The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-12-11
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, December II, 1901.
Needed Legislation.

Possibly from the best Of motives,
some politicians, however much they
may have been mistaken, purpose to
legislste against the poor white man
in the hope of striking at the inter
es.s of the cotton mills.
While we believe the Legislature
should not shut their eyes to the ne
cessity for legislation in reference to
the Gotten mills, yet We think the
open and manly way would be to
strike al the shortcomings OF the
cotton mills, and not seek to do them
an injury by being unjust to the best
interests of the laboring man and his
children. Legislste directly and
squarely for the cotton mills and do
not make cats paw out of the poor
people who seek, in the sight Of God
and man, to make an honest living.
The first thing which demands the
attention of our legislators is to know
if there is truth in the thought that
the mill authorities have some kind
of contract, trade or understanding
with each other by which the territory
is divided out among the cotton mills
to the injury of the cotton planters
living nearest to the local mills.
We do not know if there is such a
contract, trade or understanding.
But if there is, the interest of the
cotton planters living in the prox-
Unity to the local cotton mills should
receive attention.
If there is no such contract, trade
or understanding, then the cotton
mills deserve S7indication, and the
suspicion that such an engagement
exists should be removed.
It might be ascertained whether
Injurious contracts or conditions ex-
iss. The farmers are entitled to
know if the presence Of local mill
is to be detrimental to their interests
and a charge on those planters who
sell cotton at mill doors and to- the
mill itself.
The cotton mills need legislation,
and they need it badly. The poor
people who are trying to make a
living need to be let alone.
IF the cotton mills are encourag-
ing vsgrancy, by allowing idlers to
stay on their premises to live on the
earnings of their children, then hold
the mills accountable for allowing
children to support vagrant fathers.
Make law which will punish va
graney, at cotton mills, and punish
the mills for allowing children to be
imposed upon. But let honest and
industrious people earn bread.
The operatives of the mills need to
be taken care of. Every mill should
be required to have matron in
charge of the cloak room, where
women and children could arrange
their clothing and change their shoes,
if wet. The matron should further
see to the health of the children in
not allowing them to leave the mills
improperly clad when the weather is
cold or wet. Perhaps to insttentlon
TO the we'll known laws Of health may
be charged more sickness and death
among mill operatives than to all
other causes combined.
Our lawmakers should see that
the officers of the mill take as good
care of the children which have been
entrusted to their supervision as is
usual for humane people to give to
the cattle of the field.
A commission to see that the NOR
ality, health and government of the
operativesis cared for is badly needed.
The people need no law which re-
moves the children of operatives from
the laws which govern the children
of other people.
nivereiEv as G-ars