The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-30
SOJITHERN MILL LABOR.
The Class Of People Employed at the
MtIIs-linStOnia Has Superior
OperntivPs.
Mill News


| Operatives.
| Mill News.
| Following up the subject Of our editorial o
last week on "rhc Southern Luh0r Problem
we are pleased 10 present our readers this week
by Mr.. ii. II. c. Bryant of this city In which
| he tells OF the good qualities Ofthe Southern
| mill operatives ana the advantages they
| have gained by coming TO the mills:
"lu recent years many articles concern Ing
the cotton mill operatives of the South have
appeared In Southern and Northern news
papers aud magazines. Some writers have
predicted that the cotton mill will prove
detrimental 10 health and character OF the
class of men and women employed there
Individuals who know nothing of the actual
conditions have gone so far aS to assert that
the cotton factory is a curse Instead OF bless
ing to the southern STATES. The most ready
takers on the subject are the men generally
who know the fewest facts. They are. 0glta
tors and wouid-be apostles of the working
people.
But after all the best way 10 settle the
question ior yourself is to go 10 the mills and
make a personal investig alton. There IL a
great difference IN the appearance and charac-
ter OF the operatives. Once heard a proIpi-
nent cotton mill man ask friend OIL his the
following questions: Why are the opera.
tives in the Gastonia n. g: cotton nils
superior to most other mill hands? why
are they more moral, more healthful more
attractive and more contentcd %
Neither of the men could answer the ques.
tiuu though both admitted that such was the
case. soon after hearing these questions l
made Il visit TO the Gastunia mills Snd was
very much impressed by the appearance ana
behavior OF the men and women ana noEs
and girls whom ! saw working there. One
can readily see that there is great difference
between the operative es Of the mills and those
of many other mills There Is q cause Tor II.
81 sought , to discover the secret secret: wehe en-
laborers. The history of the success
OF The cotton mill business in Gastonia
aud scores of other small Southern
towns and the story OF first securing ana
then maintaining such fine class Of help
Is like beautiful dream. ...., ~.
~ shall use the mills of Gastonia as an
illustration. In 1883 a subscription was taken
and the Gastonia Manufacturing Company
organized. The mill started with 5000 spind-
les increased to 5000 the following year and
now operates 1900 spindles and l4O looms.
followed by the Trenton with 1000 spindies
and 20O looms; the Avon the Ozark the
Modena No. 2. the Arlington and the Loray.
When the first mill began work select
class Of help was secured. The ,management
laid down plan and carried 1t out 10 the
letter. Before family was allowed to work
In the mill or even move TO the mill settle'
ment the officers Of the mill had 70 70, De peas. rs.
and the women were virtuous NO drinking
was allowed around the. MILL a. drinking
man or an immoral woman was dlscnargeo
fell G in with the idea and were as much oppos.
the mill owners. When l. was known that
the Gastonia mill--for all the mills there
have followed the plan oy the first-were
taking none but the, best class of work ing
nannis ~ was No tronhla "a seet,re good help.
P%apv nsrents Were an xiousE 10. stop farming
rentsd land and 90 10 4 iaiitwhere soberhess
and virtue were the rscnisites for getting in.
TODAY Ira man is discoSereds drunk on the
t ars pr0peltS oasd So me " Ths Are put on
moral incltnations - 0y m1ss4ke ~! spermittea
TO enter the mill the R0Oa tgtfi9 tePo.I ~. HeI
and she 1S oueted slmmeQAtetJs. SGvu ls .uo