The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-04
DR0UTH CLOSES
CAROLINA PLANTS
Low WATER THROWS MANY OUT
OF EMPLOYMENT IN
MILLS.
STAND PY EMpI OWE <
STAND BY EMPLOYEES
COTTON MILL OWNERS Will SEE
SEE THERE Is No SUFFERING
AMONG THEIR PEOPLE
As DNotrH'S RESULT.

Especial tc The Richmond N'irsfntanD
RALEIGH, y. G.. Aug. 3.--Ons Of
the worst features ~ the hong con-
isnued dr@ath, aud consequent reduced
supply of water power ia the cotton
manufacturing section OF North Caro-
Una comes with the announcement
that beginning with Saturday OF this
week large number OF ihs textile
mills viii be forced TO shut down oper
asions, fer exactly whs; period Of
time depends apon future rains or con
tlnuesa eiraath
To-day il MAS formally announced by
the management that TWO of the big
Erwin pianFs~-one operated at Duke. In
8arnett county. and another at Dur
haFn--woald close Saturday for at
least TIVE weeks. which means that
several thousand operatives viii he
thrown cut OF work al these plants
alone. two of the largest In the state.
--- There -2ra-rsaere ia n 500 :axttle
plants in operation In this State. Per-
haps half the number ara wholly or
parity dependent upon water power.
many OF them getting their power by
electrical transmission
When at least one third OF the mills
complete the work or the present
week, IL Will be to discontinue opera
dons for not less than rwo weeks In
any case. and at many of them for
fhtrfy days or longer.
Cotton manufacturing ia the chief
manufacturing industry or the State
and about 30 GOO operatives are EN-
plered In the 200 or more North Caro-
ilna mills AS whole, they com
prize "A class 81 people. who can IN
afford to be idle. for any length OF
time; for few of them live thirty days
ahead, and nearly all Of them live In
factory village homes. owned by the
mih companies in whose plants they
work.
All Are on Best Of Tsrrs.
II this statement was depicting con-
ditsons in a Northern manufa curing
cOnmunsty~~~a coal or iron mining
state for instance~~tke next words
would add would he "and much suf-
fering is sure to ensue."
But no such prediction can be made
IN this instance. On the contrary,
u can be positively stated that there
Will be no serious hardship suffered by
any operative, who is forced TO cease
work temporarily.
There are exceptions to all rules. but
II can be broadly stated that between
the owners and officers of the cotton
and other textile mills OF North Caro-
INA. and the operatives therein, there
exists the kindliest OF feeling and
broad sympathy
There Ia not an organized labor union
IN any cotton mill community In the
state, nor are there any cotton mill
operatives here who hold membership
tn the American Federation or local
branches of that or any other nation
al labor organization.
Pays to Treat Operatives White.
Some of the mills in times, like thai
just approaching. keep the names o,
all the workers. certainly at least one
bread-wfnner In each family. on the
payroll for the time being
Others have paid half wages, when
no service was rendered In return, and
when the plants started up again on
full time the operatives were not re
CURED to balance any back account
dut for advanced wages" or the like