The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-04
FIGHTING THE FARMER
WHAT A FARMERS UNION PAPER
SAYS ABOUT THE MILLS.

Shutting Down, and Claims That II
Is an Effort to Keep the Cotton
Grower Down.
The following articles from the
Farmers Union News, of Union
City, Ca, brings out some things
about the mill curtailmens that we
never heard before. The arst article
says ..:--::~.:--.'' r,r ~ =! :: =: !:
! ( The Presidents, vice presidents
and owners 'os cotton mills through
out the South are organised into
what is called the American Cotton
Manufacturers Association, Such
men as 49,, b., Tanner and D. "A.
Tompkine of Charlotte. N. CT E.. A.
smythe OF Greenyille, 8. c., and oth-
ers, who We're SWorthSho more than
the rest of us, estimated at least
in this worlds worldly goods, un-
til the recent rise Of cotton mills
this side of Mason and Dixon's s
line. They were some Of the pion-
eers in this fabulously prosperous
field of business. Their cotton mills
and others have paid enormous div
idends, In many cases as much as
from ten to forty per cent profit
on highly Watered stock.
And yet the present president of
the A.. C. NJ. A., Mr.. Lewis w. Parker
of Greenville, S. c., at the instance
of Smythe, Tompkins and Tanner,
has Just called meeting of the
board of governors for the purpose
of fighting the increase in the price
OF cotton to thirteen cents, by shut
ting down the mills, or at Reast
running them on half or quarter
time. Some Of these men whose
fortunes aae : increasing by leaps
and bounds as arresult OF their man
ufacturing cotton, ride in automom-
biles hive In the most luxurious, hom-
es, and even spend their summers
abroad, enjoying all the very best
things. of,flife,' while We prodncefe
OF the raw material, TIE basis Sf
their income, struggle from early
morn until dewy eve in order to
keep body and soul together. - -
And when we get together f5r
the mere purpose Of securing affair
price. yes,: the mere cost OF produc-
ing cotton, they prepare to ight
US tooth and nail, in. this brutal
fashion. But this Is mot the first
instance. Mr.. Dante Aikenside
Tompkins of Charlotte, then presi-
dent Of thea. G. n. A., went abroad
in 1907, with the present president
of the A. C. NJ. A, got up. 8 confer
ence of European cotton manufac-
turers for the purpose Of divert
ing foreign immigration to the
South in order to break the back or
the Farmers Union and increase the
supply Of cotton produced, so that
only mere existance price for the
raw materials would prevail. Yes,
Mr.. Smythe, Mr.. Parker and other
mill men of South Carolina even
raised some twenty odd thousand
dollars to send Commissioner Wat
BON of South Carplfna abroad to
bring in two cargoes of foreigners
for this purpose.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, you live
among us, your lives and your fami-
lies and your property is mingled
with ours, and your prosperity, and
your daily walks are among US, from
whose humble ranks you have risen
upon our industry and toll. There
is such a thing as having none Of
the milk of human kindness and
being absolutely unsympathetic and
calous to the struggling masses,
their sorrows and hardships. around
you, but have care, lest you kill
the geese that are laying your gold
en- eggs. If any one doubts our
statement let him but read that
well-known manufacturers maya
zine. The Textile Record, August.
1908, published by Lord and Nagle,
Boston and New York, page 53S,
where is printed summary of MIR.
Tompkins' speech, and 1t is stated
among other things that Mr. Tomp-
kins told the European manufac-
turers plainly what was and Is the
only way to increase adequately the
worlds supply of cotton, namely, to
stimulate and divert foreign immi-
grants by the wholesale to the South
ern States.
They Join Forces.
In another article The Farmers
Union News goes on to say:
The Northern cotton mill men
have responded to the suggest IN
of the Southern cotton mill men
that the mills be closed doTa In or
der to cu"tail the production Of cot
ton goods, and thereby decrea5: 'Ae
consumption of raw cotton thus
depressing the price of cotton and
showing the Farmers Union that
they cannot hope for decent Hriccs
for their crop In response to the
suggestion of the America Cotton
Manufacturers Association, which
! &c ctrirtlv Southern orr1riZntiOn