The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-10

I These conditions instantly sugges their
own remedies, and not remedies which In
dividuals can apply or charitable institu-
tons impose. but which must come from
the Undoubted Intentions Of the men who
own the Southern cotton mills and the
! stockholders. Only through the efforts and
action Of capitalists who control these In
dustries can an immediate ard valuable re-
suit be reached.
Moreover. reforms and Improvement
flowing directly from the sources where
those reforms and improvements should
! arise are the most important, the most rea-
sonable and the most desirable.
These do not SAVIOR of exaggeratiou: these
arise neitl er from religious, fauatictsm nor
from ideals and ephemeral theories. which
can only. If ever. do good for a period.
In order to really improve a state, Its
condition must be understood. from the in
side as well as from the outside.
No one Is in SO enviable q position to help
the laboring classes as the men who control
their toll.
FORCE OF A TRUTHFUL
STATEMENT.
I cannot see why a plain and truthful
statement Of conditions and OF facts. aud
pictures drawn from the life. should not
inspire the manufacturer and whOmsoever
! may be interested with means and methods
for amelioration.
No utterly unreal phase OF life has the
elements OF perruanence, abnormaIities and
exasgerations pass and are sure to be ef-
faced in the fine and reasonable march that
the world keeps toward what is durable
and good.
The manufacturer himself knows that the
| conditions in the cotton mills-I speak
chiefly OF South Carolina-cannot remain as
they are.
A spirit which. a certain number OF years
sso. struck or the shackles from a darker
racea spirit, whether alive to-day in the
indigenous people whom we cali white
trash" or whether to be declared in tho
orlooker. will surely stimulate revolt
against nhumau cupidity. against the keep
ing under of thousands OF people who by
birth. color and by natural rights are
thoroughly able to compete with other citi-
Zens.
| Soon not to be denied. demands through
organized bodies representing the laborer in
this country will force reaajustlaent upon
the commercial and manufacturing world.
We perfectly understand that when tie
Southern cotton mills were irst constructed
in a barren, almost savage. country. mod
ern improvements. such as to-day delight
US when We consider model mills in Dayton,
O.. could not even have a likeness in the
South.
| But after years Of commercial success,
when these ventures in the wilderness Of
South Carolina and Alabama and Georgia
have crowned the stakeholder and capitalist
With so many golden rewards: when divi-
dends pay SO fatty: When 1t is a tempta-
ton to invest in cotton-miil stock-she time
is ripe for the Introduction Of new methods.
not alone for the better weaving OF the
cloth, not even for iabor-savins machines
alone. but for certain humanitarian ideas.
TIT time indeed Is SO ripe that the mill
hands will wrest It from the tree Of oppor-
tunity unless the manufacturers themselves
are on their guard.
These people are prepared to do honor to
the name Of citizens, and 1t seems q pity
that they should be destroyed in their child
hood and broken in their manhood and
youth under a system of eleven, twelve,
thirteen hours a day labor.
We must remember that there is nothing
unnatural in the condition Of the Southern
mandatory.
II Is in its brilliant success q most fatter-
ing tribute to the energy Of the Northern
capitalist and to the ready response of the
South, and We look with confidence to the
change. in conditions with the next few
years, when these willing and humble aids
to the commercial wealth Of the southern
part CT our country are considered as in
tellisent factors and are treated accord
ingiy.
Up to the present moment they have been
| forgotten as human beins In the mad rush
for wealth.
Concessions lately obtained all over our