The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22
cient Importance, nor all combined,

We have, therefore, pfdcCcally TO con-
slider only the problem that is presented
by the fact that labor is cheaper in the
South; that the hours of labor are long
or, and that there is neither any of the
restrictive legislation urged among us
bv the labor unions, and very generally
placed upon our statute books, nor any
prospect even of an early agitation in
behalf of such restrictions. In otnGl
words, we cannot expect any improve
ment to benefit us from change Of the
conditions in the South for years to
come. Whatever remedy may be applied
must be the work of Northern manufac-
turers seeking to equalize wages by the
application of reduction in some form of
the earnings of their own operatives.
1t needs no argument to prove that
none of the manufacturers of this sec
ton are likely long to be exempt from
the damaging effects of this competition.
II is true that some of our manufac-
turers do not yet feel it, but it is inn
possible that present conditions should
long prevail without causing them, at
first indirect, and, later on, direct injury.
The South itself is gradually encroach-
ing upon the business of spinning higher
numbers Even if this progress were not
to continue, the inevitable result of
such competition as it is now offering is
to drive more and more of the Northern
spinners to higher counts, and thus to
compete with those who are already in
the field.
1t is needless to detail the steps by
which the competition is becoming gem
eral, or to point out to manufacturers
that their case is common one, ana
that if they would make successful
contest for continued existence they
must recognize what the French would
cali the solidarity" of the industry, and
he prepared to act all together for the
common defence.
Nor are cotton manufacturers and
their operatives alone concerned in any
struggle into which We may be forced.
All interests and all industries should
recognize not merely their independence
and the impossibility of the prosperity
of one of them apart from the Test, but
their particular dependence on the cot
ton industry-the largest single industry
in the United States, and much the
largest in New England. Disaster to
cotton manufacture means great injury
to all wholesale and retail trade, to rail
roads. to artisans of every kind, to truck
farmers-to the whole community.
Your committee desire to give express
sion in the strongest terms to the inn
portance Of seeking n reversal of the
policy which has handicapped New Eng
land, and which has placed double
burden upon Massachusetts,, namely,
the restriction of the hours of labor. 1t
is self-evident that machinery, running
at the same speed, attended by the same
number of hands, to given number OF
spindles or looms, operated GO hours a
week, can make money, when identical
machinery, operated So hours week or
60 hours a week. does not return new
dollar for an old one.
We are sure that it is quite as much
for the interests Of operatives themselves
as it is for that of the manufacturers
that the yeXatious restrictions upon the
freedom of contract should be removed
1t is often said that the interest of OPP
eratiyes as to hours of labor and wages
is directly opposed to that Of the EN-
ployer. Nothing can show the super
fetal character of such a view more
clearly than the present situation. Em-
ployers cannot run permanently at a loss
This loss is now, beyond doubt, created
in part by the Southern competition
Of longer hours. Thus the very agita-
ton which forces shorter hours upon
New England tends to destroy the in
dustry on which the employees themselves
| depend.
Undoubtedly, it will be difficult to per-
suade them that in seeking their own in
terests we are consulting theirs as we'll
Nevertheless, it seems a duty to apply
at once to the Legislatures of the New
England States to put us back upon a
footing with the manufacturers in other
parts OF the country. 1t is particularly
incumbent upon us to urge the Legisla-
ture of Massachusetts to repeal the leg
islation reducing the hours of labor to
IS, in order that this commonwealth
may not be at a disadvantage as COM
pared with its immediate neighbors.
Meanwhile, it is not possible for man
ufacturers to wait for slow action Of
legislatures, nor even to count upon il
that their reasonable request will be
granted. Manufacturers must act fol-
themselves, and endeavor to introduce in
their own mills conditions more nearly
resembling those of their southern COM
petitors. They cannot lengthen the
hours of labor, but they can reduce the
wages of their operatives, not, indeed
to such an extent as to make them equal
with these of southern operatives, MOI
would it be desirable so to reduce them
If it were possible, since that which suf-
fees for a comfortable livelihood in the
south would be entirely inadequate in
the north. Unless they can be reduced
somewhat, it is obviously impossible foI
northern manufacturers to produce goods
except at a loss.
1t may be urged with great force that
| no reduction of wages can effect rem
edy of the real evil, which is an over
production of goods. On the contrary
| il has a tendency to make the cost Of
| goods lower and to continue the produc
| ton at its present large amount, or even
| to increase it. While this is true it must
be borne in mind that the problem which
presents itself to us is how we can sci
any of our goods in competition will
anufacturers who make them at Q
| lower cost. We cannot persuade thos,
who still find profit in running theii