The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1911-07-27


! ling, Pendleton, S G. I.
49,
GIANT SLEEPS WHILST HIS ENEMIES
BIND HIM HAND AND FooT.
1t is the opinion of many of our
most progressive and best business
men engaged and interested in grow
ing cotton that the recent movement
in the cotton mill merging is fraught
with danger to the interest of both
cotton growers and cotton mill la
borers in their present incomplete,
unorganized condition, and that it
behooves every man engaged IN
growing cotton and cotton operative
who has the welfare of himself and
his family at heart to now assert
their manhood. pluck and grit by
uniting themselves with their re-
spective organizations in a strong
and righteous covenant for their
mutual protection and benefit.
No doubt these mill men at the
head of this consolidation movement
are prepared to show that in order to
maintain profitable dividends for
their stockholders, this economic re-
lief, sought for the purpose of cut
ting off the heads Of some of their
"top-heavy" mills, is necessary; but
at the same time they are preparing
themselves to use their two-edged
sword for cutting prices of cotton,a as
we'll as wages of their operatives.
When we consider that the farm
ing interest of the South has more
than seven (S7. .0O) dollars invested in
this occupation where the combined
manufacturing interest has one (Sl)
dollar in its business, and that the
voting power of the cotton grower
and cotton spinner in South Carolina
can sweep the State for any right
measure for the good of our people
that cotton growers and cotton
mill operatives, too, deserve ali the
punishment tradition has awarded
to a cowardly, inactive giant that
slept while the Liliputians bound
him hard and fast.
When the mills combined in a COM
pact organization under the manage
ment of their best men, with cotton
growers and mill operatives compar-
atively unorganized, who can doubt
the mills having absolute control
over the whole situation, regardless
of the fact that cotton growers and
cotton mill operatives have all the
requisites for controlling the situa-
ton? But for the lack of complete
organization this power is unavaila-
bic.
No amount of calamity bowling by
unorganized individuals can ever
penetrate the hearts of soulless cor
porations that have no hearts. Abso-
lutely nothing short of a powerful
/, organization among farmers and mill
operatives can protect their interest
and back their demands for square
deal, and the sooner every mothers
son of our people in this business is
educated up to a full knowledge of
this fact, the better it will be for the
peace and prosperity of our whole
State.
PRODDING OF A DOING BULL.
Whether or not it will ever be nee
essary or desirable by cotton grow
ers and mill operatives to affiliate
for their mutual protection is not
before US at present, but if such
combination or affiliation should be
necessary in the future, that this
prodding of a doing bull by COM
bination of cotton mill owners will be
responsible for it. We are not urg-
ing strong organization for the
purpose of fighting mill overs, for
we need mills to spin our cotton as
much as mill men need the cotton to
spin. Both mill owners and cotton
men are in the business for profits,
and not for their health or charity's
sake. But there is'a consolation for