The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-17
THE COTTON MILL PROBLEM.

Mr.. j. j. Moran or the Atla lta OoH
stitution, has been in New England
studying the cotton mill problem. An
intelligent female operative said: "These
Massachusetts men denounced slavery
in the South, but they are trying to fast
en- upon us white slavery" She says
that the operatives are fined for flaws
in goods and that the filming system IS
practiced so as to rob the operatives of
the higher wages they are supposed TO
get. She gave description of the sin
ing which, if correct, is robbery.
Mr.. Moran says that, though the hours
are shorter in New England mills, the
tension is so great that it is harder on
the operatives than the longer hours
where those in the mills can say word
to a fellow worker without being dock
ed. Mr.. Moran says:
with the shorter hours demanded
and obtained by the men, came the
concurrent determination of the mill
men to compel their help to give that
increased service which had been
promised them in return. This
vigilance has been denounced by the
operatives as cruelty, but it was not
intended as such-it was but the
acceptance of situation which had
been forced upon them. There was
cruelty to weak men and boys in it;
there was barbarism toward the wo-
men in it, but the blow came from
their strong and lusty comrades who,
full of animal spirits and MASCULINE
ty. took little heed of the weakness
of minors or the functional derange-
ments of women. As neither class
could vote, they did not count for
much. 1t was in speaking with these
women that was heard the most pitt
full stories sof enforced application
to work which reeled the brain and
exhausted the system. These
speeches cannot be made in public
ly told in private, but they point
union meetings, nor are they willing
out the necessary corollary of short
hours-and that is, an eXhausting
application to work and strain on the
mind the evil consequences OF which
can readily be surmised.
Take the nerve-wrecked and worn
Mrs. Pickering, for instance, with
her short hours, and compare her
with the graceful whitelbonnetted
girl, with her long hours, as she
quits her days work, and the con-
tFast will be seen at once"
1t is also shown that the recent re-
auctions III many mills means starvation
wages.
Discussing the proposition Of the Ark
wright Club to have Congress pass a
universal ten hour law for all the States,
Mr.. Moran says that the main purpose
Of this is ito throw sand in the eyes of
workingmen of Massachusetts, and turn
them away from their effort to have
their wages equalized with 16 per cent
dividends and $4,000 year salaries to
such sons of mill presidents as act as
treasurers of big corporations"
After showing the futility of Federal
legislation for longer hours, Mr.. Moran
says:
but even if congress should be
induced to do so foolish thing as
TO adopt Mr.. Coverings idea, and
two-thirds of the States should unite
10 give it effect, it would still fall far
short Of the purpose aimed at The
Raleigh News and Observer well re-
marks on this point that if Congress
had the right to regulate the work
Ing hours III factories, and if it
should exercise that right. MIR. Low
ering would have to secure a few
more laws before he could DESTROY
the advantage the South enjoys. In
the first place, he would have to
move the equator nearer to Massa-
chusetts, drive out the native labor
of the South, destroy the magnificent
water power of the South. make If
as cheap to live in Massachusetts
as in North Carolina, and change
the soil and climate Of New Eng
land so that it would grow cotton.
Until these things are done. Mr..
Lowering may expect to see the South
go forward, and New England fall
behind"
Mr.. Moran's observations throw ;
flood of tight upon the mill question.
and the labor problems OF New England
and point to Tire fact that Southwar,
the star of cotton manufacturing take
its way.