The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-06
CHILD LABOR.
Unjust Warfare on she Best Interests
of the Poor Some Reforms that
are Needed-COmmOn Sense NOfa-
hfy AbSent.

the only remuneratiVe occupation that was
open 10 them. .,o
The cotton mills being blessing to those
children whose parents have no estates, OF
other means Of making living than py day
labor, or by renting farming LANDS, snouIu
have the cordial support OF an rignt ininnam
people: and we beieve the day Is long dlstanI
when South Carolina shall propose 10 crlppe
her great anufaciuring interests by ciosing
their doors to people who seek by industry to
make an honest living.
We would not charge the aovocates VI
Legislation against poor people WIN i,ii
proper motives, but we fear mat they h.e u,e
often either ignorant of the subject on when
they 30 loudly proclaim. or else they SPEAK
without due reflection.
DOES OWNERSHIP OF STOCK IN COTTON
MILL DEGRADE THE CITIZEN"
As a matter OF. fact the gentlemen who
have charge OF the cotton mills were put In
their places because OF their high character,
which includes good integrity and truth'teli-
SNow as 10 the men who own, or run tne
factories, we believe that as rule, their
Judgment IN the matter should have llttle
weight" u,,o .o tho ofs,ers md
owners Of stock in cotton mills not OF average
Iruthfulness OF speech and OF fair honesty OF
Are they to be classed with convicts W hose
word has been outlawed because OF crimes
committed? Is there anything essentially
corrupting In cotton mill that the WORD OF
is not to be believed?
When q cotton mill is, 10 be built, public
spirited citizens are generally called upon 10
contribute OF their money. In the hope that
good may result TO the town they often sacrl.
flee person al In terest. .,
10 make sweeping declarations against tneir
character because they responded to the I'M
pulses OF a pubic spirit?
Are such accusations to be the reward of
those citizens who sacrificed 80 much ior
thNr rnhS fnrl hn
Is THE WORD OF AN OPERATIVE NO BETTER
THAN THAT OF THE oUTLAwED CONVICT?
The South Carolina Baptist, not satisfied
!. with impugning the motives Of the owners OF
tne'uills, goes on to say:
those parents" who oppose Leglslating their
children out OF the millsl should have aoy
weight with the Legislators"
And SO IL Is, the feelings OF the operatives
are 10 be disregarded by those who are less
Interested, anu know less Of the children than
anybody else. The word of the mill accusers
alone Ia good. go
What we need In the discussion OF the mill
question is the application OF common sense.
and the withhbldlng Of imputations against
We take no stock In the TRADE that has been
made against the mill people-officers, own.
ers or operatives. II their characters are 10
be- brought under investigation, we doubt
not that q jury OF their countrymen would
sessed by their accusers.
The Press and Banner has at least partial
knowledge Of a number OF men on either sloe
OF this question, and II we were brought into
Court and required to give testimony under
oath, we certainly would testify that the
character OF the mill people is equal 10 that
ofthelr accusers..
But we see no, reason for bringing the
veracity or the character OF the mill people
or anybody else into question.
WHY RAISE THE QUESTION OF CHARACTER
OR vERACIrY.
If the word Of presidents, owners, aud opera
tives Is worth nothing, whose word shall we
take? These classes of people certainly know
more about cotton mills than those who are
now making war on. them. Admitting that
the ownership OF stock 10 cotton mill Is not
q badge Of guilt, and assuming that mill
presidents and operRLives in the institution
are not common liars; we would take their
word as 10 matters that come under their
own observation In preference to the word OF
those who know nothing OF what they SPEAK.
mills. Nobody will deny that this is an Inn
portapt question that should be decided on
the facts, and not on the prejudice, the hur.
rsh, the hatred or the intermeddling spirit OF
any who wish 10 crush the mills. while
forgetting the damaging consequences TO the
Industrious and honest poor.
WORK IN THE COTTON MILL IS VOLUNTARY. .
In the first place. nobody Is required to
work in a cotton mill. Work there is a mat
ter of choice, and is the one opportunity for
the great multitude 10 earn living. AS evi-
is only necessary to cali attention TO the fact
that the renters OF land are hocking 10 the
mills-not one IN twenty OF whom ever return
TO the farm. The church and school prlvi-
ieees are greater at the mills than on the
farm, and they earn more money there.
TIME THE ONLY QUESTION AS TO CHILDREN
WORKING IN MILL.
AS to children under twelve years working
In mills. There can be no doubt IL the mind
OF any fair-minded man on that point. They
should be allowed to work: The y only cues,
day Ia too much for children OF that age.
Mil men OF long experience, but whose
word our respected eighbor would discount
are the only men whose opinion should be
worth q cent on this subj ect.
The enemies OF the mills talk about the
health Of the children In mills, and always
q great many others. Is only stereotyped
phrase without merit or meaning. Some
body said 1t, aud even those who are stran-
gers In mills. repeat 1t. We do not believe a
word OF 1t, and we judge from what we see.
To prove that the work In cotton mills
ia not Injurious 70 all children, 1t IL
women who have worked there from child
hood. These same infant boys OF long
ago are receiving better salaries than any
equal number Of men In the town. And If
deceive their neighbors
. GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF MILL OFFICERS.
But there ia great responsibility resting
upon the officers Of the mills, and TO which
no reference has been made 30 far as We have
seen, and that is TO see that.the operatives
take care of their health. We regard 1t as
little less than crime for the officers of u
mill TO neglect the health Of their operatives.
In some OF the mills II any attention 10 the
rules of health have been observed the fact
has escaped our notice. Mill operatives in
the winter time may wade through mud and
slush TO reach the mill. Their shoes are wet,
the warm mill they may work without
their coats. No matter how cold or blustery
the day, some OF them 60 out In the weat her
insufficiently clad. AS result, we believe
there has been more deaths from pneumonia
in our little mill village, since 1t began opera.
tioD, than has occurred elsewhere In the city
for many year, Not 30 long ago widower
in this mill died of pneumonia. He left a
number of little children, whom our plous
friend, the South Carolina Baptist would de.
prive OF the only means open TO them 10
make q living. The idea OF the cruelty re.
suiting from the enactment OF a law TO de
prive these o. phans from max ing living is
shocking to ones better feeling, and tha,
Christian men should urge such law is
amazing.
SUGGESTIONS IN BEHALF OF MILL PEOPLE.
Instead of making 1t unlawful for children
to help earn their own support, we would
suggest:
i. That every cotton mill in the State be
fequii ed to furnish q separate cloak room In
the mill for male and female operatives.
2. That every cotton mill furnish the CLOAK
room for the females. a matron. whose charac
ter and intelligence fit her for The position.