The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-01
ASK TO BE LET ALONE.
Mrs. Ethel Thomas Addresses Letter
To Legislature Prohibiting
Against Interference.

To Legislature Prohibiting
Against Interference.
The accompanying letter to our SEN
ator and representatives was handed
to The Hearld and News on Thurs
aSay with the request that it be prlnt-
We regret that it could not be
dled in Fridays paper.
here are several measures pro-
Sed in the legislature affecting the
in our cotton mills and propos-
urther to regulate said labor.
accompanying appeal seems to
reference especially to the ten
aw requiring that not more than
ours be worked each day which
require the operatives to work
lours on Saturdays, and thus
them their Saturday afternoons,
are obtained by working more
ten hours on the other days Of
Feek. So far as The Herald and
has information, the present
ngement is entirely satisfactory
be operatives as well as the mill
hrs, and as pointed out by Mrs.
mas, it would deprive the opera
of any holiday at all in whlen
b their shopping unless they LOST
line. The following is the let
BIO Drayton St., Newberry, S. c.
January 26th, 1910.
To the Hon. Senate and House Of
REPRESENTATIVES., Columbia, S. c. Gen
tlemen: Woman can not vote
neither does she wish to. But when
the thumbscrew is applied to hes' III
terests, I presume she has right to
squeai-hasn't she?
IF the house Of representatives ano
senate proposes to "monkey'' with
our time every day in the year, sure
ly T can expect them to spare me
a alittle Of their time and attention
for once, when I come before them
in behalf of myself and for others.
I am a weaver in Newberry Cot
ton, mills, and voice the sentiments
OF every other woman employed here,
when I say let US alone. We are well
pleased with things as they are. We
are not willing to have our sixty
hours per week divided by six, and
by those who know nothing at all
concerning our wishes, needs or re-
quirements.
If We are oontented, why keep us
forever in a stew with some old
ssbill" to change things? Why deny
US every God given right and priv
lege? Who has right to deprive Us
of our Saturday afternoons, that are
50 eagerly looked forward to by us
all? Take Saturday afternoons from
US, and I think you will have taken
the very last work day right and
privilege left US, and I suppose 1t
will be only a question Of time, when
our Sundays will be ordered "eut-
and dried" for US!
The farmer-if he has any git
up an git' in him-often works
from twelve to thirteen hours per
day, and every t"kid" big enough to
carry hoe puts in the full time dur
ing the long hot days in June and
July. Who would dare to interfere
with the farmers rights? Have mill
people no rights?-and no voice in
any matter pertaining to their well
fare?
Let US alone! Give US rest from
unreasonable 'bills'' proposed for
our S'welfare'' through mistaken
ideas Of a few who are not concern
ed. We are safe H. the hands Of our
employers who have our interest at
heart, and are always ready to work
for it. They are kind to us and the
rules are reasonable. With the I'M
proved machinery now in use by all
up-to-date cotton mills, work Us no
longer a drudgery it's a pleasure.
If you take from US our Saturday
AFTERNOONS, when, in the name OF
common sense when, are We to do
OUT shopping? ''Colors seen by can
die light do not look the same by
day. and there would be a lot OF
dissatisfied customers and cross, grum
and ugly dry goods merchants.
- And When are We to have a lew
moments to spend with our flowers,
tending them with loving hands while
their fragrance and sweet influence
sneak to rs elouuently of Nature S