The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-21
BLACKS DIsPLACE WHITES
Southern Cotton Mill Owners Find
That Negro Help Comes Cheaper.

Columbia, S. c.. June 21.-One of the
most interesting problems that has
been considered in the south since the
war is that Of the employment of ne
grOes in the cotton mills. Up to within
the last year very little has been said
about it, but within the last few months
the low price of cotton goods has forced
the question of cheap labor upon the
south, and it has been discussed at
length, with the result that majOrity
have conceded that such an experiment
as the employment OF negroes, either
partially or exclusively, would for sew
eral reasons be doomed to failure.
Unterrified by this, however, the
Charleston cotton mill, which losses
forced TO suspend some months ago, re-
sumed operations a few days ago, with
a number of negroes in its employ, and
expressed the determination to employ
300, corresponding number of whites
being displaced, as a nucleus around
which they would build up an
exclusively black force. Their reasons
for this step, as set forth by the mill
owners, who are southern men, are,
first, the cheapness of negro la Dor, which
can be commanded for One-third the
price paid now for white labor, and an
alleged scarcity of white mill labor.
The white operatives thus thrown out
of employ ment and made destitute have
since that time been very much
wrought up and police have been de-
tailed to protect the negroes and mill
property, threats having been made
against both, as well as the persons of
the owners. Feeling runs very high
and serious trouble is apprehended. In
a manifesto isued yesterday, which
was denied publica ton by the Charles
ton papers, the displaced opera iVes de-
nOunce the conduct of southern mill
owners who sacrifice them to the COM
petition of cheap black Ia Dor and pledge
themselves not to submit supIneIy land
see this negro horde turned loose upon
the pursuits of our mothers, wives, wild
Ows, daughters and sisters and rob
them of their living"
One paragraph of the proclamation,
which is long and caustic throughout,
reads: Proximity is the parent of So
ciaI intercourse, which is IongingIy
cOurted by the cOlOred race, nOtwith-
standing all that has been said to the
contrary, and where does it abound
more than in cotton mills? Yet Mr..
White, president of the mill, proposes to
put the blacks and whites, male and fe-
male, side by side under one roof, there
by opening the doors to amaIga ma ton
and adultery, for matrimonial alliance
is prohibited by law. If the present ma
tional administra ton. at whose dis
pOSal are many prominent and desira-
bic positions, should decide to give
those of the city to it's strongest and
most faithful supporters, none would be
more VOciferOus in sounding the social
alarm, maligning, condemning and in
the most virulent manner holding the
administration up before the people for
rebuke and VituperatiOn than this mon
grel cotton mill advocate. Still if eve
~ office at the presidents disposal We're
filed by competent or incompetent col
ored men, it could not possibly be so
diSa StrOuS to the peace, social and finan-
cial condition of the city"