The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-13
CHILD LABOR FACTS.
A Mere HandInI Of children Uuder
.: Years Of Age Employed in the
Mills-Thcir Treatment by the Mslt
AuehoriCies.

Z. Years Of Age Employed in the
Mills-Thcir Treatment by the MsIi
AastoriGies.
columbia Record)
The Record has received an advanc-
ed sheet of an article which is to ap-
pear in The Tradesman, Chattanooga,
the subject being the child labor ques-
ton as 1t IL in the South. This journal
undertakes to tell the truth about con-
ditious, aud il does so in specific and
not n general way.
In 80 far az South Carolina IL con-
cerned 1t will be no doubt Il great sur
prise TO people to learn bow few chill
dren under L. years of age are employ
ell in the mills. The Tradesnian's e
facts were obtained this summer. when
none of the children of mill operatives
are at school, hence their number in
the mill is greater at this season than
at any other. ..
The following are some IF the facts :
Lewis w. Parker, president Of the
Victor Manufacturing company, says
that there are $50 operatives In the
mill, of whom there are - children
under II years Of age. Mr.. Parker re-
yrets that the number IL unusually
large ut this time, which IL due to the
| fact that the school closed July ]. This
mill operates u school nine months in
the year, paying three teachers and the
expenses Of the school generally out
| it, own funds.
John A. Law, president Of the Saxon
mills, Epartanburg, says he has 2'o
people on this pay roll. or these: are
children under II years old, and they
will be put out as soon as school De-
gins, he says. There Ii free school In
the village running eight months I'D
the year.
Arthur r. Smith, Of the Langley
Manufacturing company, says thai
mill has 800 employees 1T work, oi
whom II are under II years old. This
lcorporation runs q free school four
months of the year and the county
five months, making nine in all. Mr..
Smith states that every one OF these
children will go to school on the re-
opening. ,
James l.. Orr. president Of the Pied
mont Manufacturing company. says
that there are .423 names OH his pay
roll, OF which So are between the ages
Of 10 and l2 years. All of these are
sweepers and jackers and are children
of small families, who are dependent
upon them for living. There is not
one under 10 and only thirteen under
liz. There is regular graded school,
with n principal and seven teachers,
and running ten months In the year,
and all of Il Is paid for by the COM
pany.
Ellison A. Smith, OF the Pelzer and
Belton mills. says in the Pelzer mill
there are 2,543 operatives, Of whom ~
are under l2 years old, and In the Bel
ton mill there are 54l operatives, OF
whom Is are less than II years Old.
He says:
"At both Pelzer and Belton we have
q contract book, which Is signed by
the head OF every family we employ,
and In which 1t In agreed that all chill
Idreu under Il years Of age are to go to
the schools provided by the mills every
day the schools are open, and children
over l2 are to be employed In the mill.
Ou: schools run for nine or ten months
and will reopen on the lst Of Septem-
ber. ] find that during this holiday
time some Of the children under II
years of age do get into the mill tn
work, though they are not wanted and
their employment forbidden, but of.
ten the children went to work and
made their wages. or course, there
are special exceptions made to our L.
year rule In individual cases, owing to
the poverty and needs Of the widowed
mother or the invalid father, or, In the
case of orphans. to the condition OF
want In which the grandparents are
found to be ?"
J. I. Westervelt, Of the Brandon
mills, Greenville. says there are 2OI
employees In the mill. Nine are males
under l2 and three are females under
IL, although they are just few months
removed from that age. These are
more than usual on account Of the
school being closed, which Is run ten
months.
Thomas +. Parker, president OF the
Monaghan mills, Greenville, says there
are 3SS operatives In the mill, Of whom
q are under l2 years. There is school
open for nine months.
p. &. Poag, superintendent Of the
G -!dville manufacturing company,
says there are 90 operatives In this
mill, Of whom 8 are under II years.
r. T. Fewell, president OF the Ar
cade mills, Rock Hill, reports that
there are $50 operatives, Of whom 20
are under l2 years. He declares that
there Is not a mill man in the state
who wants to employ children under
ID hut II In sometimes done from kind
ness of heart and sympathy.
This is the record for South Carolina
30 far a. 1t goes, and II shows sur
prising state Of affairs when one con-
siders the many ''inves'igatioDs" made
of conditions by Northern writers.
They have greatly exaggerated the sit
uation, with an object In view. aud
have succeeded in arousing the indig-
nation Of many of our people who
have accepted their statements as the
truth. According to the showing made
there is no need for any legislation on
the subject In this State, for the mill
owners themselves do not want 10 EN-.
ploy children under IL years Of aye,
and they do not do SO except when they
believe they are doing good to the
children themselves and their fami-
lies.
"Ali the go'-tissue paper hats. Make you
one. You can get the paper rom The Speed
Drug Co.