The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-10
ALL FIVE ARE FALSE
They SANDER the North Caro-
lima Cotton Mills.
Operatives Are Treated With Kindness and Con-
Sderation That Is Not Known in the Great
Mill Centers

Mill Centers
To the Editor: AS a native of North
years ago, it is quite natural that
should feel interested in everything rela-
tive to the dear old Commonwealth,
where so many happy years of my life
were spent. II mere sentiment, instead
of business interests. controlled me, 1
should lose NO time in renewing my al
legiance to State which has become
so important a factor In the political
and industrial progress of the nation.
1t is now generally conceded that in
many respects, North Carolina is the
most prominent part of the North Ameri-
can Continent. Favored with splendid
natural resources and blessed with an
Industrious, Godfearing population, the
State is destined to continue it's grand
march along the pathway OF progress
and prosperity. But in the midst of the
most encouraging development, it is not
improbable that instances of injustice
and oppression may occasionally arise
requiring investigation and correction. 1t
is a case of this nature which l desire
to lay before the News and Observer and
its many fair minded readers.
During the early part of the present
summer, l was travelling through the
anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania
in the interest of large manufacturing
concern, located in the east. While in
Oil City, my attention was called to a
printed speech made by one of the repre-
sentatives of the American Federation
of Labor, which was almost startling
in its abusive reference to Southern mill
owners and operators. The North Caro-
lima cotton mills were especially men
toned. After boldly declaring that the
mills as operated would prove a greater
curse to the South than slavery before
the war, the speaker said that he would
endeavor to explain the situation by pre-
senting the five following assertions, all
Of which were absolutely true. I quote:
''The conditions of the Southern tex
tile-workers may be summed up as fol-
lows;
they are treated worse than slaves.
They work longer and for less pay than
any class of mill laborers in the world.
'They are subjected to a'docking sys-
tenn under which they are shamefully
cheated and robbed.
They are forced to live in the mill
owners houses, trade at the mill owners
stores, support the mill-owners' churches
and Doctors and, should they dare to OPP
pose any of these requirements, they are
driven like dogs from the mill district.
THE ehildlabor system in the South
ern mills is a disgrace to our boosted
civilization. The health, and even the
lives, of thousands of little children IS
being sacrificed to crafty the demands
of capitalistic greed
1.-The mill bosses in the South enslaye
the operatives, who formerly were limo
cent country people, by taking advantage
of their astounding ignorance and cred
ulity."
Doubling the truth of the above ASST
tons, decided to clip and send them to
some reputable paper in the South for
contradiction. l can scarcely believe that
the Southern people, so distinguished for
their generous conception of Christian
duty. would for one moment tolerate the
sad condition here described Labor adj
vocates have been going all over New
England exposing the horrors of white
slavery in the Southern mills. Now Mr.
Editor, If these advocates, by exagger-
ating or misrepresenting the true facts
in the case, are doing gross injustice
TO the mill managers, then it would seem
that it is the duty of the Southern press
to discredit and suppress them.
W. B. EDMUNDSON.
baltimore, Md, Aug. 3, 1902