The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23
COTTON MILL TALK.
More Good Hard Sense than all
the Old Maids and Intermeddlers
Iuto Mill Affairs Have shown
Hear q Mill Operative Speak for
Mill Operatives.

We told you we would tell You our views
on cotton mill legislation. We have just read
the Governors message. Well, he IL GOOD
and
Education, don't know that people all over
the State is moving of Of their farms going to
Cotton Mills to educate their children:
rand and work enough, to pay rent and
send bis children TO school? Take Aboe.
vile; there is probably u children under u
years at work in the mill no other mill In
Abbeville County. Take the County, there is
according to the last census over 8OO white
children under IL years that don't go to
school. Let the law makers do something Tor
tnsm Net them make law that VIII compel
from to Y2. Let as not have GLASS legislation.
Let us be blow to take such steps. we wish
the misguided friends of cotton mill opera.
tiyes would get IN touch with them then
thew would know how to act for them 1t is
trns that people who work In mills, work
more than others, but the work Is not al bard
az farm work is more prontaeis ana pleas
The wife OF the rehp ter, and "a OF the land own.
ers. they have toy keep house, wash for the
family, do all the drudgery, and more than
half Of them have 70 60 TO tne neiq LANG ano MAKE m @
in f5e fodder field and cotton field In the rain
and dew with wet clothes until the sun orles
them on her body. This writer was raised on
farm and knows what he Is talking about,
and by the time they, many OF them, reach
wnmsnhood they are physical WRECKS. their
health gone. 60 on our ;.streets ana gee the
worn faces Of some OF these poor farmers
Take the wives OF most cotton mill opera
tiyes she is the queen OF the home !; she can
and does hire her work, cooking, washing OF
for the family she weo sSe tees
like Il, rests when she wants toS sne mas tna'
good feeling that she is makingNher own liv;
Ing. dependent on no one, ana II Ner nusoano
labor Take the young lady, stng9e girls. 9
good industrial girl can make $40 dollars per
month, and she can work IL montns IN u
Some make e. Tbs1 s1e asrb
Graduates who advertise all over the country
10 get to teach school five months In the year
for the same price.
Well. I could 20 on and tell how poor
widows come here from the farm and soon
gaf INDEPENDENT. There are many othe|
thipgs, but will stop for this time.
If any renter or little land owner Whines'
vou NAV know the shoe is pinching him.
When the cotton mills commence to mistreat,
or IL is not more pleasant to live at them
than in the country, then the people will 90
back TO the farms and take second place with
IN Mr.. Editor: We will try our best 70 describe
the rise Of some OF our Abbeville boys at the
NIL M A. 81. Barnet, who never worked In =
cotton mill until this one started, In about
| one year. rose to loom Il xer, Wnlch pald MIN
a good salary. He saved bis money and now
he is merchandising. ,
Mr.. w. B. Patterson has saved money
| enough to pay for nice home IN the country.
Mr. Gus schroeder is boss carpenter, getting
| a nice salary and supporting an aged father
| and mother and several sisters. we nave 10
| do honor to such boys. ,
Mr.. Edga B,anchet has bad several years e2.
perience in mill work. Having worked at
Anderson before coming to this place. De
holds third place in card room. and is good
ali round man. We could mention more,
hut will not at this time.
| Well. we are more interested IN the caro-
room: there is where we have cast our LOT.
We have moved again, We are with the Mason
Machine Co., q young Mr.. Barry Is their repre-
sen tative here. have put In one week Win
him. .o,,..a
find all the trades that ever followed
| helps me along. My carpenter work helps
because q man needs In mil work TO be
handy with tools. My work in masonry
and bridge work helps me to take the adVan
| tage OF moving heavy machinery.
| I forgot to tell you we are on pay roll now.
Mr.. Barry thinks by the time be gets tne
cards down which will take several montns,
| That will be able to take care OF the cards OF
| a room. SO you see II the mills here don
| need a man for such a place, there Ia others
| that will. We are determined TO succeed II
ali OF our time, energy and hard work will 40
IL. Our object is to show what man with
common Sense that can read and write
| and figure what he wants, can do. x.