The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-25
MILL MEN WANT
To Be LET ALONE
SOUTHERN MANUFACTURERS
APPEARED BEFORE THE SENATE
LABOR COMMITTEE.


in the Matter of Regulating Labor
Contracts - Jack j. SpaIding of
Atlanta Told of Labor Conditions
at the Cotton MiIIs-GOrdon and
Galloway Also spoke.
Washington, March 24.-The pro-
tests of Southern cotton manufacturers
against interference of Congress in
regulating labor contracts was the
feature to-day in the hearing on the
eight-hour bill before the Senate Com
mittee on Education and Labor.
Jack ]. Spalding. of Atlanta, Ca, as
serted that the South does not need
the help of Congress when that help
consists of embarrassment and dis
couragement to the manufacturers in
their efforts to obtain a percentage Of
the foreign trade, hamstringing them
and setting barriers in the way of their
progress in the interest of labor agita-
tors and against the interest of the
working man and woman"
Chairman McComas asked If it is
not a fact that the Southern manu-
facturers are a unit in protesting
against legislation of any kind. Mr.
Spalding said that the manufacturers
had voluntarily adopted regulations
more severe than any legislation that
had ever been proposed in Georgia
and that so far as child labor was con-
cerned the young boys and girls that
are employed are minding machines
where they can play half of the time.
He declared also that rs per cent. of
the mills maintained schools and free
books equal to the state schools, and
that it was a part of the regulations
that the boys and girls should attend
the schools certain number of months
each year.
sherman Dropped Some Fire.
why" said Mr.. Spalding, my mill
is in the town where President Roose-
velts father and mother were married.
| This mill has been running 60 years,
| with the exception of a short time aft
er Sherman came through and acct
dentally dropped some fire in the mill;
| and the social distinctions are less there
| than in almost any town in the coun-
| try. The people are satisfied. The
| manufacturers are getting along well.
the laboring class does not want this
| legislation, and in fact, the agltators
are the only ones that do want It,"
t. GOIuOH VI cali
| ed attention to the fact that the chair
man of the committee had said tina:
all products of the cotton mills were
exempt from application of the eight
| hour bill. He said that there were fac
tories in Georgia which manufactured
| particularly heavy duck, which was
| used only by the government, and MOI
being sold in the open market, would
not be exempt. He introduced F. T..
1 IL, - L 90. h. a.,
| d statement in regard to this product.
After the statement the chairman i'm
sisted that the product would be ex-
| enpt, under the provision making ex
| ceptions of government supplies,
whether manufactured according to
| particular specifications or not.
Then can you tell me what is in
| Guided under this bill?" MIR. Galloway
| asked.
| Would Like Courts Opinion.
Chairman McComas said that in the.
| hearings in the last three years, he
| had concluded that the only things
which were not exempt were govern
ment vessels, large marine engines,
| big cranes and heavy carriages used
| in government work. He said that
| the supplies for such manufacture,
( such as bolts, rope, sails and all ma
| terial of that character, were not in
| Guided under the bill
Mr.. Galloway said if 1t were known
Just what articles would be included
they should be specified in the bill in
order to avoid the general confusion
| that now exists. He asked why. this
| had not been done.
In the opinion of the chairman a
specification of that character would
| be unconstitutional. 41
Are you sure" asked Mr.. Galloway,
that the Supreme Court would con-
strue the bill just as you do?"
"Of course, cannot be sure what
any other man or men would do" said
Senator McComas, but am sure that
under this bill no intelligent lawyer
would say that the duck you manu-
| facture. was not exempted"
Il don't know about that" said Mr..
| Galloway Il have seen things drawn
a heap tighter than this bill seems to
be and yet lawyers have twisted them
about so as to make almost anything
| they wanted out of them. l think you
can make anything you want out of
this bill. / may be exempt, but pre-
fer to be on the safe side and get my
record in so that if the courts do not
agree with you my contentious will be
on file"