The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-01
THE GREED OF NEW ENGLAND MILL OWNERS
A VIGOROUS PROTEST. FROM THE
SOUTH.

A VIGOROUS PROTEST FROM TAB {
SOUTH. {
The Proposed Constitutional Amend
ment TO Establish Uniform Hours
of labor in Cotton Factories.
The House judiciary committee &C.
corded u hearing on Friday last to the
representatives OF the Southern cotton
mills, who made an earnest protest
against yhe proposition from Mas
sachusetts to amend the constitution so
as to give Congress the right to legls-
late in regard to the hours OF laborS In
cotton factories. No labor leaders aP-
peared in favor Of the proposition, and
arguments on that side were made by
Massachusetts congressman, who did
not agree as to what was wanted. The
Southern mills were represented by
the following delegations:
South Carolina Ellison a. Smyth,
Pelzer, chairman; James l.. Orr, Pied
mont G.. X. Oliver, Columbia u. ~.
Converse, Clifton; D.. A. +. Jordan,
Greenwood j. A.. Brock, Anderson ,
o. p. Mills, Greenville il. Wester.
Welt, Pelham II D. Wheat, Gatfney
John Q. Gary, Lockhart.
North Carollna: d. A. Tompkins,
Charlotte, chairman; DR.. j ID. Nc
Alden, Charlotte; II. M. Miller, Jr.,
Charlotte w II. Jordan, Charlotte
Caesar Coue, Greensboro.
Georgia: DR.. j. d. Turner, Atlanta.
chairman IL. E. Fisher, Atlanta
Charles Estes, Augusta; Elias EIsas,
Atlanta.
Col. James L. Orr, Of the Piedmont
mills, opened the argument on behalf
of the Southern delegations, and made
an admirable address, utterly demo-
fishing the contentious OF the Mas
sachusetts representatives. dis chlet
points were that the proposed change
would utterly destroy the principle ol
home rule in our government; that
there was no demand for the chang.
by labor North that tie advantag,
that the South had was chi, fly in tn,
character of it's laborers, who were all
native Americans to the manner born
and of the same blood as their en-
ployers; that they were treated witt
more consideration than at the North
that the mills provided Tree schools
for the children; that the cost of living
was much cheaper than in b North
that New England had many advan
tages In the matter of cheap money,
long established business and In other
respects, and what they now wanted
to do WIS to retain all these advan-
teges, ~hile depriviDg the South OF the
only advantage it possessed. Col. Orr
was bombai ded with cores of ques-
tions by the other side, and in every
case turned them against his ques-
toner.
Capt. Ellison A. Smyth, of Pelzer,
threw some valuable light upon the
subject, which entertained and in
strueted the committee. The follow.
ing is the substance of his remarks:
This committee OF cotton mill man
ayers and treasurers, representing
over two million spindles in North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
have come before this judiciary COM
mittee to enter their protest against
the passage of a joint resolution pro
posing an amendment to the constltu'
tion Of the United States, providing
that Congress shall have the power &c
establish uniform hours OF labor In
manufactures throughout the United
States.
There has been q great deal said and
printed within the last few weeks
coming from New England to the
effect that owing to the Southern com
petition great disaster has resulted tC
the cotton mill industry in New Eng
land, and that it was necessary to re
duce wages 10 per cent. to meet ir
some way this Southern competition
AT first New England sneered at the
idea of cotton mills being a success In
the South, and now it is proposed tC
use the so.called Southern compete
tion as a cats paw to pull their chest
nuts out Of the fire." The question is
has this Southern competition hurt New
highlands industry to the extent claim
ed by the New England manufacturers:
We believe not.
We have not alone suffered from the
lack Of home and foreign markets., bul
from an over. production o. cotton
goods, and from an extraordinary mum
ber of spindles put in operation In
this country during the last four
years.
1t is admitted that the Southern
States mills have largely controlled
the coarse goods business, and that l.
evidenced by the building OF branch
mills Of several old celebrated New
England corporations In certain South.
ern States.
This has been the worst competition
both to the Southern manufacturer
n to the Northern manufactured oi
coarse goods, because the New EGG.
land mills that ave come SrutG, reap
ing alrthe benefits which nature has
offered to the Southern manufacturer,
and fesldes bringing al established
brand that Is worth thousands OF dol
lars, ard an acquaintance with the
markets + the world, and with the
business of manufacturing that long
experience has given them, also the
ability, by having it's treasurers in
New England cities, Oand by it's stock
holders there, to hire money at rates
hat are about halt the rate charged
In the Southern country.
This competition, by this new trans.
lated Northern mill, Is u severe test
for the Southern mill, and also severe
for the Northern corporations that
have no branch mills in the South,
aud enables them TO meet the prices
offered by his Southern competitor
and undersell his Northern competitor
In the export trade for coarse cotton
goods, that have no branch mills In the
South.
We claim it Is a case of over-produc
tlOn that is ut present threatening our
industry, and not the South's competi-