The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-01-29

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worship as they see fit. Five stores
are operated near the mills where the
operatives may buy their goods actu-
ally in competition with cash stores,
and they get them on credit the same
as if they paid cash. The motto OF
the proprietors is ''the greatest good
to the greatest number" The oper-
atives are encouraged to save their
earnings and in every other way made
to feel that they have something to
live for.
The Gafney Manufacturing Com
pany is another illustration Of what
mill men are doing for their operatives.
At Gafney the tenement houses are
neat and clean and we'll constructed,
some of them of brick and scrupu-
lousy clean. The company stores are
there for the convenience of the oper-
atives, and no checks used whatever,
and the operatives are not compelled
to buy of them. A free school is
operated nine months in the year for
the children and the expenses paid
by the mill owners.
The Courtenay Manufacturing Com
pany at Newry has also erected neat
cottages, all lathed and plastered,
painted inside and of uniform color.
Everything is being done for the
comfort of the operatives. The mills
are lighted with electric lights, steam
heated, and in summer fresh air is
forced all through every floor, thus
insuring an agreeable temperature
throughout the year. A free school
is maintained nine months in the
year at the company's expense.
Finally, the Pelzer Manufacturing
Company is also doing great work
for the operatives in their immense
mills. They have a $4,000 school
building, the teachers furnished free;
beautiful churches of all denomina-
tions and a library building with
5000 volumes in it, and large num-
Der of papers and periodicals, furn-
ished free by the company. Compul-
sorry education obtains at these mills.
The head of every family working in
these mills sign an agreement before
getting employment, the first clause
of which says that all children, mem
bers of any family between the ages
of five and twelve, shall enter the
schools maintained by the company,
and shall attend every school day dur
ing the year unless prevented by sick
ness, etc, As an additional induce
ment children who attend school
every day, receives a reward of 10
cents at the end of each month. Lee
lures with stereoptican pictures are
also provided, and are of the highest
order of illustrative entertainment.
There is no company store and oper-
atives buy where they please. No
liquors are sold in Pelzer, and the
people have emphatically voted
against dispensaries.
! Piedmont is still another illustra-
tion, and there are many others
scattered throughout the State. Let
the reader remember that the story
| of the awful neglect and bad treat
ment OF children of mill operatives
is copjured up by the sentimentalists
and labor agitators to work upon the
| sympathy of the credu!ous public.
There are no doubt some abuses, but
but mill overs are fast coming to re-
alize that good treatment of their
help pays, both in money and in the
consciousness Of helping to uplift the
poor who leave the farm to the ne
groes and 90 down to where schools,
and churches, free libraries, parks
and pleasure grounds conduce to
their pleasure and their educational
advancement.
a Good Recommendation.
Il LaL l.