The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-09-17
CHILD LABOR IN MILLS.
r.,,ou Manufacturers of Texas Are
Opposed 10 Such,
FULL DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER
". Had at the Meeting Which Was
~ u.ld A. Brsnham Tuesday--Resolu-
lions Set Forth Views.

q prepham, Texas, September l6.-The
4 cation Manufacturers association
orvsped at the public library rooms here
sSsv Al 10 o'clock, with President II. W..
fo,rbanks OF the Dallas cotton mill in the
Tha Texas Cotton Manufacturers assoc
.,,on WINS organized April 16, 1901, aud
Il ohieet as set out in the bylaws are,
-. To increase intercourse of the Texas
n ..,or manufacturers with each other sec
4 u "a assist in eliminating evns of the
a annfacturing interests, both in relation OF
~ 10 each other and the commission
4onses with which they deal.
y The following representatives were pres
4, d A. Du Bose, ex president Of the as
.oclation, president and manager OF the
"a .xahnchle cotton mill; e. Il. Adams OF
"A / celeste cotton mill; Il. j. Ihvmhill Of
"a corslcana cotton mill; NJ. V. Smith OF
& : Relton cotton MILL d. L. Giddings, Jr.,
~ ,hs Brenham cotton mill, besides mum
n az railroad men and manufactures
VA snts ior cotton mill machinery.
rbe nresldent stated that the nrst thing
* the selection of secretary, ana Nj. v
IT njtb Of Bolton was elected.
N 3 H. Ealrbanks announced that there
III ~ twn questions to Ue discussed, and
Ia he wanted to near expressions from All
tfesent on them, ,.,, ~. =.
.hlr, d. Z, Giddings, Jr', Welcoineu tHe as
.Scia,Ion 10 Brennan. assuring them mat
WAS glad to huve them mere, and eN-
+uded 10 each and every one most nearly
Nieome. He hoped the time was not lar
Instant when Texas would take nef place
I'D the front rank OF coltoh MISUNDERSTANDING
In, hp Sputli.
TN. President Du Bose OF Wah0Xachie re-
ssonded and said that the association was
mi 10 meet In d town that had taken hold
IN tho cotton mill business right, explain
III, hat they had not made the mistake Of
.:Sb,e other towns IN trying 10 start with
tzlf enough capital, but had raised all they
81. Mod 10 as to be able to avoid paying IN
|test. serious handicap to those VINO dld
4oi take this preCauuon.
,a'bs nresident announced that the labor
snhestlon was first up for discussion, anu
@ned OH Mi. G1ddings 10 state what tne
7abmocratic convention at Galveston de-
~ pded In ito platform.
In. tjiddings stated that II was In enect
2stbt no child under ~ years of age should
'i|8 employed In the cotton mills, de SAID
MA discussion OF this question had us
Gin In New England, and that he did not
ztlIeye the Southern mills wanted TO EN-
mn child labor, but that they had breh
ilkced 10 do so occasionally when all the
oA or members of the family We're working
ST. the mill, and that II was better 10 have
I'LL child there than loaflng on the streets
&ithout restraint. Mr. Gldulngs toiu OF
,A kindergarten school I'm connection with
astih maintained by the Dallas cotton mill
1,aj closed by expressing the opinion that
TIL Texas legislature should be asked not
sto play into the hands of the New England
4Irils by passing any burdehsome JEWS
Inst the Southern mills.
Mr. Adams of Celeste was the next
maker on the subject and thought that
.iM agitators of this question were honest
IIk their motives but were not acquainted
rilh the situation. We have widows anu
ihtlr children at work In our factory ana
4 Is much easter on them than to 90 into
stbH field and work which they would do
IBID for the work there, and the two emil
t6len under II who are at work there earn
4lcents per day that contributes materially
<o the support Of this family.
p Nr Smith Of the Bolton mill said they
oia not have any children and thought
hem q disadvantage.
Mr Du Bose said we are all of one ac-
foih about child labor, but sometimes we
ftfe 10 take a child under II to get the
hahnce OF family. However, he favored
lhe Georgia resolution which Is to the et-
laH that no child under II be employed
txcept when II was necessary for the sup
nDN of a family. He believed II the asso.
tiation adopted such a resolution In TINS
,IAttse the legislature would see their attl-
fdjle on the subject and let the matter
]. Thornhill OF the Corsicana cotton
W'll was not In favor OF child labor, for
t74n though 1t was special cases and lot
fHtcia reasons the agitators and reformers
AfTer heard these reasons. or ever heard
tH explanations.
+ Nd. Glddings wanted to know II there
Ne any truth In the report that parents
Hffe using child labor to keep from work
themselves and collecting the wages to
sphd for drink. :,
was answered In the negative by all
Nltfent except the president. He called MT,
4 ddings TO the chair and said that he had
t9i1e statistics rs to child labor. Out of
, employees In Texas cotton mills THAI
1R& been heard from there were only forty
n>}uren under II years Of age aItl that ne
3f'4 sure that the proportion would hold
t4W In all. He said they were facing q
H14f ition that must be met. We should
resolutions defining our position so
'e3'et there would be no necessity for legis-
aPn on the subject We hire children
M because we want them. but to help out
I e poor family, but the agitators do not
S8fve this. He spoke of having brought
N'F people TO Texas to work In the cot
8;1 mill and of their condition, which in
F instances had beeen greatly improved,
. 41& closed by expressing himself In favor
q le georgia resolution. Referring to Mr.;
a''4pings' question. he said that his mill
Ef# nan one case of man that had three
= rem, over II. however that collected
7eF wages regularly. and did not work
Ell. ana that this man came to MIN
n wanted him to take two smaller ones,
lsHt We're not IL. but which he said he
1std make affidavit that they were, and
ne caught him by the collar and an
No. 8 shoe to the place where II
q 40 most good, until he was out Of
president resumed the chair and n
1tion was adopted that n committee
wo be appointed to draft a suitable
MI u.lon embodylng the features Of the
I4'""|"k lu resolution n ~ IN child labor
tt seemed TO be the sense OF the meeting
.ney were all of one opinion that this
4,1 the. case. and would obviate the
S'y or any legislation on the sub
sg.I Fbsrs. D. c. Giddings and 2. A. Du Bose
~. appointed committee to draft the
.,elons after the plan OF the Georgia