The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22
NJ6inL N MiLLS AIS uov- SoJit OR
CUT

publication or the report OF TIE Ark
wright club wlrh reference 20 the super
ior advantages which tlo South enjoys
IN the manufacture Of cotton goods.
1lis report, made IS the leading mill
owners of New England. is Il complete
contradiction OF w. oI-4.llt-~ and
l-4l?s.tF7I tI-0Jds opinion given by Edward At
kinSon some years ago to tie effect that
the South could never compete on equal
| terms with the cotton mills Oh New EnS-
land" The report give, the south thea
advantages over New Eus~nd:
/. Nearness to the cotton, tnus permit
ting Il SAVING of trelghts.
=. CHEAPER 1uGI.
s. Lower taxes.
4. abundance of water power.
). Cheaper construction.
q. Cheaper sites.
Z. Cheaper labor, owing to the fact
that living is cheaper III The South.
s. Freedom from labor TROUBLES.
8. Freedom from legislative restrlc-
tons.
The report minimizes the first six adj
yantages, which are permanent and viii
remain always, and emphasizes the last
three. The Columbia State exposes
the real purpose of THUS putting all the
stress on the last three advantages in
these wise words:
1T did not need the final recon-
mendatso IONS of the committee, unan-
imously adopted by TIE club, to show
THAT the paper is drawn for the
twofo.d purpose of justiiying cut
in wages and inducing the New
England legislatures to repeal all
laws restricting hours Of labor in
the mills. To make the Operative
submit to wage reductions without
strike lest they lose all chance
of work hereafter by the final col
lapse of the industry is the
primary am: the secondary
aim is to head off the
new labor laws annually advocated
ana possibly make leg .slators, in the
fear of driving quarter of bill
lion capital and quarter of mil
lion operatives out of employment,
repeal the whole chapter of old
ones"
Tomorrow if the wages of labor in
Massachusetts were reduced to the rate
paid in North Carolina, the South would
still posses six advantages over New
England that would surely transfer the
manufacture of cotton to the cotton pro-
ducing States.
The recognition of the advantages the
South enjoys, strongly put as they are,
in the report of the Arkwright club,
will prove of much value to the South.
i e fact that the manufacturers make
it plea for local legislation does not
detract from the fact that it is an ex-
pert estimate that will do much to con-
tinue the bn- ing of cotton mills in the
South until the bulk OF. the manufacture
ing is carried on by the side of the grow
cotton fields.
The South has nothing to fear The
political conditions are such that there
will be no change in the labor laws of
and New England state. Reduction
of wages will provoke strikes. Strikes
VIII clOp Ui1llS anu lIlCItdSG Lue
demand for Southern goods, and increas-
ed demand will strengthen the price.
The truth is that the New England
manufacturers are trying to run against
a law of trade and manufacturing that
is memorable. They cannot manufac-
ture cotton into goods as cheaply as the
South can. They have but one of two
courses to pursue, /. To remove their
spindles to the cotton fields, or 2. Con-
vert their factories into some other line
of manufacture in which the natural
advantages are not all against them.
One of these courses they must take
Appeals for legislative relief cannot avail
them against Southern competition. They
have used it against foreign competition
long and continuously, but there is no
hope for their present deliverance in
legislation. They must come nearer the
cotton fields or go out Of business.