The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-06
THE ADVERTISER IS STILL
RIGHT.


The Montevallo Sentinel takes exception
to a recent article in this paper in which
we took the position that Opposition to
child labor is not opposition to South
ern development. In order that no in
justice may be done our contemporary
we copy its editorial in full:
And in this particular instance Grand
ma is wrong. For the benefit Of our
venerable friend The Sentinel will say
that an effort Is being made to secure
a cotton mill for Montevallo-an effort
in which our business men and infiuen-
tial citizens have thrown their whole
strength. and it is also we'll known fact
that there are some of our people who
are opposing the location of the mill
here because they say 1t will bring child
labor. These people are no stronger or
better friends of the children, nor more
heartily in favor of child labor law
than The Sentinel, and those who read
this paper have no need for gulde
book to discover where it stands upon
that question. The editor has always
been an advocate of child labor law
In this State, going little further as
to the age than most people, peileVing
that it should rot be less than IA years
Whether or not those who oppose the
location of a cottn mill here are opposed
to Southern development Is not within
our province to say, but the cold fact re-
mains that they are outspoken IN their
opposition to the location of the mill here,
and we repeat-they are doing the child
labor cause no good in this opposition.
We agree with The Advertiser that
cotton goods can be manuf ictured in Ala
bama without the labor of children as
well as in the North and 1t will be to
Alabama's credit when 1t is done-and
we believe that time is not far distant
But as to our statement in the paragraph
quoted in The Advertiser-it Is neither
nm good a
son that it is true. The Advertiser should
be sure of it's position before being so
emphatic in its assertions.
We must say that We fail to see how
The Sentinel strengthens its own position
or weakens The Advertiser by its line of
argument. even in one particular case.
1t may be that there are good people
in Montevallo who believe that cotton
factories and child labor must necessa-
rily go together, and it may also be true
that they refuse to give encouragement
to the project of building mill in Mon
tevallo on the same pretense. but we are
bound to think it a weak pretence at
best. Long before the mill can be built
and put in operation there will be law
enacted which will regulate this sub
ject, and those who are fighting the pro-
ject will probably find some other reason
for doing so.
But admitting that The Sentinel is
correct in this particular instance, 1t does
not in any degree detract from the JUS
tice of the position assumed by The Ad-
vertiser. Our contention was and is that
cotton goods can be manufactured as
cheaply in Alabama without the labor of
little children as it can in New England
or anywhere else. And we further con-
tend that if just and reasonable anti
child labor law is passed that it will not
prevent the erection of mills in this State,
in any general sense. 1t may do it in
some localities, but only for time. The
Sentinel may be correct as to Montevallo,
but not as to Alabama generally.
And The Advertiser is sure Of its po-
sition.'