Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-16
at1istellaneaus &eadimg.
ABOUT CHILD LABOR.
Tradesman Has Inves-
tfrated Conditions In This State.

A representative of the Chattanooga
Tradesman has been investigating the
child labor law Of this state and says:
In so far as South Carolina Is con.
cerned it will be no doubt great sur
prise to people to learn how few chill
dren under IL years Of age are en-
ployed in the mills. The Tradesman's
facts were obtained this summer, whel
none of the children Of mill operatives
are at school, hence their number IN
the mills Is greater at this season thar
at any other.
The following are some of the facts
Lewis w. Parker, president Of the
Victor Manufacturing company, says
that there ar $50 operatives in the mill
of whom there are q children under
12 years of age. Mr.. Parker regrets
that the number is unusually large al
this time, which is due to the fact that
the school closed July 1. This mil
operates a school nine months in the
year, paying three teachers and the
expenses of the school generally out OF
it's own funds.
John A. Law, president Of the Saxon
mills, Spartanburg, says he has 2lS
people on his pay roll. Of these, are
children under II years old, and they
will be put out as soon as school be-
gins, he says. There Is free schoo
in the village running eight months In
the year.
Arthur T. Smith, of the Langley
Manufacturing company, says thai
mill has 900 employees at work, OF
whom IA are under IL years old. This
corporation runs a 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 20 to school on the reopening.
James L. Orr, president of the Pied
mont Manufacturing company, says
that there are lab names on his pay
roll, of which 56 are between the ages
of 10 and u 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 1S under IL
There is regular graded school with
a principal and seven teachers. and
running ten months in the year, and
all of it is paid for by the company.
Ellison A. Smyth, Of the Pelzer and
Bolton mills, says in the Pelzer mil
there are 2,543 operatives, Of whom q
are under IL years old, and in the
Bolton mill there are SAL operatives
of whom 13 are less than IL years old
He SAYS: "At both Pelzer and Beltor
we have a contract book, which Is
signed by the head Of every family we
employ, and in which it is agreed thai
all children under II years of age are
to go to the scnool provided by the
mills every day the schools are open
and children over IL are to be employed
in the mill. Our school runs for nine
or ten months and will reopen on the
1st of September. I find that during
this holiday time some Of the children
under II years of age do get into the
mill to work. though they are not want
ed and their employment is forbidden
but often the children want to WORK
and make their wages. OF course, there
are special exceptions made to our l:
wear rule in individual cases, owing tc
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-
]. I. Westervelt, Of the Brandon
mills Greenville, says there are 2O7 en-
ployees in the mill. Nine are males
under 12 and three 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, when is run ter
months.
Thomas F. Parker president of the
Monaghan mills, Greenville, says there
are 3SS operatives in the mill, of whom
90 are under IL years. There is q
school open for nine months.
p, c. Poag, superintendent OF tine
Goldville Manufacturing company, says
there are 60 operatives in this mill, OF
wnom s-are under 12 years.
r. T. Fewell, president of the Arcade
mills, Rock Hill, reports that there are
1S9 operatives, Of whom 20 are under
10 years. He declares that there is not
a mill man in the state who wants tc
employ children under II. but it is
sometimes done from kindness of heart
and sympathy.
This is the record for South Carolina
so far as it goes, and it shows a sur
prsing state Of affairs when one con-
siders the many. investigations" made
of conditions by northern writer's
They have greatly exaggerated the sit
uation, with an object in view, and have
accepted their statements as truth
According to the showing made, there
is no need for any legislation on the
subject in this state, for the mill own
ers themselves do not want to emploj
children under IL years Of age and the,
do not do so except when they believe
they are doing good to the children
themselves and their families.
A Boy WHO DID HIS DUTY.-A gen
tleman went into a fancy shop one da!
to buy something. 1t was early. ant
the shopkeeper's little boy and he were
,a. So +bo bo,,co Tho ShopkeeDal