The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-12
MILL MEN AND CHILD LABOR.
IMPAIR TIAL VIEW OF AFFAIRS.
The Observations of an Intelligent
Visitor Among the Cotton Mills Of
the Piedmont Section.

The Observations of an Intelligent
Visitor Among the Cotton Mills of
n Piedmont Section.
Mr.. N. G. Gonzales, the editor OF The
State, has given his Impressions OF the
management and policy OF the cotton
mills In Greenville and Anderson coun-
ties az obtained in II recent visit to
some OF the largest mills, where every
facility was given him to form a just
conclusion and obtain u fair insight as
to the problem OF child labor and as to
the facilities for educating the child.
rem OF suitable age. His statement OF
the situation is as follows
In this State there are not lacking
cotton manufacturers OF broad views
and progressive spirit Who realize that
the time has come for the regulation
by law OF the labor OF minors and the
prohibition OF child labor In our mills.
They not only perceive that the issue
presented must be solved but they are
willing to contribute to the solution OF
IT and they realize the fact that great
public interests require the education
OF the generation which In a few years
more Is to control the destinies Of South
: Carolina.
: Last week the editor Of The State re-
' turned from a visit to the Greenville and
. Anderson mill districts where he was
. given the opportunity to see what had
been done for the betterment of con-
dttions In the mill villages and the
Q education OF the children and to learn
y tnat whichever might be the abuses
o elsewhere there was at least one group
OF cotton mills In South Carolina where
u the duty OF employers to the employed
and the responsibilities resting upon
~ manufactured for the future OF the
SO children of the factories were fully
~ realized.
le 1t 10 not possible to go into great
detail In an article like this, but it can
IL be said that the revelation OF interest
IN In the children on the part OF these
a' manufacturers was gratifying.
AT the Piedmont mills, a community
IL OF some 1000 people, the property OF
SO which Ia owned and controlled abso.
lutely by the manufacturing company,
Col. James l.. Orr, the president. ex
hibited with justitiable pride the twC
~ graded schools established and main
tanned by the corporation for the chill
Ill dren OF the operatives. The practica
everyday work for the schools as seer
showed that the children were wei
taught as we'll as we'll housed and tina
the attendance up to the II year.old,
.o was large. Col. Orr said that 1T wa
his earnes: endeavor to keep children
no under II out OF the mills, but that hi
efforts had not been fully successful b,
~ reason OF misrepresentation as to ag'
made by the parents OF some children
ns In the mills few cuildreu who seemed
~. to be under age we're encountered. Th'
as Piedmont company maintains for it
"a mill operatives q free circulating lib
Tu rary containing thousands Of volume
~ OF wholesome reading matter, varying
~ from the instructive to the entertain
u y ing, which is freely patronized by tn
,na help, who are encouraged to take book
. thnir ~ al ono ~~x.- - q
'h@ keep them there q fortnight at q time
,mS The registration at this library show
a an average Of 5000 volumes lead Oh
~ nually. or the ample church facilitie
o. OF Piedmont 1T Ia o necessary to speak
The property OF the Pelzer Manufac
ro- turing company constitutes q veritabl
ng principality. The completeness of tn
al. town OF Pelzer, every acre and build
he Ing OF which is owned by the corpora
nly tlon, has been written OF so often G
on late that every newspaper reader /
ess South Carolina must know what
old unique and remarkable place it Is
sus There are over 5000 people at Pelzer
and Capt. Ellison A. Smyth, the pres
dent OF the great corporation with it
,ts. four mills and 12O, 600 spindles, Is pei
I'm. haps the best exponent his side tn
of island OF Guam of a "benevolent des
M potism." His great interest in the we
ION fare OF the community over which b
ant presides and his minute attention t
no. It's needs must impress every one WIN
,r's makes the rounds OF the institutions
st, Pelzer. There Is = fine new grade
M, school building, spacious and admir-
es. able arranged, q iyceum, open all tn
he week, WIN lts readlLg room, gam
ist room and facilities for who.esom
social intercourse, a kindergarten an
he several churches which would be cred
20. liable to a largo city. That Cap,
ce, Smyth fully recognizes the importanc
las OF educating the children Of the mil
ng communities and OF prohibiting thei
employment In the factories until the
he have acquired the bases of a 1000 con-
he mon school education is shown by tn
las following form Of contract which b
requires to have signed by the head
ng OF all families taking employment wit
a the company and occupying its dwell
re-. ings. There Ia a book full Of signature
i'm to this agreement:
lily WHEREAS, !, with my family, intend to O,
cupy one OF the dwelling houses belonging I
rs IN" Peizer manufacturing Company, in tn
| q the employ of said company; and whereas !
"a DONG so 1t is desired TO cXprchs tho no ro,
"a mont between myself and the eaid comnany
~ Now therefore,. L do agree upon the follow
OF i: lhatall children, members of my famil,
Tic between the ages OF 8 and IL years, shall ente
10 fne school maintained by said company a
'ly felzer, and shall attend every school da
al
'Si I'm 49, AR sR0a0