The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-02-13

labor, and cannot indulge in some c
the figures OF speech which hav
heard on the subject, but submit
all thinking people that no child unde
10 years Of age should be worked II
the mills. 1t IS not only better for tn
child physically. morally and intel
lectually, but it is better for the corpo
ration, for unquestionably sooner o
later with such labor they will be sub
ject to suits for damages for accidents
| or course this matter could be bette
solved in our State if under the exist
ing race conditions we ,Juld i'm
mediately put into effect compulsory
education, but 20 have compulsory ed
ucation for whites without the same
for blacks would be unconstitutional
and to have compulsory education fol
both laces would soon deplcte ouI
treasury, and we have to face the mat
ter just as we find it and solve it AZ
well as we can, and think that the
substitute offered 10y the minority is q
step in the right direction to lead TO a
proper solution thereof. My judgment
is that this matter will settle itself il
wise counseis prevail, but if passion
and prejudice are needed We must cX-
pecl conflict of opinions and conflict OF
interests in future.
The child labor question is simply
the tentative issue on the matters
which will in the future arise on this
question. There remains for US to
solve hereafter the larger, more pOr-
tentous, and more troublesome ques.
ton Of hours of labor. 1t would seem
that the vast strides that have been
made in the Improvement of machin-
cry IN the cotton mills, especially Sthe
Draper looms, and such other rachin-
cry where the output of mills in a
given time is vastly greater than what
it used TO be, that it would be wise
and proper step on behalf of the manu-
1acturers that some limit in modera-
ton as to the hours of wages should be
agreed upon by them in order TO meet
the proper requests of those who work
for them. 1t is claimed that any re-
duction in the hou of labor or anv
enactment on the child labor question
would place the manufacturers of South
Carolina at a disadvantage, because
her sister States have no labor laws on
the subject. 1t is always best to meet
Il storm before it comes. 1t is always
best If you want peace to confer with
youl adversary, and 1t is always best
on the part of capital if you wish COM
plete success and the advancement of
interest TO study the welfare of those
who labor for the protection of capital.
The great manufacturing interests Of
our State are in the hands of chosen
sons of South Carolina, who have been
trusted in every station-such men as
Orr, Smyth, Cleveland, Parker, Wha.
ley, Barrett aud Hicknan-and we
submit to them that ii is the part of
wisdom, the part of prudence, and the
part of good judgment, before the year
passes found, to call conference of
the manufacturers of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama
and enact prudent regulations as to the
hours of labor and the system of labor,
and the fruit of such conference, re-
duccd to regulations and agreement
and afterwards put into law, will tell
for years and years to come in the fu-
turc.
No trouble 50 far to any appreciable
extent has existed between the labor
ers and the manufacturers of this cOun-
try, but unless they are kept by wise
concessions upon an amicable basis, as
the industry grows, as we hope 1T will
grow, in marvellous proportions, to that
extent the danger of friction will grow
less.
l do not know whether this substi-
tute or any bill upon this question will
pass this Legislature. | have my doubts
about it from what | have heard upon
the subject, but do know that the
discussion of the question without pas
sion and without prejudice ought to
bring about some action by those who
have it within their power to bring
peace and quiet in our midst.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Senator Dean said that a law which
is not based OH the necessities of the
people is an improper law. He had
listened to the different speeches in
favor of the bill and had heard but
little zeal argument showing the ne
cessity for such legislation. From
thousands of people who have not yet
lost their manhood and self-respect
comes the plea to this body "let us
alone; let us manage our affairs as
other free men," The conditions of
the farm people in most sections of the
country are far worse than around the
mills, and in many sections Of the
State cotton mill wolld be a god
send. lie spoke of the mill people in
the Piedmont section, and SAID that for
morality and good citizenship they
would compare favorably with any
people in the State. In his section
there was no such poverty and igno-
rance as that spoken of by some of the
Senators, and he denied that there was
any cruelty to children in the mills in
the upper part of the State.
Every man has the right to rcgu.
late his affairs. Shall we lcglslate pa
rental care anil affection into parents {
The cotton mill operative loves his
children just as dearly as any Senator
on this lloCr loves his own, and he
loves them and feels pride in them the
same as other people.
The demand for labor is 80 great now
that it is not question on the part O
mill presidents as to how they cal
grind and Overwork their hands, bu
the problem is how to MAJ their !, orl
pleasant and attractive so they ma,
retain their help. South Carolina lead
in textile manufacturing bncauao n