Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-04-03
SOUTHERN MILLS HARD HIT.
Trouble In China Depressing to Cotton Trade,
Says President Tompklns.

Gin a general way tho Southern States
are prospering. The prices of planta-
tion products, especially cotton, are
higher than for some years back; but
the cotton milling interest is suffering.
The trouble in China is depressing that
branch of Southern business. The
delay in settling matters aud tho conse-
quent disturbances of trade are deci-
dcdly working against tho cotton mill
mon in our region"
Thus spoke D. A. Tompkins, of Char
lotte, N. c., to correspondent of the
Tribune. Mr. Tompkins is president of
tho Southern Cotton Mill Association
and looks to Asiatic trade, and particu-
larly the China traffic, to extend the
Southern mills. He is still young,
vigorous man, who is we'll known in
industrial circles far beyond his own
section. All of his superabundant vi
tally is not enlisted in the manufacture
of the South's staple product, for he is
largely Interested in other branches OF
industry, including leading local news
papcr. He is native of South Carolina
and not of North Carolina, as might be
supposed, and first saw tho light in the
village of Edgefield, which also produced
Gen. Butler, a former, and Mr.. Tillman,
present Senator from South Carolina
mon who occupy such divergent posi-
tions and hold such contrasted views OF
public policy. While the personal rola
tions of tho Senator and D. A. Tomp
kins arc excellent, they differ consider
ably in matters of politics, though both
are Democrats Mr.. Tompkins finds
himself in accord at present with the
Junior Senator from the Palmetto State
In McLaurin he has a jealous defender
of certain business and political views
such as the extension of trade in the
Orient, expansion of territory and in
crease OF the military and naval estab
lishments, so necessary to carry out the
policy of expansion, both of trade and
territory.
'The young and nervy Senator from
South Carolina" Mr.. Tompkins said
"has made n speciality in his career il
the Senate of this question of expanding
tho South's industry eastward. For thi.
he has been fiorcely assailed, and over
his fealty to Democratic principles
questioned. The whole upper portion
of his State is pormeated with the idea,
ho has espouscd, for it is precisely thor,
that the industrial development ha'
taken place during the last two decades
McLaurin will not make his appeal fo
re- election to weak or disorganizet
sentiment, therefore, although he will
unquestionably have powerful opposi
tion in tho rural community. His tenur,
! of the Attorney Generalship of the State
followed by three terms in the Nationa
House of Representatives and scvera
terms in the Senate, have given him {
hold upon tho people which it will b'
hard to shake. Nevertheless, in an agri
cultural State like South Caroliua, i
will seem strange if man of Mr.. Nc
Laurins views should DO sustained by
tho people. TO the student of history
the problem of his endorsement will no
be SO difficult. Those South Carolinan.
have swung from party to party ant
from one point of Wow to dametrically
|.oppositc point so swiftly during the cen
tury and quarter Of their existence n,
II State that even tho collection of John
l.. McLaurin is not unlikely event."-
Washington Correspondence Now Yorl
Tribune.