The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-23
WHITE OPERATIVES
MAYATTACK NEGROES IN CHARLES
TON COTTON MILL.
The Skilled Laborers Shut OFF From Means
OF Earning Bread and Barred Out OF the
N~ewspaDers

of Earning Bread and Barred Out of the
Newspapers.
A patch to the Columbia State
FRI Charleston saws the white ope
: lives who formerly worked in the
Charleston Gotten mill before the re
cent reorganization. have not yet be
come reconciIed to their displacement
by negro labor. There are about SOC
white operatives, who have been IN
the city ever since the mill shut down
last fall, who are out of employment
and absolutely without a means OF
subsistence. They are skilled opera
tives and are fit for no other vocation
of life. The determination OF the new
management not to give employment
to these operatives, who are without
the necessary means of leaving the
city and seeking work elsewhere, nat,
uraliy excites them, end the strained
relations which are now existing be-
tween these people and the negro
operatives should not be wondered at.
Since the mills resumed operation,
it has been necessary to keep a de.
tail of police officers in the vicinity OF
the mills TO preserve the peace. The
white operatives continue to threaten
the negroes. and even the owners OF
the mill and the property itself, that
trouble OF some kind is liable to break
out at any time. This state OF affairs
is not destined to give the new man
agement any peace of mind. They
wish to continue the employment OF
the negroes at one,third the rate for.
merly paid to the white operatives and
reap the consequent profits, but the
attendant danger of violence on the
part of the operatives makes the ex'
pertinent one of great risk and a
source of much alarm to the manage
ment.
The operatives recently presented q
communication to the local newspa-
pers, which was refused, as are many
matters relating to the employment
and the substitution of negro labor
for white. The operatives are deter
mined to present their cause to the
public, and this afternoon the opera
tiyes are distributing the letter in the
form of bills about tie streets; They
are hung in the street cars and at Off
ferent public places. The affair has
created something OF a sensation.
The letter is caustic, to say the least OF
it, and furnishes interesting reading.
Here it is: -
Mr.. Editor: A few days ago the old
familiar whistle that has been silent
so long broke the industrious lethargy
that has prevailed for many months
in this beautiful part of u city: 1t
awakened many from a tried and en-
forced indulgence in idleness, but in
stead of joy and gladness it brought
sadness and tears to the cheeks OF a
large and respectable portion of our
community. 1t sounded the death
knell to all their hopes and patient
waiting it struck not their ears as the
harbinger of the peace, prosperity and
better days they were looking long
ingly for and praying to come, but as
the advance signal OF continued in
activity and want.
Some had applied and been refused
employment because their complexion
clearly indicated they were not tinged
with negro blood. Still they could
not realize that evidences Of amalga'
nation and no long years of expert
ence were prerequisite to procure EN-.
ployment in the lately revised Charles.
ton mills. But doubt was dispelled
and truth flashed over their minds as
they watched the negroes move in the
direction of the mills. Seetbing con-
tempt for the propagators of this dia'
bolical conspiracy against white Ia,
Dor of the south fred the cheeks,
dried the eyes and filled feminine
hearts with indignation, and had
their voices been equal to the mills
blast, Mr.. Witte would have quaked
upon his luxurious couch of ease, and
sworn by all his gods nothing is less
desirable than a mongrel cotton mill
presidency.
Indeed, the unexpected has happen.
ed. Who could read the history OF
Charleston and predict she would be
the first city of the western world to
produce a negro-loving cotton mill
president: the first to issue a manifesto
declaring it to be bond, holders pur-
pose to mix whites and blacks in
in southern mills; the first to repudi-
ate social distinction in labor and sub
ject the young, beautifuland Innocent
of our southland, on whom fortune
has not smiled, to competing for
bread at the side of the uncouth Afri-
cans, whose great physical powers
adapt them for more arduous and
equally needy pursuits.
Our objection, ss operatives, to ad.
hitting colored people to the textile
industries is an admission of their ca
pability to become skilled operatives.
If, as some say, they are incapable of
acquiring the knowledge necessary in
this branch, then we operatives have
nothing to apprehend, but it is our
opinion they are as susceptible here as
elsewhere, and it is we'll known in
every craft where they have acquired
knowledge that deterioration of wages
set in. For this reason, bondholders
are willing to spend $40, COO or $50, O0O
for educating them, claiming it to be
an investment certain to yield large
dividends.
1t is currently reported that Super.
intendent Hayden entered into a con.
tract with the mill company to fur
nish them 300 thoroughly efficient
colored operatives in one year, or
forfeit all claims against the company,
but if he succeeds is to have IS per
day and a bonus of $4,000 for
his years services. In addition to
- ILL., $4,000. - IL foI