New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-13
THE COTTON INDUSTRY PROBLEM.
PROFESSOR GUNToN LECTURES on THE
TROUBLES IN THE EASTERN STATES
AND DECLARES THEM IN



Professor George Gunton delivered lecture last
night in the Assembly Rooms nj Twentieth-st. ana
Fifth-ave.. on Protection and the Cotton Indus
try" large audience was present ana the pro-
lessor literally lpplauded at the end OF MS
address. In his lecture Professor Gunton devoted
considerable time 20 the troubles confronting the
cotton industry in the Eastern States. He said
that after threatening TO go on strike the opera
tivos ~ the mills in Fail River and other places
had accepted a reduction in wages OF from IL
10 - per cent. They had done this. the pro-
fessor declared. because after an investigation
they had found that the reduction was unavoid-
able and that the changed conditions which con-
fronted the manufacturer made It absolutely neces-
sary for him reduce expenses or close MS
mills
A short history OF the cotton Industry was given
by Professor Gunton lie showed how II had hrst
developed In India had then gone 10 England
and from there had TO this country. lie
declared that il solely economic law that had
placed The cotton mills in the Eastern States OF
this country and driving them TO the
South. He predicted in 1891. in speech at Fan
River. said Professor Gunton. that the Eastern
manufacturers could not stop the march Of the
cotton industry southwark and advised them to
recognize this and prepare for 4. The professor
proceeded call attention to the fact that II had
been said that the new protective. tarih nad
not benefited the cotton industry and asked how
1t could be asserted that II had helped other in
trouble
political economists did not try 10 adjust their
theories TO unavoidable and natural conditions The
tariff could not protect the Eastern mill-owners
from the competition OF the Southern States as
It could from that OF England. The real question
said the professor was first 20 discover the nature
Of the situation and then to decide what form
OF protection could be applied 10 It, former
Congressman. IN prominent Boston newspaper
two weeks ago insisted that the labor laws re-
strictnx the hours % labor providing that httle
children should receive least three months
schooling each year. and for good sanitary con-
ditcns in the factories were responsible for the
present condition Of the cotton Industry IN me
Eastern States This man wanted an ms peAe
hcll! legislation abolsneH so ma ci1r Win
land cotton manufacturers could conI.te VIZ
those OF the South This factory legislation, now
most humane and philanihropc peope, anu 49, 49,
laws governing tho operation OF iactorle-, 49,
now ACKNOWLEDGED as necessary In every civilized
The whole Of Professor Gunton's argument wa,
States could no. prevent tho cotton industry being
transferred 10 the South. lie said II was a soUSu
the means OF solving the negro and other Que
tions White labore.s would follow the Industry
%ou i9e M 'H onsf be heaTd Of the Cotton industry
Professor Gunton DECLARED. needed lttle protection
in this country It wa receiving three-fourtns
peaIj,y oneayth Of ce,, Would be suficiert he
cotton Industry should 20 the South. II would ne
which governed it in the beginning OF the century.
when the hours Of labor OF the operatives were IN
restricted and they were little better OF than
slaves The march OF the factories southwark
should not be stopped. he declared. but oenehcen'
legislation should 90 with them. go
In closing. Professor Gunton said that Repson,
can Legislators should insist that the SouiheIn
mills should be operated under humane methods,
and that the lahorers IN them should not pe
compelled to work more hours or work uneer "Oi i
conditions than do the aborer- in the Eastern mllis
He said that legislation Of course. could not decide
wage questions but II al. the labor unions OF the
country should unite for general -hour woTkray
he felt that everybody would support and commend
removed 10 the South the New Eng and manufact-
urers could turn their attention 10 manufacturing
other lines of goods. At any rate there would not
be tho same population 10 support as many OF the
people would have gone South with the cotton
mills