The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-22
SHOULD GET OUT
IF THEY RUN AT A LOSS
New England Cotton Manufacturers
Talk About the Trade.

ADOuN tne
Brettonwoods, N. H., Sept 21.-Topics
of especial interest to the trade were
discussed at the semi-annual meeting
of the New England Cotton Manufac-
turers' Association which opened here
to-day.
Herbert e. WaImsley of New Bed
ford, the president of the association.
in his address considered the present
condition and future of the cotton man
ufacturing industry in New England
Mr. Walmsley spoke of the enormous
losses to all concerned which follow
labor disputes. He thought there
should be more conciliation, a combina-
tion between employer and employed.
He was averse to any change in the
working hours of New England. AS to
the rate of wages. he said far better
look this problem squarely in the face
and freely and candidly admit that the
standard or normal rate of wages in
the New England cotton mills never
can nor will be brought down to the
level of the Southern standard.
He blamed the management of many
mills for their poor conditions. declar-
ing that where mills are in such an
unfortunate and unenviable position
that they cannot any longer be run
with any degree of profit they should
close down and go out of business al
together and the sooner the better
They are nothing more and nothing
less than demoralizing and disturbing
element in what would otherwise be a
healthy. vigorous and satisfactory sit
uation. Mills of this undesirable char
acter. and unfortunately it is to be
feared there are too many such In New
England, could not compete with the
well equipped Southern mills, even
were they to pay the same wages and
run the same number of hours, from
the fact and for the simple reason
that their machinery is antiquated, fit
for little else than the scrap heap.
They are in no condition to meet any
kind of competition on any class Of
work or under any circumstances.
IF the cotton industry of New Eng
land or any particular section of in
dustry has arrived at such a pass.
such a stage i'm it's history, that all
that can be done in the endeavor to
make ends meet is to reduce wages be-
low a legitimate standard, below what
is fair, equitable, humane or expedi-
ent, by all means, let such portion Of
the industry leave us and go elsewhere,
we want none of it. Such condition
is sufficient to warrant, to demand.
drastic action. There is no hope for
them.
Il am not one of those who imagine
that the cotton industry of New Eng
land is doomed. is on the verge OF col
lapse. or has reached the zenith of it's
prosperty-panic theories. Of that
character are untenable. or one thing
the whole country from Canada to
the Gulf and the Atlantic to the Pacific
may yet rest perfectly well assured.
and that Is that the cotton industry
guided by New England hands and
minds, will not leave New England; on
the contrary, IL will grow and in
crease on safe and sound lines. al
ways advancing and progressing I'm
the direction Of finer and more varied
fabrics, and will continue 10 be one
OF the chief sources Of wealth, em-
ployment and prosperity OF this Sec
tion of this great country"
The address OF President Walmsley
was given close attention. His decia-
ration that when mills could not be
run with profit they should 20 out of
business, was tha subject OF consider
able discussions at intervals In the
proceedings.
Daniel A. Tompkins N Charlotte. n
O.. gave an address on Sorting ana
Marketing of Cofton.' Henry D Kli-
fredFe ~ Boston spoke on "Efonnmir
Extension Of Cotton Cultivation in the
south" and James k MacC0ii ~ paNs
fuckef. N ~ discussed ife business
HIfa 0f Cotton Manuf1nnrInr
About I.l fnHuliaHfIf.IN attended
900 opening rfHsIur aHd fNr Southern
aIHfrf Hnl other a0rIIuUH fn HHI0H ffn
mrllroIallr extends were represented