Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-13
COTTON TEXTILE WORKERS

COTTON TEXTILE WORKERS
The belated report of the Cotton
Textile Workers that was authorized
by Congress in 1907 has just been re-
ccivcd. This is the first part of the
Federal investigation into the condl-
tons of the labor of women and chill
drcn which has been so earnestly urg-
ed by sociological and social workers
all over the country.
The report is full of interesting
facts for the Southern states parti-
cularly covering as it, does conditions
in six states, viz: Alabama, Mississ-
ippi, Georgia, Virginia, North Carroll
ma, South Carolina; also Maine, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Mass
achuscttcs.
The figures show that little more
than half the employees in cotton fac
tories arc men, 50 per cent Of whom
come in competition with women.
There are fewer women employed in
southern mills than in northern mills,
but against this the appalling fact is
shown that over one fifth of all the
employees in southern mills are chill
dren. The working age for children
I'M the south is II years against Ia In
the north. This tender age at which
children are permitted to work is bad
enough but this report shows that
grasping manufacturers and greedy
parents are not satisfied with this
low limit. A census of the homes of
the working children show that four
per cent of those in the north arc
working under age and that the cnor-
nous proportion of over twenty four
per cent in southern mills are work
ing under age, some as young as nine
years.
The. comparative rate of illiteracy
of our child workers is something to
make us think, following as the natu-
raj sequence Of children being sent to
work so young. In the north the ILL
itcracy is only 1879 while in the south
is over fifty two per cent.
A still more disquicting fact was
that in the homes of the southern op-
eratives, of the children under work
ing age only IS per cent arc going to
school, while in the north Sc per cent
were at school getting some sort Of
preparation for their future life.
Hours were longer in the south and
the only mills where night work was
required was in North and South Car
DINA.
The above facts and many others
brought out by this investigation sho"
that many points the manufacturers
and vested interests had been forced
by law, in the north to resign, they
had fastened on the south when they
came to US with their mills. The
south has been SLOW to see the way IN
which her best assets, the children,
have been exploited by those whose
only interest is to declare as large
dividends as possible.
King Cotton has been one OF inc
greatest assets of the South. Since
the days of the earliest settlers he
has been crowned with the laurel and
the bay. The cotton fields even IN the
DAYS of slavery held warm place IN
the heart and songs of the darklcs
To many small farmers is has repre-
scented the only real money nc ha'
ever known historically, financial!
and POLITICALLY it has played leading
part in the south. Should we, a
this late day in our civilization, per
mits his garments to be stained will
the blood of Innocent children ant
their helpless mothers? We are glat
to note that Virginia has already be
gun to answer that question in the Eet
alive. Since the facts upon which
this report were gathered construct
i've Legislation.