The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-12-11
correspondence.
TEN HOURS THE STANDARD FOR A DAYS
LABOR IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Suggestions for the Improvement Of Factory
Conditions

For some tipe 1 have been think
ing of writing something on the
above subject, and after reading Rev.
s. A. Baldwin's communication,
copied from the Charlotte Observer,
I decided to write at once. l have
heard it asserted that our State
abolished the whipping-post because
it was barbarous. For my part 1 do
not think it much more barbarous
than to allow corporations to work
their operatives from 6 a. m. till z at
night with only a few minutes for
rest at midday.
just as go pounds is the standard
for u bushel of wheat, or Sc pounds a
bushel of corn, so I believe that 10
hours of actual labor should consti-
tute IL days work. Even stout men
and healthy women cannot help but
break down under the present sys-
TEN in our cotton mills and other
corporation work, much less children
of tender age, of whom l will write
further on.
Mr.. Baldwin speaks of night work
and says: .'Since it has been started
it cannot be stopped at once" 1
think that to adopt a 10 hour system
would be a start in the right direc-
ton, or it would lessen the hours of
labor and give more rest to those n
gagged in night work 1 do not think
it would be prudent to shut off night
work at nce
The people OF North Carolina are
proud of the manufacturing indus
tries of our State, and we should feel
grateful to those who have invested
their money in such enterprises, and
in providing for comfort and con-
venlence for their operatives, but
this should be no plea for them to
keep the laborers on their feet an I'M
reasonable length of time. Those
we'll ventilated and comfortable
rooms does not keep the body from
getting tired nor the constitution
from breaking down.
I endorse the suggestion that mill
men, operatives, and all who feel an
interest in the welfare of humanity
get together and agree upon a bill
that will be of good to the greatest
number.
am not engaged in mill work, but
I have relatives and many friends
who are, and Ifeel it my duty to say
a word for them.
1 would suggest that every cor
poratiOn among whose operatives are
20 children or more between the age
of 6 and u years be required to erect
on their premises, or convenient
thereto, a school house or houses IN
der the direction of the County
Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, and that the County Superin-
tendent shall employ a teacher to
teach said children, and the corpora
ton to pay said teacher and furnish
the necessary books.
Futher, that each child between 6
and ID shall be compelled by law to
attend said school.
And it should be the duty of all
sucL children who have such advan-
tages afforded them to labor for said
corporation 5 hours in the afternoon
of each day the mill runs, and the
parents of such children shall not
receive any pay for the labor of their
children for the said time. Provided
the child shall not be allowed to
work for the corporation during the
time the common school is in session.
Neither is the corporation to pay for
books or tuition during this period,
but each child shall draw it's portion
of the public school fund.
The idea of working children from
s in the morning till z at night is so
unreasonable that I will not waste
time nor breath to discuss it. But /
am in favor of every child being
taught to labor as we'll as to read,
write, &c, and further believe that
working a part of each day and help
pay for their tuition will be the
means Of implanting Industrial habits
in the minds of the rising genera
ton. Either benefits the other. 1t
gives taste for study and taste for
work.
Lpresume if this appears in print,
it will bring down a storm of criti-
cism upon me by the mill men and
and opponents of the 10 hour sys-
tenn, but if I cannot meet their argu