please.
The mean thing about The proposed legisla-
tion lies in the fact of It's discrimination
against Il particular class. while eXempting
the remaining portion OF the laborng people
from The effect of tn" law. The law would
prevent factory operatives from working
more than eight hours day while allowing
farm hands, railroad hands, livery stable
hands, hotel cooks, nurses. clerks and book
keepers, and thousands of others to toll for
sixteen hours day.
The attempt at interference with factory
operatives seems intended for a purpose
The Spartanburg Herald says:
We sincerely trust that all the bills looking
TO the establishment OF Il labor bureau In this
State, Will meet the tate they merit-death
beyond resurrection. The Legislature seems
inclined TO indulge in unwarranted and per-
nicious Interference In the relations between
labor and capital, and IL would be particular
~ unfortunate just at this time when the
state is taking on new industrial life tor an
tagonlstic legislation 10 retard and possibly
whole agitation, stripped Of iLs senumentali-
ty aud pSeudo-Sympathy for dOwn-trodden
labor, Is to provide large, fat office for some
one.
What on earth labor com m issioner would
or could find To do has not been stated. The
relations between The factory operatives and
the mill authorities are amIcaUle. Each re-
spects the rights of the other and in most fac.
tory villages there IL never any trouble nor
friction of any kiud. Spartanburg county is
the centre OF the cotton manufacturing in
dustry, and we venture the assertion that
more peacable and contented class of people
cannot be found In America, than at the fac.
tory villages In this county. commissioner
could find nothing to do IN this section and
the only result OF having such an unnecessa-
ry officer would be to stir up strife among the
factory lolk and precipltate labors troubles
which have hel etofore never existed.
The Herald has always heen and always
will be the friend and champion OF the labor
Ing man. If we could see the slightest bene-
hi To be derived from having a labor commits
Sioner, If we could see where the condition or
interests or the factory operatives would be
In any way bettered, we should unreServedly
espouse their cause. But, Viewing the matter
from every standpoint and especially from
that OF the operatives themselves, we cannot
see where such legislation would advantage
them in the least, but on the contrary, can
see where untold troubles may arise which
IN the end will only hurt the operatives and
not the mill owners.
Again. the factory people do not ask for
this legislation. Asa whole they are an hon.
est anu Intelligent class and know what best
suits them and what will best su bserye their
Interests. All they wish Is TO be let alone.
fhey have proved themselves fully compe-
tent to adjns whatever issues may arise be.
tween Them and their EN- ployers without out.
side interference and have learned from bit
ter experience that past legislation supposed
10 be Tor their benent has proved a BOOM
erang and hurt more than helped them.
The laboring people In this State are more
contented and less troublesome than in any
other section of the country. They do not
need nor DO they ask the State to help them,
and patriotism aud com on sense should i'm
pei the legislature 10 let well enough alone
and not jeapardlZe the laborers' interests as
well as the States prosperity by unnecessary
and unwse legislation.