Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-12-04
5I8 pound Gfanulateds
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y Cakes q ctag'o OH Soap
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e. w. & j. Il. BAUKNIGFT. Cash Merchants
Needed Legislation.

Needed Legislation.
Possibly from the best Of motives,
some politicians, however much they
may have been mistaken, purpose to
legislate against the poor white man
in the hope Of striking at the inter-
ests Of the cotton mills. &!
While we believe the Legislature
should not shut their eyes to the ne.
cessity for5legislation in reference to
the cotton Mills, yet we think the,
open and manly way would be to.
strike at the shortcomings of the
cotton mills, and not seek to do them
an injury by being unjust to the best
interests of thelaboring man and his
children. Legislate directly and
squarely for the cotton mills and do
not make q cats paw out of the poor.
people who seek, inthe 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 under.
standing 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. 38.s 4.
We do not know if there is such
o 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.
It there is no such contract, trade
or understanding, then the cotton
mills deserve vindioation, and the
suspicion that such an engagement
exists should be removed. a{
1t might be ascertained whether
injurious contraots or conditions ex.
ist. The farmers are entitled to
KNOW if the presence Of aslocal 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 mako q
living need to be let alone.
4 IftIle cotton mills are encourage
ing vagrancy, by allowing idlers %.
stay OF their premises to live on the
earnings of their children, then hold
the mills accountable for allowing
children to support vagrant fathers.
Make a law which will punish va
grancy, at cotton mills, and punish
the mills for allowing children to be
imposed upon. But let honest and
industrious people earn bread.
Tue 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,
it wet. The matron should further
see to the health Of tie children in
not allowing them to leave the mills
improperly Glad when the weather is
cold or wet. Perhaps to inattention
to the well known laws of health
may be charged more sickness and
death among mill operatives than TO
all other causes combined.
Ourlaw-makers should see that the
officers of the mill take as good care
of the children which have been en-
trusted to their supervision as is
usual for humane people to give to
the cattle of the field.
"A commission to see that the NOR.
atty, health and government of the
operatives is cared for ID badly
needed. s 6
The people need no Law which re- re-.
moves 70 the children Of operatives
from the laws which govern the
children q Of other people. Abbeyilie
Press and Banner.
$780, -----4SA--- ~ 81