The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-08-01
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1t is idle to think that the matter OF
factory legislation against child labor
can mich longer be excluded from the
Southern mills problem. Up to tne
present time the desire of the mill
operators to use the cheapest labor and
the anexiety of parents to make profit
able use of their otherwise idle children
have conspired to postpone Legislative
action on the subject. Southern legls-
lators have been made to believe that
interference with freedom of contract
for child labor because of its cheapness
would so increase the cost OF operating
cotton mills, for instance, as to destroy
their proftableness and stop the growth
of those industries in the, Southern
States. Recognizing that these sub
iects will be agitated, must be debated,
and that an aroused public opinion IN
favor of Just economics, good morals
and humanity to the weak will force
legislation at all hazards, it will be the
part of wisdom for the mill managers
of the South to forestall radical action
by the people and their representatives:
There is enough both of morality and
business sagacity among the mill men
of the South to present a satisfactory
solttion of the problem-one that Will
abolish the menace of generations OF
stunted, overworked and illiterate fac
tory operatives, and yet allow the
reasonable employment of those VINO
are fit to labor and who need both the
work and the wages. This can be done
without imperiling the investments or
cutting down disastrously the profits IN
the cotton milling industry of the
South. Any fair scheme for adjusting
this question originating with the mill
men will be met more than half way
and favorably by the people and their
tional resistance to any reform of the
prevailing abuses of child labor and
female labor will lead to legislation
that may be drastic and go beyond the
lines of necessity and equity. Atlanta
Constitution.
The above is true and is the position
of The Herald and News on this sub
ject. There is no necessity for radical
legislation on the child labor question,
but unless some agreement is reached
which will be just and equitable to all
persons concerned as we'll as just to
the helpless children, there will be
some drastic legislation. We have al
ways opposed child labor in the mills
that is, constant labor because it is an
injustice TO these helpless children and
wrong to the future citizenship OF the
State. If the State were ready for
compulsory education the question
would be settled, but we do not believe
we are yet ready for it, though thirty
two States now have compulsory laws.
Why could not the mill owners require
the children until of a certain age to at
tend school for six or eight months in the
year? That requirement could be en-
forced by the mill owners and would be
a better settlement than drastic legls-
lation. If something of the kind is not
agreed upon, then the only remedy is
legislation, and such legislation Will
have our endorsement, and support.
We want to see the children taken care
of and educated because the future
manhood aud womanhood of the State
depends upon the training and educa-
ton of the youth. It is not well Tor
the child to be idle and loaf on the
streets all the while, but little play
will do him no harm.
There is no comparison between child
labor in textile mills and the labor OF
the farm. On the farm you have the
sunshine and the fresh air and besides
H., it is not so constant and the hours so
long.
The following are extracts from an
article written by a member OF the
editorial staff of the Dry Goods Econo-
mist after personal visit to the mills
of the South for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the truth and then stating it.
Tn his introduction he says:
sd 1866 the capital invested IN
Southern cotton manufacturing was
variollslv estimated at from 81, ,OOO,O OOO
to Sc. OO0, 900, whereas, according to the
Latest statistics, it now represents an
investment approximating Sl75, 0UO, OOO.
In this march of progress South caro-
Ina has assumed the lead, followed by
North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama,
in the order named. Nor does such ex.
mansion m show the slightest sign, OF
waning: on the contrary, the growth OF
snindles and looms is yearl y increasing.
eETn the wake of such material deVel-
opment, however. have come Soclal
nroblens of vital import, the solution
Of which will have a more lasting,
tho;1oh far subtler, influence upon the
Welfare of the commonwealth con.
cerned than the mere multiplication OF
snindles and looms or other concrete
Evidences of prosperity could possibly
have.
.The problem is child labor. Tennes-
COO and Louisiana expected, the South
ern States hold the unique position of
being the only portion Of the civilized
olohe wherein the employment Of chill
dren is not regulated by law. In every
nation of Europe, not excepting semi
barharous Russia, where discussion
ofouestions tending to amellorate the
condition of labor does not curtall the
hours of slunber of ''the powers that
he''-the employment of children IN ali
Kinds of occupations is governed by
b,Irnane laws. The same IS true OF
twenty-s;x States of our own Union
Viroinia, North Carolina, South Caro-
Elo,.ido MisSiSSinDi Ala