Barbour County index., 1901-05-22

a recent issue gives discOuraging de-
scription of the depression which pre-
walls in the textile trade. The facts
and causes are condensed by it in
to the following brief statement:
Total number of textile employees in Phil
adelpnla. ,OOO
Number at steady work. .20, ,0OC
Number on ''half' or ''three-quarter"
time ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ,OOO
| NumDer iole --.....------ I5,UUO
Number unaccounted for. ............ s 200
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION.
/. Overproduction during prosperity.
2. Underconsumption due to low wages.
3. The war in China.
| 4. Competition of substitute" commod-
tiles.
8. Change In styles
8. Change In centers of textile industry.
If we had low tariff the protection
lists would recommend high tariff as
a remedy; if We had bimetallIsm the
gold standard would be propos-
ed as a panacea, but as we have
high tariff and gold standard this de
preston will be explained as one of
those natural and necessary conditi ons
which cannot be prevented by fore
sight or remedied by legislation. 1t
| comes, too, at time when the stock
markets are booming and when the
spectators are boasting that railroad
stocks have gained more than five hun
dred millions IN market value within a
few months.
Tho North rr;u
views with employers and employees.
Here Is sample from each side
John Hamilton. proprietor of Mont
gomery Carpet Mills, says:
This thing is all scare. The busi-
ness is bad for some. and other manu-
tacturerS are running about the same
as usual. We are running shorthand
ed, but that is because il is the end of
our season. The talk about people
starving is only the vaporlng of labor
agltatoIs. There is no necessity for
people starving. Ii they can't find
work in the textile trades, let them go
to work at something else. 1 have no
reason to offer for the depression be-
cause there is no depression"
Mr.. Hamilton is not worried about
the lack of employment or the lack of
food complained of by some Of the 9th
ers II is evident that his salary is
still paid regularly.
Edward Thornton, business agent of
the Allied Textile Trades, is quoted as
saying:
The busy season, 80 long expected,
has not come. Since November there
has been no season at all. In the up
hOlstery trade not rs per cent of the 80
mills are running on anything like full
time. A weaver in this line of work
could make Sl3 week, but now the
most skillful barely average $5 week
The weavers can make fair wage as
long as there is work, but the periods
Of idleness are disastrous. There has
been great Overproduction and tend
ency to lower the quality of the goods
manufactured. The tariff on wool has
played havoc with the ingram trade
and has created field for japanese
and Chinese mattings. In fact, people
are not buying carpets as they did at
one time. AS yet there have been few
appeals for help, but this will come la.
ter If the depression continues Our
men are living on credit to great ex-
tent, but this is bound to end.''
The North American is republican
paper and is owned by son of ex-Post-
master General Wanamaker. It's por-
trayal of the Industrial situation in one
of the great trade centers will be profit
able reading for those republicans who
believe that universal property is the
constant and necessary attendant of
republican administration.-W. J, Bry-
ans Commoner.