The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-26
FACTORY INSPECTORS NAMED.
Mr.. Watson Desired to Recognize
Clemson g Textile School as Well
as Organized Labor.
Record, 22nd.

the two factory inspectors provided
for in the recent act of the legisla-
ture. There were over oUJ applica-
lions for the job, kilograms and >r.e-
cial delivery letters com'1y in even
as late as this morning.
Mr.. S. NJ. Sloan, one Of the ap-
pointees, is native of Anderson, but
now living in Greenville. lie is a
Clemson graduate of 1900 and is lie
son of Treasurer P. H. 4. >toan, of
that institution. He has Lad vari-
ETY. of cotton mill experience, from
the bottom rung up to superintendent.
AS he was employed by the cotton
mill association to supervise employ
ment of labor, he will naturally be
regarded as the cotton mill owners
representative in the appointments.
Mr.. Alex McDougall, of Columbia,
the other appointee, has for ten years
or more been a conservative repres-
entative Of organized labor in this
city, and is looked upon as valuable
and capable young man.
"In the making Of these appoint
ments,'' said Commissioner Watson,
"there has been but one thing for
me to consider-the best interest Of
the State and of the work [ have
been directed by the general assem-
bly, to undertake. From this view
point a study Of the act showed that
it was absolutely necessary to get
comparatively young men with such
technical and practical training as
fitted them to be speedily trained in
to skilled inspectors, such as the high
salaried men that are employed in
this class Of work, which is now a
profession, at handsome salaries in
the States that have effective inspec-
ton departments. It has been, there
fore, necessary to put the matter OF
the selection Of these men above ev-
cry personal, political or other con-
sideration that usually prevails in
the making Of appointments. These
men are not to be mere police officers,
for the terms Of the act shoulder them
with heavy responsibilities, as it does
myself through them, and it requires
degree Of special training and
equipment that absolutely removes
the positions from the class of ordi-
nary clerkship.
'It has been gratifying that so
many earnest men have applied for
these appointments, and wish that
it had been possible to have appoint
ed most of them, but for the rea-
sons I have indicated I have careful
ly gone over all applications and
have done my very best to get two
men who, by training and natural
adaptability, I regard as eminent}y
fitted for the hard work ahead.
"In addition TO the matter Of bas-
ic qualifications, in making the selec-
tions I have announced, I realized
that I could not 60 to the extreme in
the matter of either recognizing the
manufacturing and commercial inter-
est on the one hand or organized lab
or on the other. It was my earnest
desire. because I feel that in this
work it is just due to give recogni-
ton to organized labor through
conservative member thereof, and a
native-born South Carolinian, with
the interest Of his State at. heart.
This I have done. It was my earnest
desire also to gvie recognition to the
textile department of Clemson col
lege. It has been often said that this
department at our State educational
institution was equipping men for a
class Of work for the successful pro-
secution of which they had to 60 to
other States. and when the State
found herself in need for the first
time Of q man possessing the very
training that she was giving Eer sons,
/ felt it duty I owed to the common
wealth, other things being equal, to
give to the textile department Of
Clemson the recognition to which it is
~entitled.
''So much for these appointments,
which I trust will give satisfaction TO
the people Of the State, even the
majority Of those who applied not full
ly cognizant Of the requirements Of
the two positions.
"In regard to the work Of this new
division Of this department I may
say first and foremost that it will be
my object to enforce its provisions,
as far as practicable, with the help
given, to the very letter. I feel that
10 aro ooin0 to racnive readv c0rn-