The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-14
Negroes In Cotton Mills.

For several weeks the newspapers have dis
cussed the action OF the owners OF the Charl-
eston Cotton Mil in putting negroes TO
work In their mill.
All sorts OF objection has been urged to the
innovation, and violence by the former white
operatives was feared.
The step was tas en- because Of the difficulty
in getting white operatives in sufficient num-
bers to ensure the constant turning of the
wheels.
The sentiment in Charleston was strong
against white labor in the cotton mills, and
so the deficiency in labor occurred, and the
necessity for employing colored labor arose.
Following the action Of the Charleston Cot
ton Mill, a company in Columbia have APP
piled for a charter for a mill which Is to be
run exclusively by negro operatives, under
experienced white bosses.
1t has been urged that the negroes were un-
reliable or Incompetent for the work in cotton
mills.
It has been urged that on account Of race
prejudice they should not be allowed 10 go
into the mills.
1t has been urged that as good a place as
that OF mill operative should be reserved for
the white operative because OF his color.
1t has also been urged that the negro should
not be employed in the mills because he
could work at less wages and would therefore
finally work white operatives out Of the
mills.
The South is rich In her resources.
II Is the best climate In the world.
II has the surest and the best money crop
In the world.
1t has untold fortunes In vast water power
that now goes 70 waste.
We have the greatest supply of the most
docile and faithful labor to be found on the
globe. On no spot OF all this earth is there 80
much cheap and reliable labor to the square
mile as Is TO be found in South Carolina.
Our wealth lies in the abundance OF our un.
utilized labor, which is more valuable than
the gold mines OF California, and Is worth
more than all the coal in all the United
States.
Standing as we do, or the very verge of
great and onward progress, Is the industry
and thrift of the country, to be held back
because of any prejudice against the best Ia
Dor In the world?
The negro has had the prejdtice of the
white man in his way ever since emancipa-
ton. After the war all sorts Of evil was pre-
dicted of the manumitted negro. He would
not make a good citizen. He would relapse
into barbarism. Except under compulsion.
he would not work. Because of his freedom
the cotton crop would diminish.
But none of the evil predictions have been
verified. The fact is. that the negro has done
a very large per cent Of all the work that has
been done in South Carolina. And he has
done 1t well.
Somebody will try the experiment OF work.
Ing negroes In the cotton mills, and 1t is NOR.
ally certain that the negro will succeed In
giving the same satisfaction to the mill that
be has given on the farm.
Negroes work in all places where efficient
and steady labor is in demand. And they
have not, as far as we now recollect, failed in
any place.
If they should succeed. South Carolina is
only on the Threshold OF her manufacturing
interests. Tn unutiliZed water power and
the unemployed negroes of this State would
make the Commonwealth Of South Carolina
great and rich, without doing harm in any
way to anybody.
No white operative need be thrown out OF a
job. All the cotton that is grown must be
manufactured by somebody and new mills
could be built In the cotton fields, where the
negro could not only grow the staple, but be
a factor in It's spinning and weaving.