The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-06
LABOR QUESTION
NO HANDS TO OPERATE THE SPIN.
 DLES.
Southern Representatives of New Eng land Textile Machinery House Says He Could Sell if Opera
 tives Were Provided

Baltimore, Md. April 5.-(special.)- In spite of the fact that during the past few months plans have been made for the addition of 122,46S spindles to the textile mill equipment of the South, @ Southern representative of a leading New England textile machin- cry house states that he would guar antee to sell 500,000 spindles inside of a week if he could guarantee to pro- vide the labor with which to operate the spindles. Commenting on this Statement in this weeks issue, The Manufacturers Record says:
 This statement Is a fair illustration of the pressing demand throughout the cotton mill interests, as well as in all cotton mill interests, as well as in all labor. The predominant topic throughout the whole Central South is the need of immigration. Men who could largely increase their business interests find all of their efforts ham, pered by their inability to secure la bor, and so there has suddenly sprung up among those who a few years ago thought but little about the subject an earnest desire for a great influx of foreign immigration. Under such conditions there Is danger that the South will be misled and fail to secure the best results from its immigration work. It Is important that immigra- tion from abroad should be vigorously sought, but in doing this the South must not lose sight of the equally important point of striving to attract immigration from other parts of the United States. This section is already annually receiving in the aggregate 100000 or 300, 900 of the very best class of settlers from the North and West. Louisiana and Texas and Arkansas and Oklahoma are being especially favored l.. and the railroads operating in them have been broad-gauged in their work of sowing the seed for many years out of which they are now beginning to reap a harvest. The Central South has advantages in matching those of the Southwest, and the same broad, active spirit which Is carrying tens of thou sands into the Central South.
 And while such a campaign should be inaugurated, equal attention should be given to bringing settlers in from abroad Every important Southern port such as Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah. Brunswick and Mobile New orleans and Galveston, should be striving, backed by the heartiest CO., operation of their own State to se- cure the establishment of direct steam ship lines to Europe. The tramp steamer which takes cotton and other freight from the South to Europe, is not adapted to immigratio work nor is the tramp steamer of much value to any port in the development of inn portation business. They are the great freight seekers of the world, and whenever freight in sufficient quantity is found at any Southern port the tramp steamer can bo had ready to carry it abroad It is only, however. by the development of regular lines of steamers sailing on regular, ap- pointed days, running boats fitted for immigration business and identified with the immigration traffic that the best results can be obtained. Years ago the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, appreciating the importance of regular lines of steamers for immigration and for Importation of merchandise, suc- ceeded in bringing about the establish ment of a line between Bremen and Baltimore. The result has been a large development of immigration buslne N; through this port, It was necessary for tho railroad company to take an active part in securing this line and in practically guaranteeing return car goes until the time when business would be so well established as to take care of itself.
 With the enormous exportation of cotton and other merchandise from Southern ports il ought to be easily feasible to secure the establishment of a line of immigration boats not sim ply to one port. but to half a dozen ports. And 1t would take half a dozen lines to make any real impression in supplying the great need for en- larged population in the South. Every Southern port able to supply outward cargoes should undertake the develop ment of regular lines of steamers, and out of this compctit there will come the survival of the fittest, whether it be due to natural advantages or to the activity and hustle of the people back Of the enterprise It is not, of course to be expected that the people of diff ferent states are going to concentrate their energies upon any one line of steamers or any one port. It would be mistake if they did so. It would scarcely be poss ble for any one South ern port to sorure business sufficient to justify more than two regular steamships month, and at best they could not be expected to handle more than 800 to l,004 immigrants each. Put 1t at l.ooo, and this would give 2,OOO q month or e40 year. This would scarcely be d drop in the bucket Any one S"uth4rn State could absorb two or three times that many foreigners every year for the next five years
 Closely connected with the question of labor scarcity must be the develop ment of improved machinery and equip ment in order 10 do by machinery what we are now doing by hand power. In the iron regions of Alabama under the old system If filling furnaces with coke and or" and limestone twenty | live to thirty men were needed at each | furnace to do tbe work which can now be done at some furnaces by three men. Lahor saving machinery Is doing l the work, an4 the other twentyfour or twenty fv@ men are being utilized