The Washington herald., 1909-07-25


Walter Harper. in the Birmingham Age-HeT1ld-
Cordova. Ala. July A-There are al
ways two sides 10 every proposition
never realized this so much as since /
visited the Indian Head Cotton Mills az
Cordova.
There has been much criticism OF the
methods employed by cotton mill opera
tors in the employment OF child labor,
paying small wages. and in the insanitary
conditions Of the mills and the homes or
tho employees.
1t is true that some mills are even
worse than they can he pictured, but
there are pleasing exceptions.
The Indian Head mill presents one OF
the most striking examples OF the excep-
ton 20 the generally accepted rule in the
State
II Is heart-rendIng 70 look upon the
wasting faces OF young womanhood and
childhood in many OF the mills Of the
South. go into the miserable novels they
call home and look upon the filth and
degradation. the marks OF disease and
vice; to see the hope. life. ylgor. and the
intellect being squeezed from childhood TO
All the pockets OF heartless operators
with dimes and dollars.
Live in Comfort.
At Cordova / saw none OF this, and
went into the homes OF the people when
7 was not expected. They were clean and
inviting. The large. airy houses are paint
ed inside and out at least once year.
and the premises are kept In a clearly.
sanitary condition by a paid inspector
and force Of scavengers. who do nothing
else but look after these matters, They
are paid by the mill management. I saw
books. newspapers. and musical instru-
ments IN almost every home. There was
every evidence OF refinement and comfort
Most OF the families have COWS. chickens,
and small gardens, and I am told BY the
bank officials and merchants that many
OF these people have small bank accounts.
In the mill found 500 men. women. and
children al work. The building is well
ventilated and fresh air IS constantly
forced onto every floor by ponderous ma
chineTy IN the basement The floors are
kept clean and disinfectants are used
freely. There Is plenty or light and air.
more than I find in some OF the depart
ment stores in the large cities.
Every girl and child in the mill has
stool on which they rest frequently dur
ms the day. In my heart congratulated
them and felt pang Of pity for many OF
the shop girls In Birmingham.
Girls Are Healthy.
I did not find a pale. consumptive face
In the mill. Indeed. was impressed with
the rosy cheeks and smiling lips OF many
or the girls busy at looms and spindles
was informed that many Of these girls
make from $ 20 IS per week.
You Will say Immediately that this Is
poor pay. but listen: The management
furnishes comfortable homes at the rate
OF 81 a room per month. free water. free
sanitary service. good schools. and
churches. A handsome rev church has
Just been completed IN the mill village
Besides this, the girls are allowed to sit
down at intervals during the day when
their machines do not require attention,
and the work Is not hard.
Compare this with the employment or
the shop girl IN the city who Is on her
feet ten hours or more every day. never
allowed 70 sit down. and working ten
times harder than the mill girl or the
same age. Does the shop girl get any
more for her services? You can answer
the question. Then Il takes many times
more money for the shop girl TO clOthe
herself and pay rent She pays more for
one cell OF a room than the mill girl has
70 pay for a six-room house with n big
garden and shade trees In the front yard
These comparisons may not be entirely
pleasant, but truth is truth, and we
ought 10 know what our neighbors are
doing.
There Are no DrOnes.
I find that the only drones in the Cor
dova mill town are the inflrm and men
who are unable TO work from some physi-
cal or mental disorder. No man is al
lowed TO bring his family here who sits
down and expects his children 20 sup
port him Objectionable characters are
not allowed in the village The moral
tone is kept high, and it is very seldom
that any disorder OF any kind Is reported. |
The employees of the mil village have
the utmost respect Of the best people in I
the town Of Cordova proper, and the in
tercourse is general and OF the most
friendly nature There IS really no line |
Of distinction between the mill village /
and the town proper.
The employees OF the Indian Head mills /
as a general rule have been here a Ions
time. They are not transitory, as Is the
case in a majority OF the mills. The
management takes pains IN making the
conditions ideal and the work pleasant.
and steady employment Is thereby en-
couraged.
Employees Cared FOn
To illustrate the paternal care that IS
exhibited in the interest OF the employees /
I VIII relate an incident that was told me
by one OF the foremen: A new family
moved into the village TO get employment |
There was a widow and several average
sized children. They came from the
mountains Of North Carolina and had but
few goods. These were old and not IN
good condition. When they were Inspect,