The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-10-25
TEXTILE INDUSTRY.
Relations Between Northern and
Southern Mills Discussed.

Following is an extract from a paper
read by Mr. Richard H. Edmonds, be-
fore the meeting OF the New England
Manufacturers Association in Wash
ington city on Wednesday last:
In some quarters alarm has been ex-
pressed at the inroads upon the textile
industry in this country made by the
South and the more rapid progress in
that section than in New England, as
indicated by the steady increase OF con-
sumption Of cotton in Southern mills,
the building of new mills and the en-
largement Of old ones. Side by side
with these expressions have been sug-
gestions that New England mills
should change their financial methods
and their organization, or should equip
themselves throughout with the latest
machinery, if they hope to hold their
OVID; that they should improve upon
their products, going still further into
the manufacture of still finer grades, or
that in the culture OF fax and the man
ufacture of linen the North should find
compensation for possible loss Of pres
tige eS a cotton manufacturer. Mean.
while one distinct advantage OF the
South, but Dy no means preponderat-
ing one-its supply of mill labor-has
been the subject Of agitation in a
spirit on its surface unfriendly to the
South, and, judging from its experience
elsewhere, unfortunate for the mill
worker and mill owner. That the mill
owner of New England, rather than
the mill worker there, has taken the
lead in this agitation, which has even
gone to the extent OF an attempt to Sc.
cure the amendment to the national
constitution, permitting Congress to
interfere with the relations Of employ
er and employe in any part OF the
country, seems to point in any other
direction than that promotive OF the
policy which must prevail If American
cotton manufacturers are to reap the
reward which will be theirs if there be
no interference with natural laws. II
the sale Of the product Of American
mills were to be confined to the United
States there might be reason for alarm
in the older sections at the onward
march of the Southern mills, for it is
certain that they are to dominate in
the manufacture OF the coarser grades,
and there is no reason to believe that
they will not have a constantly-in-
creasing share in the trade for finer
goods. The South is confident that
whatever may happen within the next
25 years in the textile field. whatever
may be its own achievements there,
New England will hold its own. 1t
knows. too, that in union or coop
Grafton OF all the textile interests OF
the country there will be a steady
betterment all along the line in spite
of temporary setbacks. The limits OF
further improvement in the textile In.
dustry in this country have not yet
been determined. Inventive skill has
not yet reached its climax. Until 1t
does we need have little fear for the
future OF cur great American industry
provided we leave nothing undone
which may legitimately place us in
control CT the great market South and
West of us-markets populated by
two-thirds Of the inhabitants Of the
globe, the majority OF whom will need
cotton goods in amounts increasing by
geometrical progression, and provided
we strengthen the abilities OF our own
textile population.
We have advanced in recent years
wonderfully well, but we have by no
means encroached upon our possibili-
ties.
No better time than the present could
be had for an agreement to suspend in
definitely such skirmlsnes, which can
have the effect only Of needles, il not
wasteful irritation. No better place
could be selected for the recording Of
such an agreement than Washington
city. AS part of the several compro-
mises thought necessary in the forma-
ton Of this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
which were destined to give New Eng
land decided commercial advantages
and to check any tendency o. the
South toward industrial life-the capi-
tai O., the United States was place don
the Potomac, midway between MaSsa.
chusetts and South Carolina. On this
common ground, an inheritance OF con-
cessions of the Union. Northern and
Southern cotton manufacturers may
properly join hands and hearts and
minds for the great task OF insuring
the stability and expansion OF their
mighty industry.