The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26

Of progress during the last decade should
continue in the future the South may over
take New England.
1t stands to reason that this new South
ern competition must be sensibly felt by
New England manufacturers. The goods
manufactured in the South are chiefly OF
the kind exported. During the year 1900
our total exports of cotton goods amounted
to $24,OO3.oS7. and almost 60 per cent. of this
value represented the product OF Southern
mills. This competition from the South was
cited by the Massachusetts, State Board of
Arbitration few days ago as one reason
why the Lowell mills could not pay the
increased wages demanded by the work.
men. The board said in its report:
Lowell manufacturers have to meet
Southern competition On coarser goods ana
that of the best equipped modern mills in
inner fabrics. 1t is unnecessary more than
TO refer TO. the increase of Southern mills
Lowell has a formidable competitor there.
OF the total gain of cotton spindles in
ddne United States from 1880 to 1900 OF 4,s29,-
249 SO per cent, or 2,747S39. Were in the
South, which produces the plain coarse
goods such as are largely made in Lowell.
The Southern mills have the advantage of
nearness to the cotton fields. lower wages
and longer hours. At "a meeting of the New
England Cotton Manufacturing Association
held in Boston few days ago Lieuten-
ant Governor Guild, of Massachusetts, de-
livered on address to the delegates, in which
he said it was idle to deny that the rate
Of increase Of spindles in the South was
ha in Emo Ia
quoted figures showing that the South, in
comparison with New England, pays five
eighths as many operatives little over a
third as much wages for operating about
a third as many spindles. He said:
Not proximity to the cotton fields: not
climate, but cheap labor and long hours,
with utter absence Of excitement, and ex-
IRENE moderation of taxation, explain the
growth of the South Massachusetts, with
the shortest time limit and the Oldest
age limit for factory workers of any State
In the Union, has to face the competition
OF States that limit neither age nor time.
Inc solution OF the problem Is not in adj
hitting little children in the Massachusetts,
mills or in frightening the hours of work
In Massachusetts, but in beginning here
and now a crusade that the demands of
| humanity, enforced by law in Massachu-
| sets, shall be enforced by law in all the
states. Let us not drag Massachusetts,
down to the level of Alabama: let us lift
| Alabama to the level of Massachusetts.
Let us have uniformity of factory laws
| throughout the United States. 1t is idle
for Massachusetts to stand alone with wise
restrictions when Alabama and South Car
| DINA compete with the toll of infant fingers
against the labor of men and women.
Lieutenant Governor Guild did not at
tach importance to proximity to the cot
| ton fields, but certainly that must be fac
tor. though lower wages, longer hours and
child labor count more. In 1900 the total
number of children under sixteen years of
age employed in the cotton factories of
New England was 1883; the number of
such employed in the Southern States was
4,ES. In New England children under
sixteen years constituted per cent of all
employees; in the South they were rs per
cent. A change is going on in the South in
regard to employing children and 1t is be-
| lieved the next few years will see a de-
cided dimipution of child labor in that
section. If cotton manufacturing continues
to make as great progress I'm the South
during the present decade as it did during
| the last one the business will be almost
revolutionized and social conditions In the
South will undergo a great change.