The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-03-27
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL.
New Enterprises That Are Enriehing
Our Favored Section.
South to Work Right.

In his speech at the last meeting OF
the Progressive Union OF New Orleans
John H. Kirby of Texas, successful
worker for the South, in addition to-
stirring his hearers to activity be-
half of their city and prophesying quite
clearly the greatness Of the South, and
particularly of that portion OF the
South bordering upon ne Gulf, dwelt
upon the honor Of work as a means to
the fulfllment Of the prophecy, he
said:
I'VE have determined to make the
South the seat Of busy industry, as
we'll as the home Of the most loVable;
hospitality that exists in the world.
We are not only going to be planters.
and merchants, but we are going to
be makers of all the products that.
come from our natural resources. We
are not only going to grow cotton and
cane and rice and timber, but we are
going to get the great advance in val
lie which comes through Transforming
these products of the soil into every
conceivable form devised for the use Of
mankind. In this way we will keep
idle hands busy, and If those who wish
to do something for cha--.y, benevo-
lence and philanthropy will put their
money into factories they will do man
kind more good than in any other way.
There is no charity so well directed as
that which furnishes means to keep
the people employed. / am one Of those
who believe Andrew Carnegie Is bet
ter man as an ironmaster than he is a
builders Of Libraries"
The common sense which has made
Mr.. Kirby a leader in Texan prosperi-
ty crops out all through his speech, but
it is nowhere more apparent than in
the sentences quoted. But while it is
true that practical philanthropy gives
employment to two pairs Of hands
where but one pair was employed be-
fore, it may 60 little farther n pro-
yiding the means whereby the Ecw
hands employed may be trained to do
work to the best advantage. The South
as a whole, does not lack unskilled la
bor. Here and there in the shifting Of
population consequent upon the in
ception Of deveiopmental enterprises
in new fields. stringency Of even un-
skilled help is felt. But that difficulty
will be overcome in the natural order
of things. Meanwhile there is an in
creasiag demand for hands and heads
trained to labor requiring more than
ordinary skill or to direct the mass Of
everyday labor. This demand may be
supplied only through the encourage
ment, either through legislative appro-
priations or through individual gen.
erosity on practical basis for the en-
largement Of the scope and equipment
of the Southern institutions where
young men, rid of the notion that
honest work of any kind NAV be off,
color, are receiving technical educa-
ton. Several States are awakening to
their responsibilities in this direction,
notably Mississippi. which has recently
been most liberal with its public funds
toward its industrial institutions, and
public sentiment seems certain to lead
to similar legislation py men Of other
States. The adoption by men OF the
South who have amassed independent
fortunes Of some such plan for the aid
OF Southern boys anxious to know how
to work right, as that urged by the
Manufacturers Record, will not only
increase the immediate facilities Of ex-
listing institutions, but will go q long
way toward the promotion OF the
much-needed public sentiment voiced
by Mr.. Kirby in his sctriking address.
Baltimore Manufacturers Record.