The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-01-24
THE CHILD LABOR SUBJECT.
"A Memorial from the Cotton Manu-
facturers of Oconee County.

"A Memorial from the Cotton Manu-
facturers of Oconee County.
The presidents OF the cotton mills in
Oconce County have prepared state
mont in regard to child labor in the
mills, which has been sent to the legis.
lative delegation from that county, and
| is as follows:
WALHALLA, s. 9 Jan. i, 1901.
TO the Hon Senator Herndon, Repre-
sentativcs Brown and Thompson--Gen
tlemen Representing, as We do, large
manufacturing interests in Oconce Coun,
ty, we deem it, our duty to lay before
you certain matters relating thereto,
which we are sure will engage your at.
tcntion.
1. Of course the rapid growth of the
cotton mill industry in South Carolina
and in the South has limited mill extern
sion in New England, and as such in
vestmcnts have been much sought after
there in the past, the change to South.
ern mill building is much deprecated,
and all sorts of Efforts have been, and
we doubt not will be, attempted to
handicap our triumphal progress by un
friendly Legislation under cunningly de-
vised pleas.
2. Very recently an agitation has been
begun at home, under humanitarian mo-
tives, in regard to children in our mills,
and looking to future educational tests
for relief from what is believed to be
great grievance. AS matter of fact
there is not q mill manager in our State
who does not heartily approve of the
age limit Of 10 years for work kers in our
mills ; this would insure better help and
leave the children from 6 to II to 20 to
school and prepare themselves for the
duties Of life.
3. Legislation aimed at the mills alone
to accomplish this result will, however,
be fruitlcss unless parents can also be
| reached; our daily experience shows
| that parents insist absolutely upon con
| trolling their respective families, and
! unless the Legislature can intervene aud
| compelling parents TO send their chill
drcn to school. up to IL years of age,
and alliXing penalties for violating the
| same, a very serious result will swiftly
| follow Georgia and North Carolina
have no such laws; it will inevitably
| happen that when South Carolina mill
| agrees to employ a family, but, accord
| ing to the proposed new law, rejects
workers under - years Of age, the fam
| lily will quietly take the train, and in an
hour or two will be in mill, and in a
ncghboring State, where all can get
| work
| t. We cannot help reminding you that
| some very positive social conditions
have to be known and considered in
this complex matter; work in our mills
is largely by families, not separately, as
| individuals; some take their ten-ycar
old Chi drcn into the mil to have them
under their own eyes others carry them
there to keep them Off the streets and
the chances Of bad company; others from
dire necessity for securing their share
of the family living With al these &C
tual conditions duly weighed the Gcor.
| gia Legislature has recently defeated
similar Legislation by the decisive vote
OF more than two to one. Speaking fo1
| our mill Investments in OcOncc County
now rapidly increasing, and as well fol
| the enormous investments in the State
at large, we take occasion to remark
that it is condition, not a humanitarian
theory you are to deal with. Hasty leg.
islation. aimed only at the mills, may
transfer large percentage Of our work.
crs to ncighboring States that arc free
from such legislation. 1t will be sad
day for South Carolina if her industrial
progress is arrested by partial cgslation
enacted by her own sons.
AS Oconcc County is on Gcorgia's
border, with partial Legislation as indi,
Gated, our mills will be much exposed tC
labor losses.
Contiding in your conservative view
OF these important matters, and asking
for your careful consideration O f thi
proposed legislation, we arc very re
spcctfuily: VIM A Courtcnay, Ncwry
f Il Lucas w, e Chcsnell, West min
istcr; Il w. Jor dan, Seneca.