The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-25
ASK TO BE LET ALONE.
Southern Mill Men Protest Against
Congress Regulating Labor
Contracts.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, March 24-The protests O
Southern cotton manufacturers agains
interference Of Congress in regulating la
Dor contracts was the feature today II
the hearing on the eight hour bill before
the Senate Committee on Education an(
LaboIa Jack j. Spalding. of Atlanta, Ga.
asserted that the South does not need the
help of Congress when that help con
sists of embarrassment and discourage
ment to the manufacturers in their CT
| forts to obtain a percentage of the forelSI
| trade, hamstringing them and setting bar
riers in the way of their progress In the
interest of labor agitators and against
| the interest of the working man ana wo
man"
Chairman McComas asked if it is not a
fact that the Southern manufacturers
are unit in protesting against ieglsia-
ton of anv kind. Mr.. Spalding said that
the manufacturers had voluntarily adopt
cd regulations more severe than any leg
islation that had ever been proposed in
Georgia and that so far as child labor
was concerned the young boys and girls
that are employed are mindng machines
where they can play half of the time.
He declared also that 70 per cent of the
mills maintained schools and free books
equal to the State schools and that it was
a par of the regulations that the boys
and girls should attend the schools GER
tain number of months each year.
why" said Mr.. Spalding, my mill
is in the town where President Roosevelt S
father and mother were married. This
mill has been running sixty years with
the exception of short time after Sher-
4 tall
ped some fire in the mill: and the social
distinctions are less there than in almost
any town in the country. The people
are satisfied. The manufacturers are get
ting along well, the laboriug class does
not want this legislation and in fact tho
agitators are the only ones that do want
it."
F. p. Gordon, of Columbus. Ca, called
attention to the fact that the chairman
of the committee had said that all pro-
ducts of the cotton mills were exempt
from application of the eight hour bill.
He said that there were factories in
Georgia which manufactured particular
heavy duck which was used only by the
government and not being sold IN the
open market would rot be exempt. He
introduced F. E. Galloway, of Lagrange,
Ga, who made a statement IN regard to
this product After the statement the
chairman insisted that the product would
be exempt, under the provision making
exceptions of government supplies Wheth-
er manufactured according to particular
specifications or not
"Then can you tell me what is included
under this bill?'' Mr. Galloway asked.
Chairman McComas said that in the
hearings in the last three years he had
concluded that the only Things which
were not exempt were government vessels,
large marine engines, big cranes and
heavy carriages used in government work.
He said that the supplies for such man
ufacturc. such as bolts, rope. sails and all
material of that character was not in
cluGed under the bill,
Mr. Galloway said if it were known just
what articles would be included they
should be specified in the bill in order to
avoid the general confusion that now cx-
lists. He asked why this had not been
done.
In the opinion of the chairman a spec
of that character would be un-
constitutional
"Are YOU sure" asked Mr.. Galloway,
"that the Supreme Court would construe
The bill lust as you do?''
''Of course, I cannot be sure what any
other man or men would do. said Sena-
tor McComas. but l am sure that under
this bill no intelligent lawyer would say
that the duck you manufacture was not
exempted
81 don't know about that said Mr..
Galloway. 81 have seen things drawn
u heap tighter than this bill seems to
be and yet the lawyers have twisted them
about so as to make almost anything
they wanted out of them / thin
can make anything you want out of this
bill. | may be EXEMPT hut | prefer to be
ON he sale side and get my er ocidr.
on the safe side and get my record in so
that IT the courts do not agree with you
my contentious will be fled
Washington. March A. Argument
against the eight hour bill was continued
today before the House Committee on
Labor. Among those opposing the meas
ure was D. A. Tompkins. of Charlotte.
\. C.