The Atlanta constitution., 1900-11-07
The Labor Question in the South

IN that state.
While this does not find expression
in definite words. it is the plain in
ference The difference in the labor
conditions east and south is looked
upon as the basis of the competition
which exists. the removal of which
would leave the south without advan-
tage. II is upon this line that The
Transcript says:
This Is, cutie in line with what these
culCmns have been saying for years re-
saruing the future status OF the southern
textile manufacturer as competitor with
other sections and Is the most natural
result OF our Industrial progress. ine
model for progressive labor legislation in
this country. as for SO much e.se Of social
Z advance. IS found iu Massachusetts. The
standard Of humane Safeguarding set up
Z hE our sf1ts laws has often been de
] uouncel bV those who felt its restrictions
as working Il our local manufacturing
interests injury They have q times
Z thrt ttenel 40 remove their plants south.
where child labor is now available and
np lc4ai' limit is hNed 90 days work.
We have pointed ont that by the time
they got well there these things would
F probably BE changed.
Taking this for granted. The Tran
script declares that 1t is 10 the credit
of some of the strongest elements OF
Massachusetts manufacturing that they
preferred to take measures to bring
mp the condition OF the mill labor ut
fhe south rather than degrade New
England 10 the Georgia level"
These statements are not original
with The Transcript. -Four years ago
the Arkwright Club. OF Boston. com
nosed Of treasurers Of New England
mills. discussed the competitive differ
eHcos between the sections thoroughly,
and advanced the theory that the labor
system furnished the only difference;
that with the restrictive laws OF Mas
sachusejts applied 20 North Carolina
and 10 Georgia. the margin in favor OF
southern mills would be wiped ont,
AMI then. in the language of the popu-
lar novel. "the New England stock
holder could be happy forever after"
The challenge thus sent out was ac-
cep.ci by The COnst tuition rs matter
calling for Investigation and H. pro-
posed t0 invade 'the eneuys cOun-
try" The New Bedford strike was in
progress ot the time. and thus an eX-
oCliant Opportunity was furnished for
thc gathering of the facts in the case.
Ii was soon developed that the ap
parent differences i'm the wage scale
between tie first-class mills Of both
sections WAS much more than Offset
ny the hand az nature which reduced
Tho vents ~ the laborcr in the south
in proportion 10 those in the north.
Zoo New pedf0ri. Tor instance, FIRE is
needed constantly. nom the first of
Sputcm ner 10 tine first of June follow
in- making nine months. Against
fhis nine months there could scarcely
hc PLACED four i'm the south certainly
not four continuously. Taking this
single fact. there are great many
others which group themselves: A
iong winter tarm calls for more cxten-
sive DIS sins. for more clothing. and
fo- other expenses which Will readily
uFr1s. themselves a man must be
paid rn1a2h 10 cover his necessities.
.ld 90 aitt him over and above a
certain amount f0r saving or for
fryurv. Ten dollars in The hands Of
a southern man ON 3 balmy October
tay is very different thing from ton
collars iu .he hands % Ncw Bedford
man who has ro kecp the coal heater
roaring tweuty-iour hours through.
This parallel was carried on All the
way thrCu-h showing that no matter
ow wage scales rose and lell the Gif-
rarc1 IS ~ nature would continue. and
that they wo.ld always form factor
and q considerable one. in favor of the
-eu.l. {. wa for the purpose ~ equal
izlne ibis condition that the Ark
WRIGHT Club called for federal control
or labor. iu order chat an ir0n-clad rule
might he established which would
couaIy bind Beu IN Georgia and
Massachusetts. such q control would
set no defiance the elements themselves
and fail rom its ATTEMPTED violation
Of nature. The man in Massachusetts
Is 20 greater expense for living, and
ie therefore entitled to such an ad-
vance ia wages as viii furnish this.
But. it was shown AZ the same time.
that the wage scale was not a control
iav one IS between the sections: that
even with the identical scale mforced
I'm differing climates where the expense
for fucl WA. as $50 against $3.50 per
annrrn. there were other and deeper
reasons which fixed upon the south as
the site for cotton manufacturing
which may be briefly summed up-that
cotton manufacturing in Nassachu-
eatts IS contrary 20 nature. while in
fMN ENaalN 4N - tN ta''ttf. t4fi- -tA' WIN AAt
III is a rule which applies 20 every
business. Tile point Of cheapest man
ufacture is the point OF greatest sup
nlv. which IS on the spot of produc-
ton The absence OF transportation
facilities in the past has been in favor
~ distant points OF manufacture; the
presence of il makes the transporta-
rion of cotton to Massachusetts,
throwing away of money.
The last analysis OF the question was
that manufacture and production.
when placed together. can underb.d
any combination made i'm distant
pIaces. The people of every latitude
ere governed 10y their own necessities.
: ana advantages of climate belong TO
/ thrir caDit9l. The workingman in
/ Georgia. through an evolution which
is entirely has own, proposes TO right
j himself according TO conditions which
exist in Georgia and he will not com
NIT harl-kiri in order 10 help the man
who lives i'm New Bedford. lie viii
not trade off the benefits OF his loca-
ton in order that the mill treasurer OF
Fall River may continue business
which should be carried on in Augusta
I or Columbus.
H-.tnv u.nrssr,rt,a Crpw-s, n