The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-12
LABOR BILL KILLED
In the House Of Representatives by
q Decisive Vote
AFTER a VERY LONG DEBATE.

Tho Bill Limited lthe Hours or La
Dor in tho Cotton Mills in
South Carolina to Ten
Hours n Day.
Mr.. Toole had on the calendar a bill
numbered "23," showing that 1t had
been one Of the very first introduced
last year. 1t was the first bill on the
calendar this year, and when Mr..
Toole called it up last night for the
purpose of adjourning the debate, the
house refused to adjourn the debate,
and forced action on the measure
upon Mr.. Strongs motion to strike
out the enacting words.
Mr.. TOOle told OF the hardships en-
countered by the cotton mill employees.
lie was taken somewhat unawares by
the action Of the house in forcing the
fight, but made an earnest appeal for
the bill, basing his fight on sentiment.
Mr. Bunch Of Marlboro, who speaks
rarely, but generally to the point,
made strong speech against the bill.
There Is disposition to inject into
the legislation Of this State spirit
against the pet industry of South
Carolina. He declared that the mills
are passing through their darkest
DAYS. Why does any one want to
t..row obstacles in the way of the
kindly feeling between factory and
ehploye9 He predicted that before
the year is out operatives will be beg
ging to work II hours a day, with
Cotton as scarce as 1T is now. He
told how people Of this county who
had not gone decently clad on the
farms are now working in the mills
and are the happiest people In the
world.
Mr.. Holman of Aiken, who styles
himself the old ''warhnrse, !" eshor.s;;,
In favor OF the bill. He seemed to
feel sore because he had not been
noticed by mill presidents In the cam
paign, but he had received a telegram
from one Of them declaring that his
bill would ruin the mills, and he In.
Weighed against the corporations.
Mr.. Carey, editor Of a labor orqani.
zation paper in Charleston, spoke
earnestly in favor of the bill. He ap-
pealed to the house to think of the
long hours. 1t was too long to work
from before the dawn until after
dark. He urged that this bill would
reduce the time one hour day. 1t
would give employment for III men
for 10 hours instead of 10 men for III
hours.
Mr.. Williams-W is back Of this
demand for this so-called relief?
Mr.. Carey-The people, particularly
the organized labor.
Mr.. Where is there any
organized labor In this State outside
or few cities? Is there any in the
great PiedrnonC country where there
are nine-tenths Of the mills?
Mr.. Carey-There may be none now,
but there will be.
MIR. Carey continued that II the
Democratic party does not grant such
moderate demands as this, they will
see the time when there will be con-
sequences which they will regret.
His remarks implied threat Of So
cialism with the white man and the
negro combined. The negroes are be-
coming Socialists.
Mr.. Bennett asked II the 10.hour
day would not decrease the pay pro-
portionately.
Mr.. Carey replied that the laboring
people would rather have shorter days
or labor even II 1t entailed less pay.
Mr.. Kirby Of Cherokee opposed the
bill. He is in favor of helping the
laboring class Of people. He declared
that the bill would work a hardship
on the people In the mills in this sec
tion. They had begged him to fight
the bill.
Mr.. Mahaffey OF Spartanburg added
his opposition to the bill. The mill
people there do not want it. The
Mills in Spartanburg have good
schools, they have good superinten-
dents. He gave picture OF mill life
In Spartanburg which did not show
the need Of any legislation. There
were some who had been kicked ouC of
the mill communities for worthless
ness who now blackguarded the mills.
Mr.. Webb Of Aiken declared 1t to be
funny thing that operatives coming
from the Piedmont country to Aiken
county always declared themselves in
favor Of the bill. All OF the opera
tives In Aiken favor it, Some of the
mill presidents themselves favor it.
In reply to some questions from the
floor, he said that these presidents
could not afford to advocate the meas.
ure more openly because the pressure
from other mills would be too heavy.
No other trades are worked over 10
hours a day. not even convicts, and
yet In s0Inc VI the mills the operatives
work I3 hours day, a violation OF
the law. AS to organized labor, he
declared that the operatives have the
same right to organize as have doc.
tors and lawyers and merchants. In
the Piedmont section, in Spartanburg
county, numbers of operatives were
discharged for attempting to organ
ize. This was done in Spartanburg
and In Laurens, and yet the employers
have right to organize. He de-
clared that an operative can work as
much In 10 hours when he is rested as
he can In | hours when he Is ia aded.
lie declared that as perhaps the only
member OF the house who had had nc
tual experience in mill he favored i;
very heartily.
Mr.. Dorroh declared that there is
member OF the Greenville delegation
who has worked in a mill, one in the
| Darlington delppation and On. frnro