The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-27

dition in the Northern and Southern
mills must still be met"
But it is rumored that large'number
of Russian Jews are to be imported to
take the places Of New England work
ems already in the cotton district, /
remarked.
They will not be allowed to come
in under the new law" said Mr.. Ding
ley. very decidedly. "T'he laws on I'M
migration will be strictly enforced, and
/ do not think the cotton operatives OF
New England need fear that particular
danger"
WHY THE SOUTH rs STRONG.
He next paid pleasant tribute to the
character of the French Canadian oper-
atives who have settled in such large
numbers in New England factory towns.
Il have observed themf' he said. They
become citizens in most instances, adopt
the American standard of living and
make peaceable and law-abiding c!tl-
Zens."
"Now. tell me exactly why you attach
so much Importance to the competition
of Southern mills?'' asked.
II have looked into the question very
carefully" he said. ''In the first place
we must not assume that the Southern
cotton mill operatives are negroes. AS
a matter of fact they are entirely white
people. They come from the Piedmont
region and the mountains; they are
strong. They pick up the skill necessary
for the coarser kind Of work very read
lily. They are willing to work twelve
hours n day and for wages 30 per cent
lower than the New England operatives.
Their standard of living is also lower.
The skill necessary to cotton spinning
and weaving is quickly acquired"
/ fairly gasped; this was a pretty for
midable statement of the reasons why
Southern competition must be taken into
account. l happened. however, to think
of Il point which had been in my mind
for some time.
The New Bedford people claim that
the Southern competition does not affect
them" / said. because they only make
the finer grades of cottons."
"That is true in that particular in
stance" responded Mr.. Dingley very
frankly. 1.-THE New Bedford manufac-
turers made their reduction largely on
account of local market conditions. 1t
was sympathetic in that particular in
stance, but it emphasizes point which
/ want to make-there is a reimbursement
of the whole cotton industry going on.
1t is inevitable that the South will, in
course of time. produce almost entirely
the coarse cottons and that the finer
grades will become the New England
speciality.
AN INDUSTRIAL ADJUSTMENT.
There is already noticeable ten
dency among New England manufactur-
~, 11n
margin of profit offered by the cheap
labor supply is toe tempting to be re-
sited But You can readily see that the
New England operatives will not go
South, because they are not looking for
the longer hours and lower wages which
prevail there"
"Ihen there is to be a general read
justment. of the industry all along the
line, is there not?"
Precisely, and, of course, like any
other revolution, it will be painful one
until things settle down into a normal
condition, but such establishments are
going on all the time. Why, at one time
pig iron was made successfully and with
profit in New England. Now none is
made there. In the same way the type
setting machines replaced the hand
compositors. Again, the farmers in the
West drove the New England farmers
out of the market in the production of
wheat. These things cannot be helped.
You do favor, however, a reduction
Of the hours of labor in the South? |
asked. "Why take away that advan-
tage?"
That's just what the Southern mill
owners ask me-" said Congressman
Dingley with a smile. Il say to them
that they are entitled to every natural
advantage which they possess as cot
ton manufacturing section, and there can
be no interference with that, but the
longer hours of labor are by no means
a natural advantage; it is a condition
which ignorant people accept. At least
the standard should be brought up to
that already enjoyed in the New Eng
land mills. | want to be clearly under
stood on this point / only favor legis-
lati0n on this point because it may rem
edy an artificial condition. There will
still be the advantage Of lower wages
''Do you think it desirable to preserve
that feature2" | asked.
Congressman Dingley submitted to in
terrogation in the most patient and good
ratured manner possible. He was very
frank, too. He did not attempt to take
refuge in a lot of generalities on the
wage question. He replied very simply:
Il think wages viii remain low in the
Southern cotton industry until other
manufacturers come in to take up the
surplus labor. Then wages will natur-
ally rise. You see the cotton manufac-
turer is almost the only industry in GER
tain sections of the South. 1t has been
established about ten years and the
New England States have for some time
felt the condition. The other local con-
diti0ns only accentuate it just now and
call the attention of the whole country
to the changes which are going on in
this industry"
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY.