The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-15

TO CONTROL SOUTHERN MILLS.

The shrewd New England capitalists who
are in control Of the cotton manufacturing
industry UP in that end of the country
are contemplating truly NapoIeonlc move
Tho capture of cotton manufacture In the
South by the removal OF their mills to this
section while the owners remain in the
East and engage in yet other branches Of
manufacturing.
This plan is only being contemplated and
discussed. however. at this time. but the
conviction has evidently been reached that
the way TO meet Southern manufacturing
competition is not to oppose, but control 1t
through the use Of unlimited capital The
idea was given definite expression recently
by Mr.. Jones S. Davis Of Holyoko. Mass.
at the Boston meeting Of the New England
Cotton Manufacturers association. MIR.
Davis sald
"As fast as the space now occupied by
cosfser cotton machinery Gun be utilized by
linen machinery. the cotton machinery ghould
be Transferred to the South, whore mills
SHOULD DO established or acquired by the as
hn' iation. Ttis double plan will secure to
Now England the great and remuneratiyo
linen iudl stry TO take the Place of the coarsor
cotton manufacture that you are bound to
lose IN the end anyway, and Will enable New
ErFlona capital aud brains to compete on
equal terms ON It's Cwn ground with tho South
mat Ia taking tho coarscr u0ituns from us OH
account, chiefly, Of certain distinct local nd
NRniages, MS We believe"
The idea has been often advanced that
tho Now Englanders should abandon the
coarser cotton manufactures TO the South
and devote the Eastern mills to the finer
grades and to linen hut thig Is about
tho first explicit suggestion that New Eng
land capital should sim control the coarser
manufactures although produced In the
South. lsstead of a concentration OF New
England money, therefore, on the finer
grades and articles OF cotton manufacture.
or on tho manufacture Of linen, It is pro-
po9od to distribute both the New England
capital and industry by occupying the
Southern field as we'll as the Eastern. In
word. tho South Is TO be invaded and car
tured by the power OF the mighty dollar.
Ihls, at first glance, might look like n
good thing for the South. We want our
section filled with industrial enternri ,o7
Factories would give employment TO labor
ana cause tho expenditure of large sums
OF money in communities where now tho
dollars are scarce. market would he
furnished tho planter at his door for hi.
crop So far so good
But at last competition would no want.
ing-the competition that would put I'M mo
price OF the raw material and mn dawn
the price to tho consumers Tho scheme
would be virtually the creation of n Nsu,
england cotton manufacturing trust, The
South would continue to pay tribute TO New
England.
what we want rather to see Is Southern
money going into Southern factories. sly-
ing us all the advantages of the presence
OF industrial enterprises and reaerylng ,ho
profits to the South. II tho South win
not uso Its own money in manufactures
then let us have outside money hut 6..st
let us continue 10 urge home CAPITAL inio
factory enterprise. This last New Enrl,na
proposition should receive attention in tho
south-Soufhern capital ought not 10 allow
New England trust to monopolise tho
southern Misunderstanding field!