The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-24
MR., LEWIS W. PARKER
ON MILL SITUATION
Discusses Several Phases in In.
tereSting Way
CONDITIONS IMPROVING.
Denies He Might Import Fall River
GA Foreign Help-Says Help
Here Best iu the World.
CONDITIONS IMPROVING.
Columbia State, 2lst.

yesterday to a representative OF Inc
State concerning the cotton mill situa'
tion aud the prospects for the coming
season.
81 do not Think" said Mr.. Parker.
''that there is an excess of production
in the same sense that there 1s any
considerable accumulation of goods.
At the same time, buyers of cotton
goods have become impressed with the
thought that there is large accumula-
ton of goods and have been indisposed
to make purchases, believing that the
large accumulation which they thought
existed would have the effect of caus-
ing lower prices of goods.
"The last season has been one of the
mosi remarkable in the history of cot
ton manufacturing, and probably the
most difficult to the manufacturer. In
the last year cotton has advanced eight
cents pound, to fall again nearly as
much. Cotton goods for awhile re-
sponded in a measure to the advance
in cotton, and considerable sales were
made at prices seven and eight csuts q
pound above those now existing. The
result is that, with the considerable
fall in price which has occurred, buy
ers find themselves with more or less
goods bought on very high basis. In
consequence for the last few months
they have bsen pursuing strictly either
hand to mouth policy, or when buy
ing in any quantity, have been, as the
phrase is used, averaging down. in
other words, each purchase of goods is
made simply with the view of reduc-
ing the price of goods previously pur-
chased, and, by low purchasing, secur'
ing an average upon which it was
hoped some profit could he made.
"In certain lines there is now some
Improvement, and of heavier goods for
export, considerable purchases have
been made for fall delivery. In the
meantime, pending this demand for
goods, it became very important to
make public the curtailment in pro-
duction being made by the mills, in
order to have the buyers appreciate the
possibility of short supply when de-
mand arose.
II do not think the curtailment has
been any hardship to the cotton mill
employees, for there has been during the
whole season more or less scarcity of
help amongst the mills, so that all en-
ployes who desire work have been at
all times able to secure it. At some
mills the employees have welcomed the
temporary shut down as giving them
short rest.
mo effort has been made in most of
the mills to change the wage scale at
all, consequent upon the low price OF
goods. In some communities where
wages were unusually high as compar-
ed with the wage scale generally, re-
ductions have been made to bring these
communities to a parity with the gen.
eral average. but distinguishing fea-
ture of southern cotton mill work in
contrast with that of Fall River is that
the work is steady and the pay conse-
quently constant. For many years
Fall River and other eastern manu-
featuring centres have had alternate
periods of production and shut down.
No such conditions exist with the mills
of this State, which, with few eXcep-
tions, have run constantly, though at
times, of course, without profit.
We have during the last month re-
duced our production TO about three
lOul lis vi UlIC oul
this has not been disadvantage to the
employees, for many have been given
thereby an opportunity to rest, which
was needed. We expect in few
weeks to again put the mills to full
production.
PERSONALLY, I anticipate a good sea-
son this fall. The cotton crop of this
community, it seems to me, will be
large, though the prices will be fairly
high as contrasting with the prices
existing prior to the last two years.
| II am glad to say that all suits in
volvsng the mills have all been dis
missed and satisfactory settlements
made with all litigants. I see no rea-
son why the mills Of Columbia should
not be successful if the mills in other
communities in the State are.n
| NO FOREIGN LABOR WANTED.
"There is report current that you
are going to introduce foreign labor
into the mills here, and it is currently
reported that you are about to bring
100 families from Fall River Is there
any truth in this report"
None whatever. We regard our
employees, who are natives, as a rule, OF
this community, as the best class OF
cotton mill employees in the world. We
certainly have no desire to displace
them with any other character of help,
and such question has not even been
considered by US. There is great
contrast between the relations of the
southern cotton mill corporations to
their help and that existing in Fall
River add other eastern communities.
am glad to say that the relations be-
tween the employer and employee are
generally most pleasant and free from
friction. Even if there were no other
reasons, We should consider most care
fully before introducing help from Fall
River or ether such points.
"As matter of fact, however, there
is no desire on our part for such help,
and there has not been the slightest
effort, nor will there be, to secure it,
We are satisfied with the people now
in our employ, and, as stated, regard
them the best class of employees in the
world"
MIR. PARKER AN AUTHORITY.
No man stands higher than Mr.. Par
ker in the cotton mill world, as he pos
sesses the confidence of the manufac
, turers, the operatives and the public
: generglly in an eminent degree. He
: has had unusual success, and his opln
, ions are most valuable on all subject:
pertaining to the cotton mill business