The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-23
HOLDS THE
SCEP'T'[.E||:R'.
But South is Fast Gaining on.
NeWEngland Cotton Industry
MANUFACTURERS MEETG
Remedy for Decreasing the Number Of
SplndIes, Says Lieut.-G Guild.
Liesln Crusade Against Child
Labor and Long Hours.
(By Associated Press.)

tby ASsoc!htao Pfeeb.)
BOSTON. MASS. April 22.-In an ad-
dress OF welcome to-day to the delegates
to the annual meeting OF tho New Eng.
land Cotton Manufacturers Association
Lieutenant Curtis Guild. Jr.
reviewed the general conditions Of cot
ton manufacturing In New England and
made comparisons between the industry
in that section and In the South. He de-
clared that in spite Of competition, New
England held the sceptre Of cotton man
ufacture in this country. and called at
tention to the facts which. he said. In
dicated one grave cause OF unrest in this
particular industry,
He quoted figures showing the increase
In the number OF active cotton spindles
in the country from 1890 to 1902. and
said 1t was Idle to deny the fact that
the rate OF increase In the South was
much swifter than In New England. He
gave further figures showing that the
South. in comparison with New Eng
land. pays fiye.eighths as many opera
for operating about third as many
spindlcs. and said: ;,;3 $50
mot proximity to the cotton-helds, not
climate. but cheap labor. long hours, to-
gether with utter absence OF excitement
and extreme moderation Of taxation ex-
plain the growth OF the South"
''By substitution Of fine goods TOR
coarse goods in our factories, Massa-
chusetts has managed to put off the day
but ultimately the day Of settlement must
come. and we must lace and deal with
conditions that have reduced the spindles
In some Of our Northern States. Massar
chusetts, with the shortest time limit
and the Oldest age limit OF any State In
the Union. has to face the competition
OF States that limit neither age nor Tina
The solution OF the problem 10 not IN
admitting little children into the Massa-
chusetts' mills. nor in lengthening the
hours in Massachusetts,. but here and
now to begin crusade that the demands
OF humanity, enforced by law In MaAsa-
chusetts. shall be enforced by law In all
the States
LIFT ALABAMA.
'Let us not drag Massachusetts, down
to the level of Alabama. but let us lit
Alabama to the level OF Massachusetts,.
Let us have uniform factory laws
throughout the United States, 1t Is IDLE
for Massachusetts with wise restrio-
forward with unrestricted labor tor Its
cotton operatives"
After President FISHES address. a nun,-
Der Of papers dealings with technical and
economic side OF the cotton manufacture
ing business, were read. The first Of
these was by Henry g. Iattrldge. Of
Boston, on ''rhe Supply OF Cotton for
Fine Spinning
It is commercial problem. no said.
whether it pays to raise cotton exceeding
i SIS to 2 "a finch staple with q diameter
of fibre of 16-lo0 to la-10) OF an inch
The time will come when these extra fine
grades WILL always be very limited. and
as yet they have not been produced any,
where other than on the Islands of South
Carolina.
These high grades Will be wanted and
the Sea Islands Of South Carolina will
long be the nursery OF Sea Island or
long simple cotton cultivation, Without
an occasional renewal OF seed from them
tbs growth OF long staple cotton alse-
Mtasa; Ao1iuAas whether At In N Eouth